The course is a specialized academic/language literacy course that helps SLIFE students enrolling in the district. Students will acquire foundational literacy English skills. As students develop literacy in English, the course will include foundational instruction in core content areas. It will also guide students’ acculturation to the school system in the United States. The course will act as an on-ramp for a broader educational program.

Intensive English literacy development in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Intensive English language literacy development in distinguishing the sounds of English as compared or contrasted with sounds in their native language (e.g., vowels, consonants, consonant blends, syllable structures.
Phonological Awareness by demonstrating understanding of spoken words.
Students will become familiar with print concepts in English and will learn the Latin alphabet for English, as compared or contrasted with their native language writing system. (e.g., direction of print, symbols representing whole words, syllables or phonemes, decoding words.
Build vocabulary knowledge, learn classroom, and school-based words and general academic and subject-specific words and word parts.
Development of study skills
Cross-cultural orientation – Cultural transition to U.S.

Instruction in foundational literacy skills is essential for English learners. Foundational literacy skills are the same for all students who need to learn basic literacy skills. The manner in which the skills are taught will depend on their age, cognitive level, and previous oral and written literacy experiences in their native language. Students’ native language literacy skills can help students learn English foundational literacy skills.