What does the course cover? The programme of study

On the Wolsey Hall Year 8 English as a Second Language course you will work your way through nine modules which follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum, using the Cambridge Global English 8 textbook as your core course book. You will develop your spelling, punctuation and grammar skills throughout the course.

The Wolsey Hall Year 8 English as Second Language course follows the Cambridge Lower Secondary English as a Second Language curriculum.

You may want to print out this overview of the course Download overview of the course

and refer to it as you progress through the course.

Before the first module, Module One, there is a Welcome call with your tutor.

Module One: Languages of the world	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (1.1): My language, your language Talk about languages and learning languages. Ask questions using question words.	Pages 12-13
Topic Two (1.2): Teach yourself Tok Pisin Find out about languages spoken in Papua New Guinea. Use conjunctions although, while and whereas to join clauses in a sentence.	Pages 14-15
Topic Three (1.3): It’s good to learn languages Listen to and give opinions about learning languages. Use -ing forms as subjects and objects (learning a language is …).	Pages 16-17
Topic Four (1.4): Do you speak emoji? Identify the meanings of emojis and discuss the advantages of using them. Use the present continuous with a variety of verbs.	Pages 18-19
Topic Five (1.5): Beyond words Read about gestures and other kinds of body language in different cultures. Use abstract nouns to describe human interaction (friendliness, confidence, …).	Pages 20-21
Topic Six (1.6): An A to Z of idioms Learn some English idioms. Write and role-play conversations using idioms.	Pages 22-23
Topic Seven (1.7): Improve your writing Write a letter to an exchange school.	Pages 24-25
Topic Eight (1.8): Poetry	Pages 28-29
ASSIGNMENT 1A and ASSIGNMENT 1B

Module Two: Design and architecture	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (2.1): Bars, boxes and bottles Use partitives (a bunch of bananas, a piece of paper). Discuss shapes and the packaging of everyday items.	Pages 34-35
Topic Two (2.2): Why is an egg, egg-shaped? Learn and use words for three-dimensional shapes. Describe imaginary situations using if clauses.	Pages 36-37
Topic Three (2.3): Design classics Describe objects and discuss why they have become design classics. Research a design classic and ask and answer questions about it.	Pages 38-39
Topic Four (2.4): Just the place Understand the detail of descriptions of three buildings. Talk about the design of buildings and their surroundings.	Pages 40-41
Topic Five (2.5): Homes in the desert Read an article about building houses from plastic bottles. Discuss the project described in the article.	Pages 42-43
Topic Six (2.6): Famous buildings Ask and answer questions in a quiz about famous buildings. Use questions beginning with prepositions.	Pages 44-45
Topic Seven (2.7): Improve your writing Write a report on school buildings and facilities.	Pages 46-47
Topic Eight (2.8): Non-fiction	Pages 50-51
ASSIGNMENT 2

Module Three: Our society	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (3.1): My city Listen to people’s opinions about their city. Use clauses ending in prepositions.	Pages 56-57
Topic Two (3.2): A neighbourhood with a difference Read an article about a project to improve a neighbourhood. Discuss ways in which a neighbourhood can be improved.	Pages 58 -59
Topic Three (3.3): Town or country? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of living in the country or a city. Use the second conditional with unless and I wish…, if only.	Pages 60-61
Topic Four (3.4): You and your community Discuss ways you can make a difference in your community. Use the -ing form after verbs, adjectives and prepositions.	Pages 62-63
Topic Five (3.5): Focus on…Finland Read and understand an article about the happiest nation in the world. Discuss what makes a country a good place to live.	Pages 64-65
Topic Six (3.6): Be happy Find out about a school where lessons to promote happiness are part of the school day. Use the present continuous passive to talk about activities at your own school.	Pages 66-67
Topic Seven (3.7): Improve your writing Write a letter to the town council.	Pages 68-69
Topic Eight (3.8): Poetry	Pages 72-73
NO ASSIGNMENT – A LONGER QUIZ INSTEAD

Module Four: Advertising	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (4.1): Three for the price of two! Learn and use vocabulary to talk about advertising. Use prepositions preceding nouns in sales language.	Pages 78-79
Topic Two (4.2): The advertisements Read about and analyse three advertisements. Use the past participle with a passive meaning.	Pages 80-81
Topic Three (4.3): The more you look Listen to opinions about an advert and compare them with your own. Describe and discuss an advert.	Pages 82-83
Topic Four (4.4): The psychology of shopping Listen and analyse a report about the psychology behind supermarket layouts. Use reflexive pronouns.	Pages 84-85
Topic Five (4.5): The creation of a brand Read an article about the history of the polo shirt. Discuss the success of a well-known brand.	Pages 86-87
Topic Six (4.6): For sale Role-play conversations about adverts on a school noticeboard. Use compound adjectives.	Pages 88-89
Topic Seven (4.7): Improve your writing Write an advertisement.	Pages 90-91
Topic Eight (4.8): Fiction	Pages 94-95
ASSIGNMENT 3A and ASSIGNMENT 3B

