GRADE 9 IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH COURSE SYLLABUS 2020-2021

Course Outline IGCSE First

Language English Grade 9/ Year 10
Inspiring excellence, empowering global minds

Overview

Cambridge IGCSE First Language English offers students the opportunity to respond with
understanding to a rich array of reading texts during the course as a whole. Students use these texts
to inform and inspire their own writing and write in a range of text types for different purposes and
audiences. They develop both their speaking and their listening skills, delivering a presentation,
responding to questions, and engaging in conversations. They are encouraged to become appreciative
and critical readers, writers, speakers, and listeners.

Learning Outcomes
The aims are to enable students to:
• read a wide range of texts, fluently and with good understanding, enjoying, and appreciating
a variety of language.
• read critically and use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own
writing.
• write accurately and effectively, using Standard English appropriately.
• work with information and with ideas in language by developing skills of evaluation, analysis,
use, and inference.
• listen to, understand, and use spoken language effectively.
• acquire and apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical
terminology.
and linguistic conventions.
Ongoing Objectives
Reading

• Demonstrate understanding of written texts, and of the words and phrases within them.
• Summarise and use material for a specific context.
• Develop, analyse, and evaluate facts, ideas, and opinions.
• Demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve their effects and influence readers.
• Select appropriate information for specific purposes.
• Recognise and respond to linguistic devices, figurative language, and imagery.
In developing reading skills, students engage with a range of genres and text types from the
twentieth and/or twenty-first centuries, including literature, fiction, and non-fiction, and other
forms of writing, such as discursive essays, reviews, and articles. This study includes focus on writers’
use of language and style and the ways in which writers achieve effects and influence readers.
Students also study how influence may include fact, ideas, perspectives, opinions, and bias.
 GRADE 9 IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH COURSE SYLLABUS 2020-2021

Writing

• Express what is thought, felt, and imagined.

• Organise and convey facts, ideas, and opinions effectively.
• Demonstrate a varied vocabulary appropriate to the context.
• Demonstrate an effective use of sentence structures.
• Demonstrate an understanding of audience, purpose, and form.
• Demonstrate accuracy in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
As developing writers themselves, students are introduced to a range of writing skills, including the
ability to create and compose texts with a variety of forms and purposes, e.g. descriptive, narrative,
discursive, argumentative, and persuasive. This study includes focus on the following text types:
letter, report, article, journal, speech, interview, and summary.

Speaking & Listening

• Describe and reflect on experience.

• Organise and convey facts, ideas, and opinions effectively.
• Understand and convey complex ideas.
• Communicate with clarity, focus, and purpose.
• Communicate appropriately for the context.
• Engage appropriately in conversation.
Students explore a range of speaking and listening skills, including the ability to participate in
engaging conversations and to respond spontaneously. There is focus on presentation skills in
employing and organising content, and body language, such as gestures and face expressions.

•
Topic Overview
Term 1
1. Argumentative and Persuasive Writing - Debates Approximate length: 3 weeks

Students explore how to write a persuasive and argumentative piece of writing. They also conduct a
debate, where they further explore the skills and techniques covered in this topic.

• To articulate experience and express what is thought, felt, and imagined.

• To analyse, evaluate, and develop facts, ideas, and opinions.
• To use a range of vocabulary, sentence structures, and register appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• To present facts, ideas, and opinions in a cohesive order which sustains the audience’s interest.
• To communicate clearly and purposefully using fluent language.
• To listen and respond appropriately in conversation.

2. Reading Comprehension Approximate length: 3 weeks

Students respond to a series of questions and sub-questions. These include short and long answers,
which test an understanding of both explicit and implicit meanings.
 GRADE 9 IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH COURSE SYLLABUS 2020-2021

• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.

• To demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.
• To demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.

3. Informative Writing Approximate length: 2 weeks

Students read a series of texts, which provide or give information. Students are required to respond
in one of the following text types: letter, report, journal, speech, interview, or article, using the
appropriate register.

• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.

• To use register appropriate to context .
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.
• To analyse, evaluate, and develop facts and ideas using appropriate support from the text.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.
• To organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect.

4. Narrative Writing Approximate length: 3 weeks

Students are required to write a narrative essay, which shows development of plot, structure, setting
and character.

• To articulate experience and express what is thought, felt, and imagined.

