The New Senior Secondary

Curriculum for Sierra Leone

Subject syllabus for English Language
Subject stream: Languages and Literatures

This subject syllabus is based on the National Curriculum

Framework for Senior Secondary Education. It was prepared
by national curriculum specialists and subject experts.
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum

Syllabus for English Language - a core subject

Subject description
English Language for SSS level builds upon the language skills taught at the Basic Education level. It focuses on strengthening competencies in the
skills of reading with comprehension, writing, speaking and listening. The subject is designed to help students gain knowledge and understanding of
those aspects of English that are relevant for success in their academic tasks and communicating effectively in other situations.

General Learning Outcomes

Pupils are expected to be able to:
• Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the conventions of grammar, and effectively apply them in their writing and dialogue.
• Produce writing that is clear and accurate for different purposes or audiences, using appropriate language and style.
• Use appropriate vocabulary in their writing and conversation.
• Interpret and analyze oral and written information.
• Summarize the main points of a passage in a concise and accurate manner.
• Read fluently, confidently and with understanding.
• Speak fluently, clearly, and confidently in the English language.

Subject Content Outline by Themes and Topics

Grammar and Language Use:
• Noun types and functions
• Pronouns
• Verb types and usage: Regular and irregular forms, Voice of verbs, Modals, Subject-verb agreement rules, Verb tenses
• Adjectives and adverbs
• Prepositions and standard use of prepositions
• Conjunctions
• Punctuation/Capitalization rules
• Sentence forms/structure
• Phrases and clauses.

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MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum

Vocabulary:
Understanding meaning of words in context:
• the etymology of words, syllables, root words, prefixes and suffixes, synonyms and antonyms of words
• Confusing words and homonyms
• Understanding idioms
• Interpreting and using figurative language – simile, metaphor, personification, irony
• Building on vocabulary with prefixes and suffixes
• Understanding and using vocabulary associated with the following fields: government and politics, sports and entertainment, finance, religion,
photography, construction, science and technology, education, fishing, media and communication, transportation, electricity.
Writing practice and summary:
• Writing sentences and paragraphs (ordering information in a logical manner:writing topic sentences and thesis statements, introduction and
conclusion etc.)
• writing non-fiction – text types, form and structure, presentational features and their effects (the writing triplets – writing to imagine, entertain and
explore; writing to inform, explain, describe; writing to argue, persuade, advise)
• Writing letters (formal and informal) d) Writing speeches e) Summary writing
Reading comprehension:
• Skills for effective reading (skimming, scanning etc.),
• Reading fiction & non-fiction – structuring a reading response; make a point and back it up with a quotation (evidence from the text); explain the
evidence in your own words to show understanding; explore different ideas to show an appreciation of the whole text.
Speaking and Listening:
• Characteristics of English sounds
• Review of English letter sounds - vowels, consonant and consonant clusters, diphthongs
• Stress and intonation patterns
• Syllable structure
• Listening comprehension

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MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum

Teaching Syllabus
Senior Secondary Level 1
Topic/Theme/Unit Expected learning outcomes Recommended teaching Assessment of learning
methods outcomes
Grammar and Language Use Pupils will be expected to: Direct and pupil centered Pupils will be assessed both
• Noun types and functions • Identify types of nouns, state instruction formally and informally upon
• Pronouns their functions, and use them Group activities completing tasks relating to the
• Types of Verbs and their use: effectively in writing. Question and answer learning outcomes as follows:
Regular and irregular forms, • Identify pronouns and effectively Class work/ Assignments • Read a short paragraph and
Voice of verbs, Modals, Subject- use them in writing and afterwards identify all nouns and
verb agreement rules, Tenses speaking. state their functions (e.g. subject,
• Adjectives and adverbs • Identify different types of verbs object, object of a preposition,
• Prepositions and their standard and explain their functions. predicate nominative). Then,
use • Explain subject-verb agreement write sentences that illustrate
• Conjunctions rules. use of each noun correctly.
• Punctuation/capitalization rules • Explain the functions of the (Marks will be awarded for each
• Sentence forms/structure different verb tenses and use task performed correctly)
• Phrases and clauses them effectively in writing and • Respond to short answer
speaking. questions that would require
• Tell the difference between appropriate identification and
adjectives and adverbs and use of pronoun forms, such as
identify them in context. nominative (subject) case
• Identify prepositions and use pronouns (e.g. I, we, he, she,
them appropriately. they, you), object case pronouns
• Identify and use conjunctions. (e.g. me, us, him, her),
• Use punctuation correctly (e.g. possessive case (his, hers, its,
comma, full stop, question mark, my, mine), reflexive pronouns
colon, semi-colon, dash/hyphen, (e.g. who, whom) etc.
exclamation mark, parenthesis). • Answer short questions that
require identification of action

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Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum

