English Syllabus 1
English Syllabus 1
1.1Specific Objectives:
1.2Listening and speaking.
Since English is a second language, most learners are likely to have problems in
listening and speaking. Although the learners will have been taught in English at
primary school level most of them will still have problems in listening and speak-
ing. There is also quite a lot that they will need to learn to enhance their mastery
of the skills. The teacher should therefore design appropriate diagnostic exer-
cises to identify the unique problems of the learners.
The teacher should then ensure that appropriate opportunities are provided for
the learner to develop these skills. Reciting poems, telling stories, discussing
contemporary issues, debating, dramatizing, role-playing and speech drills can
facilitate the acquisition of these skills.
Oral narratives (trickster and ogre stories) and riddles should primarily be used
during speaking and listening lessons because they provide a natural context for
practising these skills. The teacher should also teach the features of these narra-
tives and riddles.
PRONUNCIATION
ii) Distinction between English sounds and mother tongue and Kiswahili.
c) Mastery of Content
Debate
d) Etiquette
Use of courteous language e.g. thank you, excuse me, sorry, please.
2.0 GRAMMAR
The study of grammar should help the learner communicate clearly and under-
stand accurately and adequately what is heard and read. Literary and non-liter-
ary materials should be used for the purpose of teaching grammar in context. At
this level, emphasis should be placed on the parts of speech, before the teacher
progresses to the noun phrase and then simple sentences. Language games may
be used to make learning interesting.
1) Common nouns
count
non-count
v) Number
vi) Articles
functions of articles
b) Pronouns
i) Personal pronouns
c) Verbs
i) Lexical
regular
irregular verbs
ii) Tenses
d) Adjectives
f) Prepositions
g) Conjunctions
interrogative
imperative
exclamatory
declarative/affirmative negative
3.0 READING
3.2 Introduction
A good foundation of reading should be laid in Form One. This is because reading
is a very important component of language learning. It will also help in the study
of other subjects.
Intensive reading should help form a foundation for the study of literary texts.
However, the learner should also be encouraged to read for pleasure.
3.2 Introduction
a) Reading Skills
* Silent reading
* Reading aloud
* Speed reading
b) Intensive Reading
c) Extensive Reading
- children’s rights
- child labour
- environment
- HI V/AIDs
- moral values
iv) Poems
v) Plays
vi) Novels
4.0 WRITING
d) write clear and correct sentences, and organize ideas in a logical se-
quence;
e) use appropriate register and format for a variety of writing tasks; and
4.2 Introduction
The skill of writing should be introduced through diagnostic tasks. This will help
in the identification of the learner’s problems and weaknesses. Using these re-
sults the learner should be facilitated to develop the skill of writing.
Use of pictures and group discussion could be used as pre writing activities. This
would enhance the learner’s listening and speaking skills and at the same time
help them generate ideas for writing. Class readers should also be used to en-
hance writing skills. For example a class reader may be used to teach literary ap-
preciation and at the same time to generate writing tasks.
Focus should be on providing the learner with immediate, meaningful and sup-
portive feedback.
4.0 HANDWRITING
topic sentences
supporting sentences
clincher sentences
sequencing of ideas
unity in paragraphs
topic sentences
supporting sentences
clincher sentences
sequencing of ideas
unity in paragraphs
* Capitalization
* Commas
e) Personal writing
i) Diaries
ii) Addresses
Informal letters
g) Study Writing
i) Making notes
h) Creative Writing
i) Imaginative compositions
ii) Poems
i) Imaginative compositions
ii) Poems
i) Institutional Writing
i) Public notices
ii) Inventories
5.2 Introduction
In Form 2, the use of correct stress and intonation, in addition correct pronuncia-
tion should be emphasized. The use of audio and video tapes would be quite use-
ful. Literary and non-literary material on issues such as drug and substance
abuse, equality among men and women, social responsibility, integrity, human
rights and information technology can be used to facilitate the acquisition of
these skills.
a) Pronunciation
* Integrity/anti-corruption education
* information technology
c) Mastery of Content
Interviews
5.0 ETIQUETTE
Telephone etiquette
Internet Etiquette
E-mail Etiquette
ii) Bowing/curtsying.
6.0 GRAMMAR
6.2 Introduction
Emphasis at this level is on the constituents of the verb and adverb phrases. Lan-
guage games and re writing exercises can be designed to help the learner con-
struct compound and complex sentences. Use of group work will encourage
learners to enact a real-life language situation (e.g. writing letters of complaint
and possible replies). Although the emphasis is on usage, it is imperative for the
learner to master the grammatical terms.
a) Nouns
i) Collective nouns
iv)Possessives
b) Pronouns
c) Verbs
d) Adjectives
Order of adjectives
e) Adverbs
f) Prepositions
g) Conjunctions
h) Interjections
6.3.2 Phrases
6.3.2 Phrases
6.3.3 Clauses
b) Compound sentences.
c) Complex sentences.
