Curriculum

Every educator, no matter whether they teach math, geography, French or English as a Second Language needs to choose a text. As an English outreach ministry, the key is finding a curriculum that allows the student to grow in their language abilities while presenting the truth of the Bible. In order to meet the needs of the Graceland community, we have been writing our own curriculum for more than 15 years.

Eveything we write has 4 main areas of focus: presenting Biblical truth, expanding vocabulary usage, strengthening oral reading skills and engaging the learner in significant converation. The mechanics of grammar is also included in many of the courses we have written, but not as much in the more advanced programmes.

Adults and teens alike find themselves gaining ground in their language abilities all while discussing matters of the heart and soul.

If you have a desire to begin an English outreach ministry, we would love to help. We can give suggestions based on our own experiences and may even be able to provide curriculum at a very reasonable cost.

If you have a gift for writing and would like to participate in creating life-giving curriculum, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact Jay Bowyer for more information: jay@gracelandcentrum.com

Check out our curriculum samples below.

Christian ESL Stand-Alone Curriculum

  • The Prince and the Pauper

    (Adult and Young Teen Advanced Beginner)

    This curriculum takes the advanced beginner student to a new level. The classic story of the prince becoming the common man has been rewritten for the lower level student to enjoy. Spiritual content is worked into the discussion questions in a natural way.

    The grammar at this level helps to focus the students on some of the basics such as verbs, pronouns and basic sentence building.

  • Adventures in Canada

    (Adult – Lower Intermediate)

    This curriculum is intended to give the student a fun overview of Canada, its history, famous places and a few key individuals. The students enjoy seeing a side of Canada that they might otherwise be unaware of.

    The grammar is centred on verb tenses and usage.

    The spiritual content is not as overt in this program, however, Bible passages are quoted with pertinent discussion questions, related to the topic of the unit.

  • Follower's Quest

    (Teen – Lower Intermediate)

    This allegory was written especially for Graceland students by Joy Grace Chen. The student will acquire new vocabulary, practice verb tenses and engage in discussion as they journey with 3 young teens on a quest to find the Healer.

  • Survivor I: The Life of Joseph

    (Adult – Intermediate 1)

    This curriculum takes the student to the next level grammatically by showing various verb tenses and usage of adjectives and adverbs. The intermediate student will enjoy following the biography of a great man of God. Practical applications for vocabulary acquisition and retention, grammar and writing and easy flowing discussions are a part of every unit. The use of puzzles and word games also make this curriculum fun and challenging. Additionally, the student workbook contains 3 progress tests to help students see their improvement along the way.

    Spiritually, the student sees very clearly that the hardships Joseph faced were used for good in his life. In fact, the students will watch “the soap opera” of Joseph’s life unfold and see him go from favoured son to prisoner and back to man of power and position.

    (Note: This curriculum is written in such a way as to be used either in the classroom, complete with grammar, or simply as a book for a discussion group.)

    Table of Contents and Sample

  • Survivor II: Robinson Crusoe

    (Adult and Older Teen – Intermediate 2)

    This classic story has been rewritten at the next intermediate level to allow students the joy of reading a classic novel. Students get a good workout in verb tenses and have plenty of practice determining when to use which tense. The student is often put in the position of reporter to describe what is happening in Crusoe’s life.

    Spiritually, the student hears the full gospel presented from the main character of the book. Having a 3rd party share the message of love and grace gives the teacher the vantage point of asking questions about Crusoe’s spiritual journey and helps the student draw personal life conclusions.

    Table of Contents

  • The Challenge

    (Intermediate Teen and Adult)

    The Challenge is this: In the real world, is it possible to live a life of faith and service to God? The text follows the life of Daniel from teen to senior citizen. Students will follow the dramatic highs and lows of Daniel’s life and will see that he never wavered in his devotion to God. Students will talk about Daniel’s life and draw conclusions and make practical applications to their own lives.

    This curriculum focuses on vocabulary usage and is a course designed for students who like to think, talk and be creative in the classroom.

    Sample

  • The Stand

    (Teen – Intermediate)

    Teens will read compelling stories of other real-life teens who decided to make a difference in their community and their world. Challenging teens to “take a stand” for something beyond what is normally expected of teens is a discussion in every chapter. This curriculum is reading and discussion based and does not delve into grammar.

  • Canada Eh to Zed

    (Adult – Intermediate 3)

    This curriculum gives the student the opportunity to explore Canada in ways they have never imagined. From wild and crazy critters to unsolved mysteries to the great minds of Canada, the student will always be experiencing something intriguing about the Great White North! Each unit not only has its focal text, but also highlights a place to visit, a trivia fact or a famous Canadian brand.

    The grammar is tackled in a “natural” format, with greater emphasis on the specifics of usage and practice to go with it.

    The spiritual content of this material occurs primarily in thematic discussion in each unit.

    Table of Contents

  • Life in HD

    (Adult – Intermediate)

    This curriculum steps into the lives of successful Christ-followers. The students follow the journeys of these believers, their victories and their failures, their struggles and their faith. The lives of the individuals studied make it easy to discuss God’s involvement in our lives and our relationship with Him.

    The grammar focus continues not so much in learning new things but rather on perfecting skills such as the perfect tenses, modal verbs, gerunds and conditionals.

