ESL Course Description

  • Dear Students, Parents, and/or Guardians,

    Welcome to NCA (Newcomers' Academy)! 

    During this Orange High School academic School Year 2024-2025, I will be teaching NCA III for intermediate-level, English-language learners and NCA IV for advanced-level, English-language learners. Both courses will satisfy the New Jersey State graduation requirement for English III and English IV. 

    Students will follow an English-language learning program which supports the 4 language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Instructional methods, rubrics, proficiency standards, and assessments are aligned with the WIDA Consortium and the Common Core Standards.  We will incorporate practical English vocabulary, grammar and writing tools in order to strengthen students' overall language skills.  Throughout the year, students will be assigned literature from multiple genres in order to improve reading comprehension and literary analysis.  Written projects will be assigned quarterly as authentic assessments in order to build on personal, narrative, informational, persuasive, and argumentative writing styles.  Students will also be expected to present their projects to an audience for an oral assessment. In addition, all students are assigned Mango and Reading Plus, adaptive software programs, for individual English reading and fluency practice. Use of these online software programs at home is highly encouraged as it is a required grade component for the Newcomers' Academy English courses. 

    In an effort to advance my students' academic performance and success, I will be supporting them with their other courses so that major concepts are comprehensible in the mainstream class.  My tutoring and extra help will be offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2:45pm in Rm. 274.

    In combination with a dedicated teacher, these methods and resources will help our students to improve phonics, recognize greater vocabulary, build reading stamina, sharpen reading comprehension, enhance writing, and increase overall fluency. 

    Our aim is to foster a love of reading and become the best English writer and speaker we can be!  I look forward to an exciting, productive, and successful 2024-2025 TORNADO year!!           

                       Vamos Tornados!!   Allons Tornades!!   Let's Go Tornadoes!!

    Ms. Alvarez,

    ESL/NCA (Newcomers' Academy) teacher