Swedish Mellanstadiet English Syllabus

This information is derived from the Swedish National Agency for Education's official curriculum for the compulsory school (grundskolan), revised in 2018.

Aim:

The teaching of English should aim to develop pupils' knowledge of the English language and where it is used, building confidence in their ability to use English in diverse situations. Pupils should develop well-rounded communication skills, including understanding spoken and written English, expressing themselves, interacting with others, and adapting their language use. This also involves building confidence and using strategies to support communication when language skills are insufficient. Teaching should foster an interest in language and culture, highlighting the benefits of language skills.

Core Content:

Years 1-3:

• Content of Communication: Familiar subject areas, interests, people, places, daily life, and ways of living in different English-speaking contexts.
• Listening and Reading (Reception): Clearly spoken English and simple texts from various media, including instructions, descriptions, conversations, dialogues, children's films and dramatizations, songs, rhymes, poems, tales, and simple environmental print.
• Speaking, Writing, and Discussing (Production and Interaction): Simple presentations, descriptions, messages, songs, rhymes, and dramatizations.

Years 4-6:

• Content of Communication: Familiar subject areas, everyday situations, interests, people, places, events, activities, views, emotions, experiences, daily life, ways of living, and social relations in different English-speaking contexts.
• Listening and Reading (Reception): Clearly spoken English and texts from various media, including instructions, descriptions, conversations, dialogues, interviews, children's and youth films and dramatizations, songs, tales, poems. Strategies for understanding keywords and context, including adapting listening and reading approaches. Searching for and selecting texts and spoken English from various media. Awareness of language phenomena such as pronunciation, intonation, grammar, spelling, and fixed expressions. Understanding how words and expressions are used in different situations and how they are used to initiate and conclude communications.
• Speaking, Writing, and Discussing (Production and Interaction): Presentations, instructions, messages, narratives, and descriptions in continuous speech and writing. Language strategies for comprehension and communication when language skills are lacking. Strategies for participating in discussions. Using language phenomena to clarify and enrich communication.

Years 7-9:

• Content of Communication: Current and familiar subject areas, interests, everyday situations, activities, events, relations, ethical questions, views, experiences, emotions, future plans, living conditions, traditions, social relations, and cultural phenomena in various English-speaking contexts.
• Listening and Reading (Reception): Spoken English and texts from various media, including those with regional and social accents, instructions, descriptions, conversations, dialogues, interviews, oral communications, literature and other fiction, songs, poems, informational texts, and argumentative texts. Strategies for understanding details and context, adapting listening and reading approaches. Critically evaluating texts and spoken English from various media. Awareness of language phenomena. Understanding how language varies for different purposes and contexts, how language creates structure and coherence, and how language, images, and sound are used to influence.
• Speaking, Writing, and Discussing (Production and Interaction): Refining own productions, oral and written narratives, descriptions, instructions, conversations, discussions, and argumentation. Language strategies for comprehension and communication. Strategies for participating actively in conversations. Using language phenomena to clarify, vary, and enrich communication.

Knowledge Requirements: (Summaries for Grade E, C, and A at the end of year 6 and year 9 are available in the linked curriculum document.)