The English Department at David Thompson is dedicated to offering students a wide variety of courses designed to enhance their abilities in English Language Arts. 

The curriculum is designed to empower students by providing them with strong communication skills, an understanding and appreciation of language and literature, and the capacity to engage fully as literate and responsible citizens in a digital age. Students are guided in their learning to think critically, creatively, and reflectively; to construct a sense of personal and cultural identity; and to be respectful of a range of perspectives and worldviews. The English Language Arts curriculum is a foundational component of education in British Columbia schools.

There is a common English Language Arts program for Grade 8 and Grade 9. In Grades 10 through 12, students may take courses in English 10-12 or English First Peoples 10-12. All courses satisfy the English Language Arts requirements, and all are considered academically equivalent. For more information on the 10 through 12 course pathways, please visit the David Thompson Course Planning Guide. 

First Peoples Principles of Learning

The First Peoples Principles of Learning have been affirmed within First Peoples societies to guide the teaching and learning of provincial curricula. Because these principles of learning represent an attempt to identify common elements in the varied teaching and learning approaches that prevail within First Peoples societies, it must be recognized that they do not capture the full reality of the approach used in any single First Peoples society.

First Peoples Principles of Learning greatly influence the English Language Arts curriculum and are woven throughout. They lend themselves well to language learning, as they promote experiential and reflexive learning, as well as self-advocacy and personal responsibility in students. They help create classroom experiences based on the concepts of community, shared learning, and trust, all of which are vital to language acquisition.

Course Offerings

• English 8
• English 9
• English 10 Literature Studies
• English 10 Composition/Creative Writing
• English 10 Spoken Language
• English 10 New Media
• English 11 Literature Studies
• English 11 New Media/English First Peoples
• English 11 Composition
• English 12 Literature Studies
• English 12 First Peoples

Odessey Program

• Odessey Enriched English 8 and 9
• Odessey Focused Literary Studies 10
• Odessey Enriched Composition, 10
• Odessey Enriched Literary Studies 11
• Odessey Enriched English Studies 12

Teaching Staff: