Turkey Ortaokul 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum - Foreign Language (English)

This curriculum is designed to develop communicative competence in English, focusing primarily on listening and speaking skills, with reading and writing becoming more prominent in later grades. It adheres to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and emphasizes an action-oriented approach, encouraging students to use English in authentic communicative contexts. The curriculum integrates key competences and values education within its framework.

7th Grade

The 7th Grade curriculum marks the beginning of the A2 (Basic User/Waystage or Elementary Requirement) level according to the CEFR. The primary focus remains on listening and speaking, with reading and writing as secondary skills.

Key Competences: Communication in foreign languages, learning to learn, social and civic responsibilities, cultural awareness and expression.

Values: Friendship, justice, honesty, self-control, patience, respect, love, responsibility, patriotism, and altruism. These values are integrated within the themes of the units.

Units:

1. Appearance and Personality: Describing people and making simple comparisons. Learners practice describing physical appearance and personality traits, using comparatives (e.g., taller, more outgoing). 2. Sports: Talking about routines and daily activities. Learners discuss sports and exercise routines, using frequency adverbs (e.g., always, usually, sometimes, never). 3. Biographies: Talking about past events. Learners explore biographies and discuss past events, using the simple past tense. 4. Wild Animals: Describing the frequency of actions and making simple suggestions. Learners discuss wild animals and their characteristics, focusing on habitat, diet, and conservation. 5. Television: Expressing preferences and talking about past events. Learners discuss television programs and their preferences, using vocabulary related to different genres. 6. Celebrations: Making simple suggestions and expressing needs and quantities. Learners discuss celebrations and events, focusing on planning and organization. 7. Dreams: Making predictions. Learners discuss their dreams and aspirations for the future, using the future simple tense (will). 8. Public Buildings: Giving explanations and reasons. Learners discuss public buildings and their functions, explaining why people go to these places. 9. Environment: Describing simple processes and expressing obligations. Learners discuss environmental issues and the importance of conservation, describing processes related to protecting the environment. 10. Planets: Making simple comparisons and talking about past events. Learners discuss planets and the solar system, making comparisons and discussing scientific discoveries.

8th Grade

The 8th Grade curriculum continues at the A2 level of the CEFR. While listening and speaking remain the primary focus, reading and writing are further developed, with increased emphasis on producing longer and more varied texts.

Key Competences: Communication in foreign languages, digital literacy, basic skills in math and science, learning to learn, social and civic responsibilities, initiative and entrepreneurship, cultural awareness and expression.

Values: Same as 7th grade, integrated within the unit themes.

Units:

1. Friendship: Accepting and refusing invitations, apologizing, and giving explanations. Learners discuss friendship and social interactions, practicing making and responding to invitations. 2. Teen Life: Expressing likes and dislikes and stating personal opinions. Learners discuss teenage life and activities, expressing their preferences and opinions. 3. In the Kitchen: Describing simple processes and expressing preferences. Learners discuss cooking and food preparation, describing processes and expressing their preferences. 4. On the Phone: Following phone conversations and stating decisions. Learners practice making and receiving phone calls, focusing on common telephone language. 5. The Internet: Accepting and refusing offers, making excuses. Learners discuss internet usage and online communication, practicing making and responding to offers. 6. Adventures: Expressing preferences and making comparisons. Learners discuss adventurous activities and extreme sports, expressing their preferences and making comparisons. 7. Tourism: Describing places, expressing preferences, and talking about experiences. Learners discuss tourism and travel, describing places and sharing their experiences. 8. Chores: Expressing likes and dislikes, obligations, and responsibilities. Learners discuss household chores and responsibilities, expressing their obligations and feelings. 9. Science: Describing actions happening currently and talking about past events. Learners discuss scientific topics and discoveries, describing current and past actions. 10. Natural Forces: Making predictions and giving reasons and results. Learners discuss natural forces and disasters, making predictions and explaining causes and effects.