7.0 READING
(d) analyse characters and themes from selected novels and plays
(e) analyse simple aspects of style
7.2 Introduction
At this level the skill of interpretive reading should be introduced. This involves
reading aloud in a manner that brings out the tone, rhythm, intonation and the
meaning of a given passage. A wider variety of reading texts of different regis-
ters and styles of writing should be introduced to broaden the learner’s aware-
ness of language use.
a) Reading Skills
b) Intensive Reading
c) Extensive Reading
social responsibility
gender responsiveness
human rights
ii) Biographies
iii) Novels
iv) Plays
v) Poems
d) Comprehension Skills
8.0 WRITING
8.2 Introduction
In Form 2, the learner should build on the writing skills already developed by:
The teaching of writing at this level should aim at integrating writing with other
skills of language. In addition, literary works could be used to generate writing
activities such as summaries, letters and dialogues.
a) Spelling
- giving reasons/examples
- using facts/statistics
- giving reasons/examples
- using facts/statistics
c) Punctuation
i) Quotation marks
ii) Apostrophe
iii)Hyphen
d) Study Writing
i) Summaries
e) Creative Writing
i) Poems
ii)Imaginative compositions
iii)Dialogues
f) Institutional Writing
i) Business letters
ii) Posters
iii) Advertisements
g) Personal Writing
i) Personal journals
ii) Shopping lists
h) Social Writing
i)Invitations
i) Public Writing
i)Telephone messages
ii)Filling forms
iii)Letters of apology
9.2 Introduction
The learner should use in their speech the wide range of vocabulary already ac-
quired. The ability to use appropriate register should also be demonstrated. Op-
portunities to learn and practise listening and speaking skills can be provided
through activities like reciting poems, listening to and telling oral narratives
(dilemma and aetiological), listening to and making speeches, hot-seating, dra-
matizing and role-playing and discussing contemporary issues on the rights and
responsibilities of citizens.
a) Pronunciation
HIV/AIDS
v) Giving directions
c) Mastery of Content
i) Discussion
ii) Speeches
d) Etiquette
10.0 GRAMMAR
10.2 Introduction
i) Collective nouns
iv)Possessives
b) Pronouns
c) Verbs
d) Adjectives
Order of adjectives
e) Adverbs
f) Prepositions
g) Conjunctions
h) Interjections
6.3.2 Phrases
6.3.3 Clauses
b) Compound sentences.
c) Complex sentences.
11.0 READING
a) read a range of texts selecting essential points and applying inference and
deduction where appropriate.
c) analyse critically prescribed novels, plays and short stories drawn from
Kenya, East Africa, Africa and the rest of the world.
11.2 Introduction
Close and critical reading should be practised to enable the learner recognise at-
titude and tone, and distinguish between facts and opinions. The learner should
also read widely on such issues as governance, moral integrity, the dangers of
HIV/AIDS and technological advancement. This calls for reading beyond the pre-
scribed set books. The learner should therefore be encouraged and facilitated to
read literary and non-literary works besides the set- books.
To ensure the learners read extensively the following methods can be used:
a) book reviews.
d) group discussions.
11.3 Content
a) Reading Skills
i) Study reading
ii) Note-making
b) Intensive Reading
1 novel
1 play
c) Extensive Reading
good governance
integrity
HIV/AIDS
Technological advancement
iii) Reports
iv) Novels
v) Plays
vi) Poems
d) Comprehension Skills
12.2 Introduction
In Form 3, the learner should be helped to consolidate the wide range of vocabu-
lary and sentence structures as well as writing skills to write good, imaginative
and argumentative essays as well as various types of functional writing. In addi-
tion, the literary texts being studied should be used to generate writing activi-
ties.
i) Cohesion in paragraphs
iv) Recurrent words (different words that refer to the same idea in the para-
graph).
12.3 Punctuation
i) Colon
ii) Semi-colon
iii) Dash
iv) Parenthesis
i) Reminders
ii)Personal journals
ii) Telegrams
12.3 Public Writing
Letters of application
i) Synopsis
ii) Reports
i) Imaginative compositions
ii) Plays
i) Notification of meetings
iii) Memoranda
13.2 Introduction
The learner will need to develop the ability to present oral reports, learn negotia-
tion skills, exhibit acceptable speech habits, show empathy and adhere to other
language conventions. The teacher could use oral poetry, proverbs, recorded
speeches, impromptu speeches, role-play, hot-seating, dramatization and discus-
sions on issues like poverty eradication for the purpose of development and re-
finement of these skills.
13.3 Pronunciation
i) Oral poetry
ii) Proverbs
Oral reports
13.3 Etiquette
iii) Turn-taking
14.0 GRAMMAR
14.1 Introduction
Grammar work should consolidate and reinforce what has already been taught.
The teacher should guide the learner on further practice of acquired knowledge
of grammatical structures.
14.2.1 Content
a) Nouns
b) Pronouns
i) Interrogative pronouns
c) Verbs
i) Participle phrases
ii) Gerunds
d) Adjectives
e) Adverbs
g) Prepositions
g) Conjunctions
14.2.2 Clauses
i) inversions
a) read and understand a range of texts, select essential points and apply in-
ference and deduction where appropriate
c) analyse critically prescribed novels, plays and short stories, drawn from
Kenya, East Africa, Africa and the rest of the world
15.3 Introduction
The ability for close and responsive reading should be demonstrated in relating
what the learner reads to their experiences. The ability to recognize attitude,
tone and mood, and to distinguish facts from opinions should be developed fur-
ther. The learner should read broadly on issues of moral values, environmental
concerns, global health problems such as HIV/AIDS and drug abuse and techno-
logical advancement.
a) Note-making
i) Study reading
1 play
poverty-eradication
iii) Novels
iv) Plays
v) Poems
vii) Reports
16.0 WRITING
16.2 Introduction
The learner should by now have achieved competence in writing various sen-
tence structures and using them in cohesive prose. The learner should be able to
read passages, identify key points, make notes, and write coherent summaries.
They should also now be conversant with various types of functional writing. Lit-
erary and non-literary texts should be used to generate writing activities.
Paraphrasing
16.3 Punctuation
Recipes
i) E-mails
ii) Fax
i) Letters of inquiry
i) Reviews
iv) Questionnaires
i) Imaginative compositions
ii) Autobiographies
iii) Biographies
i) Curriculum vitae
ii)Speeches