• To organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect.
• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.
• To use register appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

5. Revision for EoT Exams Approximate length: 1 week

6. EoT exams & Review of papers Approximate length: 3 weeks

Term 2

1. Summary Writing Approximate length: 3 weeks

Students learn how to answer a selective summary task in their own words. Students write their
summary as continuous writing while developing the skills and techniques required for this task.

• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.

• To demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.
• To organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect.
• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
 GRADE 9 IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH COURSE SYLLABUS 2020-2021

2. Descriptive Writing Approximate length: 2 weeks

Students develop ideas and images which create a convincing and well-defined picture. Descriptive
techniques, in particular the use of the senses, powerful vocabulary choices (especially adverbs and
adjectives), and figures of speech, are explored here within.

• To articulate experience and express what is thought, felt, and imagined.

• To organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect.
• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.
• To use register appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

3. Reading Comprehension Approximate length: 1 week

Students respond to a series of questions and sub-questions. These include short and long answers,
which test an understanding of both explicit and implicit meanings.

• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.

• To demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.
• To demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.

4. Directed Writing Approximate length: 2 weeks

Students read a series of texts and are required to respond in one of the following text types: letter,
report, journal, speech, interview, or article. Students utilize the skills and techniques taught in other
areas of writing to answer this question.

• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.

• To use register appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.
• To analyse, evaluate, and develop facts and ideas using appropriate support from the text.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.

5. Letter Writing Approximate length: 1 week

Students will read or discuss a text and be required to write in response to that text in the form of
a letter. The appropriate register and structure will be emphasised.

• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.

• To use register appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.
• To analyse, evaluate, and develop facts and ideas using appropriate support from the text.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.
 GRADE 9 IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH COURSE SYLLABUS 2020-2021

6. Language Analysis Approximate length: 1 week

Students respond to a text and use skills to analyse the effect of the language used in that text, and
the impact it has on the reader.

• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.

• To demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes.
• To demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.

7. Directed Writing Approximate length: 2 weeks

Students read a series of texts and are required to respond in one of the following text types: letter,
report, journal, speech, interview, or article. Students utilize the skills and techniques taught in other
areas of writing to answer this question.

• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.

• To use register appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.
• To analyse, evaluate, and develop facts and ideas using appropriate support from the text.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.

Term 3

1. Directed Writing Approximate length: 2 weeks

Students read a series of texts and are required to respond in one of the following text types: letter,
report, journal, speech, interview, or article. Students utilize the skills and techniques taught in other
areas of writing to answer this question.

• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.

• To use register appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.
• To analyse, evaluate, and develop facts and ideas using appropriate support from the text.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.

2. Reading Comprehension Approximate length: 1 week

Students respond to a series of questions and sub-questions. These include short and long answers,
which test an understanding of both explicit and implicit meanings.

• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.

• To demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.
• To demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.
 GRADE 9 IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH COURSE SYLLABUS 2020-2021

3. Travel Writing Approximate length: 2 weeks

Students read a series of texts and are required to respond in one of the following text types: letter,
report, journal, speech, interview, or article. Students utilize the skills and techniques taught in other
areas of writing to answer this question.

• To use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.

• To use register appropriate to context.
• To make accurate use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.
• To analyse, evaluate, and develop facts and ideas using appropriate support from the text.
• To select and use information for specific purposes.

4. Language Analysis Approximate length: 1 week

Students respond to a text and use skills to analyse the effect of the language used in that text, and
the impact it has on the reader.

• To demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings.

• To demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes.
• To demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.

5. Revision for EoY Exams Approximate length: 1 week

6. EoY Exams & Review of papers Approximate length: 3 weeks

Assessment
Baseline Test: At the beginning of the academic year, the students write an internal and
standardized baseline test, which is used to measure progress.

Formative: Throughout the year, the students complete past paper questions and project work which
allow the teachers to assess the students’ attainment and inform their planning.

Summative: Each term the students write internal and standardized tests. At the end of term 1 and
3, the students sit for exams, which allow teachers to measure the students’ progress throughout
the term or year. At the end of Term 2, the students’ marks are comprised of two internal
assessments and two assignments, which reflect the work covered in class and measure progress in
these areas. At the end of the academic year, the students complete the standardized GL and NGRT
assessments.

Action for blended learning

Due to Covid-19 safety measures, we are following a blended model of remote and face-to-face
learning, which is technology-centred. In addition to the traditional copybook, we will use:
• GEMS Phoenix classroom.
• GCSE pods.
• Microsoft Office.
• Education websites and applications, such as Kahoot, Padlet, Pear Deck, etc.