  • Power Up

    (Adult – Upper Intermediate)

    This curriculum is focused on the business student who wants to increase vocabulary and discuss aspects of business pertaining to leadership. Short, real-life stories highlight and emphasize business qualities such as integrity, generosity, creativity and the golden rule. A/B partner activities have students working through various business related scenarios. The natural progression of grammar takes the student into phrasal verbs and modals. The students also have 3 tests within the text to help monitor their progress.

    Spiritually this curriculum is subtler than some of the others, as it was originally written to be used on a secular university campus. However, being true to our calling, Bible passages are used, Bible characters are quoted and the text ends using Jesus as the example of the ultimate leader.

    Table of Contents and Sample

  • Can You Believe It?

    (Teens and Adult – Upper Intermediate)

    This course was designed for people who might think the Bible is boring. It is filled with the whacky, off-the-wall and downright gruesome stories of the Bible. The prevailing spiritual content centers around: disobedience, suffering, remorse, repentance and blessing.

    Grammar is not for the faint of heart with emphasis on conditionals, perfect tenses, gerunds and passive voice.

    Table of Contents and Sample

  • Turning Point I

    (Advanced – Adult)

    The dramatic life of Michael Franzese, former Mafia boss turned Christ-follower gives the student an inside look at growing up in the Mafia. The students get involved in a love/hate relationship with Michael’s father Sonny and engage in the drama of his family, both biological and Mafia. Students are encouraged to pinpoint the TURNING POINTS in Michael’s life and to examine their own life’s turning points and consider the consequences of those turns.

    Lively discussions surrounding moral behaviour, ethical decisions and faith keep the classroom alive and growing.

    Students increase not just their vocabulary, but the subtleties of usage.

    Sample

  • Turning Point II

    (Advanced – Adult)

    Continuing with the idea that moments can change and mould people, the class will follow the life of Mosab Hassan Yousef. Growing up in the war-torn Palestinian Territories, Mosab describes his journey from aspiring university grad to terrorist and then describes his dramatic TURNING POINT when he became a follower of Jesus Christ.

    Students engage in current, real-world discussion about terrorism and the Middle-East conflict. Exploring the foundations of Islam, Judaism and Christianity and their values, students are given an opportunity to examine and compare the 3 major world religions.

    Vocabulary building and usage is the primary grammar focus.

Accompanying Curriculum

Getting students to engage in reading Christian novels has been a very fun adventure. We have written numerous programmes to accompany novels. If you are interested in this curriculum, you have to purchase the novels for your students or ask them to purchase the novels to go with the curriculum.

  • The Homelanders Series by Andrew Klavan

    Advanced Adult, Teen

    2 semesters

    Students follow the life of a young man who wakes up in the worst possible nightmare: not being able to remember the last year of his life and why he’s running for his life. Important themes such as faith, integrity, patriotism, evil, family and honour are discussed. The student workbook focuses on comprehension and discussion from the first two books of the series. A significant amount of time is devoted to activities to help retain new vocabulary. While new grammar points are not “taught”, there is significant reference and usage of perfect tenses, questions and conditionals.

    Full teacher guidebook with suggested activities and puzzles available.

  • CyberQuest by Sigmund Brouwer

    Intermediate Jr and Sr High Teens

    2 semesters

    Books 1-6 will be covered in 2 semesters as students follow the adventures of a futuristic time-traveller in search of the Galilee Man.

    Comprehension, vocabulary activities and discussion on themes such as decision making, discernment, the Golden Rule, deception, the future and faith will keep the student actively engaged. Teacher’s notes available.

  • Theodore Boone-Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

    Intermediate Teen and Adult

    Students who are interested in learning about the American court system will love this story. As Theo Boone explains to his Government high school class what will happen with the upcoming murder trial, the only one in the town’s history, he explains to the reader all of the roles of rules of courtroom staff and procedures. The student gleans a lot of new vocabulary, and discussion focuses on themes of loyalty, family relationships, right and wrong, legal procedures and faith.

  • Red Rock Mysteries: Haunted Waters

    Intermediate Teen

  • Nightmare Academy by Frank Peretti

    Advanced Teen, Young Adult

    2 semesters

    Students read and discuss the adventure of 2 teens who go undercover to solve the mystery surrounding the haunting behaviour of a young runaway.

    The book naturally lends itself to discussions about faith, loyalty, bravery, evil, bullying, convictions and truth. Lots of games, puzzles and activities help with new vocabulary and slang retention. Full teacher guidebook with suggested additional activities and puzzles available.

  • The Judge by Randy Singer

    Advanced Adult

    2 semesters

    Set in a Survivor-like reality TV show, the novel puts faith on trial and has its characters defending their faith in a court of law. This novel is a great backdrop for discussion about the major world religions and digs into the question, “Do all paths lead to God?” The student focuses on vocabulary development though targeted discussion.

  • Stress Test by Richard Mabry

    Advanced Adult

    2 semesters

    On top of the world one minute and with virtually nothing left to his name the next, this novel follows the life of a doctor who has been wrongly accused of murder. The novel sets the perfect stage for discussing faith when bad things happen to good people.The main areas of focus are reading, comprehension, discussion and vocabulary development through targeted practice.

TV, YouTube, TED Talks and Movie Materials

Graceland students have always enjoyed watching just about anything in English.

We have written materials to go along with the following films:

We have also written materials to go with the following TV series:

If you are interested in the way we have used pop culture, (TV shows, TED Talks and YouTube videos) in the classroom, please contact us for more info.