• Apply capitalization rules verbs (kick, jump, run), linking

correctly. verbs (is, are, was, were, seem,
• Identify simple, complex and taste), modals (may, can, must),
compound sentences. regular and irregular verbs etc.
• Identify phrase and clause types • Respond to questions that
and their functions. require explaining subject-verb
agreement rules (e.g. singular
verb takes a singular subject;
plural verb takes a plural subject
etc.)
• Carry out exercises that illustrate
use of present, past and future
tense forms (simple, continuous,
perfect and perfect continuous).
• Respond to short written
questions demanding
identification and standard use of
prepositions, conjunctions, and
capitalization rules.
• Read short paragraphs to
identify simple, complex and
compound sentences as well as
prepositional, verbal and noun
phrases

Vocabulary Learners will be able to: As above • Carry out exercises on the use of
• Demonstrate ability to use prefixes and suffixes to derive
prefixes and suffixes to build new words (e.g. undo, redo,
words. useless, useful).
• Identify the synonyms and • Read short passages to identify
antonyms of different words. and explain the use of figurative
language (e.g. simile, metaphor,
personification, irony).

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MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum

• Identify and interpret figurative • Respond to multiple choice

language. questions to identify and use
• Recognize and use vocabulary vocabulary associated with
associated with specialized fields specialized fields such as
(e.g. government and politics, finance, sports, politics etc.
sports and entertainment,
finance, religion etc.)

Senior Secondary Level 2

Writing practice and summary Learners will be able to: Direct and pupil centered • Respond to writing prompts by
• Create short and simple instruction composing simple sentences
sentences about an activity or Group activities about daily activities or routines.
routine. Think-Write-Pair-Share • Read body paragraphs and
• Identify topic sentences in body Questioning identify topic sentences and
paragraphs. Class work supporting sentences clearly.
• Identify supporting sentences in Assignments • Respond to a writing prompt and
body paragraphs. compose a body paragraph
• Construct body paragraphs consisting of a topic sentence,
containing a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a
supporting sentences and a concluding sentence.
concluding sentence. • Respond to essay questions
• Organize their writing by using demanding coherent writing
suitable transitional words. aiming to inform, describe,
• Construct an introductory argue, persuade, narrate, or
paragraph and a concluding advise.
paragraph. • Respond to a range of questions
• Identify thesis statements in and write a letter or speech
introductory paragraphs. entailing appropriate form and
• Compose a piece of non-fictional conventions (e.g. address line,
writing that aims to entertain, salutation, topic/subject,
inform, explain, describe, argue, informal/formal language,
persuade or advise. complimentary close etc.).

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MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum

• Identify the most relevant • Read a summary passage and

information in a respond to questions requiring
paragraph/passage. identification of the most relevant
• Rephrase/summarise the main information and restating of the
points in a passage in their own main points.
words.
Marks will be awarded based on
• Use the form, structures and
the following writing rubrics:
conventions appropriate to writing
• Organization
formal and informal letters.
• Orderly presentation of material
• Use the form, structures and
• Form and structure
conventions appropriate to writing
a speech. • Mechanical accuracy
• Expression

Reading comprehension Learners will be able to: • Direct and pupil • Read a passage on a familiar
• Interpret and identify ideas centered instruction topic with speed and accuracy,
contained in passages. • Group discussions identify the main ideas within it
• Explain the meaning of key • Think-Pair-Share and discuss this with peers.
words/phrases as used in • Questioning • Clearly re-tell the main idea,
passages. • Class work message, or information after
• Identify phrases and their reading a passage.
functions in passages. • Read a familiar passage and
• Analyze ideas and information through answering questions,
contained in passages. demonstrate understanding of
key words and phrases as used
in context.
• Read a passage and identify the
function of underlined phrases in
the text.

Marks will be awarded for correct

answers and other tasks will be

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MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum

assessed through teacher

observations.

Senior Secondary Level 3

Speaking and Listening Learners will be able to: • Direct and pupil • Words read out orally are
• Practice English words and their centered instruction listened to and pronounced
correct pronunciation. • Role play correctly.
• Express themselves in a fluent • Conversation • Questions in a simulated
manner. • Group activities interview are responded to
• Use vocabulary that is appropriate fluently.
to context or topic. • A presentation on a familiar topic
• Discuss information presented in is delivered in class using correct
recorded audio. and fluent English.
• Recorded audio is listened to and
discussed in groups using
appropriate and clear language.

Pupils will be assessed on the

rubrics below:
• Pronunciation, Fluency,
Grammar, Vocabulary etc.

Suggested resources
Paul F. M. Al-Gbahan Lahai and Saidu Challay (2020). English Grammar and Writing Skills. Bloomington Publishers.
A.Y. Sheriff (2019). English Language Gate Way; New Edition for Senior Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions. Royal Park Publishing and
Media.
The Farlex Grammar Book: Complete English Grammar Rules. Farlex International.
Word Smart (2017) 6th Edition. The Princeton Review. Penguin Random House, LLC, New York.
Paul F. Johnson and Carolyn LoGiudice (2007). Spotlight on Reading and Listening Comprehension