English 1

How can engaging with global stories expand our appreciation for the entire human family?  Human beings are wired to communicate through stories, and as stories from around the world get inside of us, they have the potential to increase our empathy for others and build our sense of community with those from other places in the world. This course, while it is focused on reading, writing, and communication, also examines some significant global issues that will hopefully stir up students’ desire to become better global citizens. The texts in English 1 were chosen to help students think outside of their own experiences and consider their neighbours, both near and far. The course also strives to shine a light on the hope that is within human beings, even in the most challenging situations. The overarching goal is that students will be able to see themselves as part of the larger global society they live in and that their capacity for empathy for others will grow. 

Students will also learn about the multiple ways there are to tell stories. In today’s world, stories can be shared, not just orally or in print, but also through pictures, movies, newspapers, online articles, blogs, poetry, and documentaries. This course will explore other storytelling methods and give students the opportunity to practice telling their own stories in different ways. As the course wraps up, students will have a chance to use their storytelling skills to share what they have learned themselves, hopefully making the world a better place through their own storytelling.

An Honors version of the course is also available, offering greater volume and rigor than the standard course. Each unit includes at least one Honors extension, which may involve an additional lesson and assignment, or an expanded version of a standard assignment. The Honors course also includes a short independent book study that is not part of the standard course.