Module Five: Natural resources	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (5.1): A natural paradise Learn about Costa Rica’s natural resources and how they are used. Learn and use vocabulary to talk about renewable energy.	Pages 100-101
Topic Two (5.2): Generating energy Find out how energy is generated from different sources. Make predictions about how energy will be generated in the future.	Pages 102-103
Topic Three (5.3): Test your eco-awareness! Do a quiz to find out how eco-aware you are. Discuss ways you can be eco-friendly in your daily life.	Pages 104-105
Topic Four (5.4): Water for life Understand and use detailed information about water. Use connectives: while/whereas, although, in order to, so that.	Pages 106 -107
Topic Five (5.5): The lungs of the earth Read and understand texts about tropical rainforests and photosynthesis. Discuss the importance of rainforests.	Pages 108 -109
Topic Six (5.6): Looking back, looking forward Listen to a debate, identify opinions and recognise an inconsistency in an argument. Role-play a debate about the environment.	Pages 110 -111
Topic Seven (5.7): Improve your writing Write an informative account about natural resources.	Pages 112 -113
Topic Eight (5.8): Speeches	Pages 116 -117
NO ASSIGNMENT – A LONGER QUIZ INSTEAD

Module Six: Natural wonders	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (6.1): Highest, longest, deepest Ask and answer questions in a quiz about geographical features. Use comparative and superlative adjectives.	Pages 122-123
Topic Two (6.2): Light at night Understand a scientific explanation. Identify an inconsistency in a text.	Pages 124-125
Topic Three (6.3): Look at this! Listen to a conversation about a natural wonder. Use demonstrative, indefinite and quantitative pronouns.	Pages 126-127
Topic Four (6.4): Fastest, longest, furthest Listen to and take part in a quiz about wildlife. Use comparative and superlative adverbs.	Pages 128-129
Topic Five (6.5): Just look at the sky Find out about what makes the sky blue. Give a scientific explanation of the colour of the sky.	Pages 130-131
Topic Six (6.6): Use your human superpowers Use a radio phone-in programme as a model for a role-play. Learn and use multi-word verbs.	Pages 132-133
Topic Seven (6.7): Improve your writing Write an account of a place in your country that could be a World Heritage Site.	Pages 134-135
Topic Eight (6.8): Fiction	Pages 138-139
ASSIGNMENT 4

Module Seven: Historical figures	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (7.1): Leaders, rulers and explorers Listen to opinions about historical figures. Use the past continuous.	Pages 144-145
Topic Two (7.2): The hidden pharaoh Read an account about a historical figure. Learn and use vocabulary to discuss a historical figure.	Pages 146-147
Topic Three (7.3): Who will be remembered? Listen to and role-play an interview about the achievements of a leader. Use verbs followed by prepositions.	Pages 148-149
Topic Four (7.4): Creating and performing Learn about and discuss famous artists, musicians and writers. Use the past perfect simple.	Pages 150-151
Topic Five (7.5): The Islamic Golden Age Learn about the Islamic Golden Age. Find out about another important period of history.	Pages 152-153
Topic Six (7.6): Leonardo in 3D Listen to and report a conversation about an unusual exhibition. Talk about and report what you’ve seen, read and done recently.	Pages 154-155
Topic Seven (7.7): Improve your writing Write a short biography of a historical figure.	Pages 156-157
Topic Eight (7.8): Fiction	Pages 160-161
NO ASSIGNMENT – A LONGER QUIZ INSTEAD

Module Eight: Storytelling	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (8.1): A good story Listen to and give opinions about books and stories. Use the present perfect with ever, never, already, just, still and yet.	Pages 166-167
Topic Two (8.2): Tales from around the world Read about traditional stories and discuss their appeal. Use a list of key words to summarise a text.	Pages 168-169
Topic Three (8.3): Stories we remember Talk about your favourite stories from childhood. Learn to use the present perfect continuous.	Pages 170-171
Topic Four (8.4): A walk in the park Listen to and understand the details of a story. Reconstruct the story from your notes.	Pages 172-173
Topic Five (8.5): Aladdin: a traditional story Read and then write a summary of the first part of a traditional story.	Pages 174-175
Topic Six (8.6): Aladdin: what happened next Listen to and write a summary of the second part of a traditional story. Use ask, wonder and the past perfect in reported speech.	Pages 176-177
Topic Seven (8.7): Improve your writing Write a short essay giving your opinions about what makes a good story.	Pages 178-179
Topic Eight (8.8): Fiction	Pages 182-183
ASSIGNMENT 5A and ASSIGNMENT 5B

Module Nine: Music	Coursebook Pages
Topic One (9.1): My kind of music Talk about genres of music. Identify inconsistencies in what people say.	Pages 188-189
Topic Two (9.2): A portrait of a musician Read about the winner of a ‘Young Musician’ competition. Talk about what it means to be a professional musician.	Pages 190-191
Topic Three (9.3): Express yourself! Find out about how music can improve people’s lives. Talk about the value of music in education.	Pages 192-193
Topic Four (9.4): I like it because… Learn and use words for musical instruments and performers. Give your opinions about three pieces of music.	Pages 194-195
Topic Five (9.5): A universal language Read an article about research into music as a universal language. Give your own views on music as a universal language.	Pages 196-197
Topic Six (9.6): You are what you listen to Interpret some epigrams about music. Ask questions in a way that makes them sound polite.	Pages 198-199
Topic Seven (9.7): Improve your writing Write a personal account of what music means to you.	Pages 200-201
Topic Eight (9.8): Autobiography	Pages 204-205
ASSIGNMENT 6