English Language Arts

Manitoba English Language Arts Curriculum is outcome based: every year students demonstrate their capacity to meet grade level outcomes. At each grade level students participate in lessons that help them to develop & hone their ELA skills – reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and representing. It is mandatory that students achieve the outcomes for one grade level before enrolling in the next grade level course. 

In ELA courses the various reading materials and written forms that students encounter fall into two broad categories:  aesthetic and pragmatic. 

Aesthetic texts are created for the purpose of evoking emotion, recreating experiences and exploring language (poetry, short stories, novels). Pragmatic texts are created with a practical purpose in mind, such as: telling a news story, sharing information, or selling a product (speeches, brochures, how-to-guides). 

Different ELA courses focus on these two types of texts to different degrees.

In order to graduate, students are required only to complete one grade level ELA course per grade. Entry into some post-secondary programs may require more than one grade 12 level ELA credit. Students are encouraged to check with their guidance counsellors for details about program requirements.

Course Listing

Grade 9
English 10F (1 Credit) ENGR1F

This course runs every day all year and explores a variety of texts with an emphasis on Human Rights and world events. Course content: 50% pragmatic and 50% aesthetic. 

Grade 10
English 20F (1 Credit) ENGR2F

This course provides students with the opportunity to explore a variety of texts. Course content: 50% aesthetic and 50% pragmatic. The prerequisite for this course is English 10F.

Grade 11
 English 30S Comprehensive (1 Credit) ENGC3S
This course aims at developing evaluation skills and a more mature point of view. Students are asked to consider style and place with a greater emphasis on critical thinking. Students are involved in group and individual work. The course content: 50% aesthetic and 50% pragmatic. The prerequisite for this course is English 20F.

English 30S Transactional (1 Credit) ENGT3S

This course focuses on pragmatic forms of reading and writing, such as: letter writing, non-fiction texts and media literacy. It is designed for students who would prefer to read a true story rather than  fiction and who prefer practical applications of ELA. The course content: 30% aesthetic and 70% pragmatic. The prerequisite for this course is English 20F.

Grade 12

English 40S Comprehensive (1 Credit) ENGC4S
Students study literature and language. The focus is skill development and is intended for students who want a broad range of language experience. Course content: 50% aesthetic and 50% pragmatic. The prerequisite for this course is any grade 11 ELA credit. Students in this course are required to write the Provincial English Language Arts exam.

English 40S Literary (1 Credit) ENGL4S
Students analyze modern and traditional literature, poetry, plays, and short movies. Course content: 70% aesthetic and 30% pragmatic. The prerequisite for this course is any grade 11 ELA credit. Students in this course are required to write the Provincial English Language Arts exam.

English 40S Transactional (1 Credit) ENGT4S
This course focuses on the study of non-fiction and contemporary materials (e.g. research, reports, biographies, and journalism form). The course content is 30% aesthetic and 70% pragmatic. The prerequisite for this course is any grade 11 ELA credit. Students in this course are required to write the Provincial English Language Arts exam.