Grades: One-year course. Open to grades 9, 10, 11, 12. Course may be repeated for credit. Meets the "G" UC/CSU Requirement for Electives. Course is open to students identified as English Language Learners at the Emerging and Expanding levels. ELD is a thematic-based second language acquisition course designed to advance students who demonstrate limited receptive and productive English skills to utilize English in more complex, cognitively demanding situations. This introduction is based on California English Language/Arts and English Language Development standards and during instruction there is a direct correlation between these sets of standards. By using reading strategies, unit-related vocabulary, literary concepts, and grammar development, students will acquire the basics of English language and grammar. These skills will be learned through literature, real-life experiences, historical contexts, and cultural influences. Students will understand familiar topics with substantial linguistic support in contextualized settings, and recognize language subtleties in a variety of communicative settings. As readers, students will interact with increasingly complex written material, while relying on context and prior knowledge to obtain meaning. Writing instruction will focus on using learned vocabulary, basic conventions, and appropriate sentence and paragraph construction. Students will learn to tailor their writing to specific audiences and to modify tone for academic purposes. Students will develop these skills through the use of district approved ELD curriculum and supplemental materials. Upon completion of the course, students will have basic communication skills in social and academic contexts.