English Language Scheme of Work (Secondary)

Complete BECE/NERDC-aligned syllabus for English Language across key strands.

  1. Reading for main and supporting ideas
    1. Identifying main and supporting ideas in a given passage relating to sports, education and election.
    2. Differentiating between main and supporting ideas/gist in a given passage.
  2. Reading to follow direction in written communication
    1. Reading to follow direction in written communication.
    2. Identifying keywords in the passage that show direction.
    3. Blending materials with related sketch.
  3. Reading to identify the meanings of various contexts
    1. Reading for meanings of words in various contexts through: clues provided by surrounding words.
    2. Alternative words that can fit into the context.
  4. Critical Reading
    1. Meaning and steps of critical reading.
    2. The critical process: surveying, skimming, line by line reading, recalling and reading.
    3. Reading to identify facts and opinions of a passage on “evils of smoking of cigarette”.
  5. Reading for critical evaluation
    1. Reading critically.
    2. Meaning of critical reading.
    3. Aspects of critical reading.
    4. Essence of critical reading.
    5. Selected passages on critical reading highlighting: Facts, Opinions, and Deductions.
    6. Explanation on the danger signs on our roads; types of danger signs on the roads.
  6. Reading for speed
    1. Reading for speed techniques.
    2. Surveying/scanning for main points.
    3. Skimming for specific information.
  7. Reading for summary
    1. Suitable passages/stories that illustrate: topic sentences; key ideas.
    2. Expressions that redirect attention to the main points on: past content; types of communication; safe storage of food.
  8. Writing to highlight main and supporting ideas
    1. Story or passage highlighting main and supporting ideas.
    2. Arrangement of ideas in logical sequence with introduction and conclusion.
    3. The history of ECOWAS.
    4. Aims of the ECOWAS.
  9. Composition Writing: Narrative, Descriptive, Expository and Argumentative
    1. Elements of composition: Introduction (pre-writing, writing, editing), Body, Conclusion.
    2. Arrangement of ideas in a logical sequence.
  10. Letter Writing: Features of formal and informal letters
    1. Types of letters: Formal; Informal.
    2. Formal letters — conventional forms: two addresses, opening salutation, body, closing, signature.
    3. Informal letters — one address, opening salutation, body, closing.
  11. Summary Writing
    1. Summary writing from selected passages on contemporary issues.
    2. Essentials in summary writing:
      1. Identification of topic sentences from given paragraphs/passages.
      2. Identification of key ideas from different passages (e.g., corruption, road accident).
  12. Speeches: Production of vowels, consonant sounds in passages
    1. Vowels.
    2. Consonant sounds.
  13. Speeches (Phonemes)
    1. Long and short vowels (e.g., /æ/back, /a:/bark, /ɪ/be, /i:/bee; bit/beat; hit/heat).
    2. Consonants and consonant clusters (e.g., respect, principle, struggle).
    3. Contrasting consonants (e.g., fall/vim; fish/van; few/love).
    4. Diphthongs: /ei/, /ai/, /au/.
  14. Speeches: Intonation, Stress and Rhythm
    1. Listening to speeches based on: Human Rights; Gender issues; Value orientation (honesty, respect for elders, punctuality, regularity, etc.); Peace education; Conflict resolution; Drug Abuse; Global Warming; Road Safety; Security; Inter-ethnic Marriages; highlighting correct intonation, stress and rhythm.
    2. Making statements, commands and questions using correct stress, intonation and rhythm.
  15. Oral Comprehension
    1. Speeches and materials (live or recorded) based on: The family (nuclear, extended); The neighbourhood; Accountability in government; Infectious diseases; Peace in the community; Examination Malpractice; Our environment; Health issues (diseases); The computer; Cultural practices; The School; Election; Child Labour and Trafficking.
  16. Parts of Speech
    1. Noun; Verb; Adjective; Pronoun.
  17. Parts of Speech: Adverbs, Conjunctions and Prepositions
    1. Adverbs; Conjunctions; Prepositions.
    2. Functions of: Adverbs, Conjunctions, Prepositions.
    3. Make sentences with Adverbs, Conjunctions, Prepositions.
  18. Adverbials and Tenses
    1. Identify features of adverbials and tenses from passages (e.g., Peace and Dialogue; Human Rights; Value Orientation).
    2. Adverbials: frequency (always, often, everyday), intensifiers (so, such, very), manner (politely, rudely).
    3. Kinds of adverbials: contrast (yet, though, although), reason (because, in order that, so that), manner (as if, as), purpose (so that, because), condition (if, unless, until, provided).
    4. Tenses: present, past, future.
    5. Construction of sentences with adverbials and tenses.
  19. Active and Passive Verbs
    1. Identification of active and passive verbs from passages (e.g., preventing HIV/AIDS; war against cultism; dangers of examination malpractice).
    2. Making sentences using active and passive forms.
    3. Changing active to passive and vice versa.
  20. Direct and Indirect Speech
    1. Direct statements: commands and requests.
    2. Indirect statements.
  21. Modal forms
    1. Identification of modals from selected passages (e.g., patriotism, discipline, benefits of reading newspapers).
    2. Direct forms (e.g., “I may see you tomorrow”; “I can use your bicycle”).
    3. Indirect forms (e.g., He said he might see you the following day; She said she could use your bicycle).