English Language Usage: Grammar, Writing, Communication Skills for Teens

In this class, students will be taught the essential building blocks of the English language in a way that is practical, clear, and easy to apply to both academic and real-world settings. We begin with a deep dive into the foundations of grammar. Students will learn how to identify and use the eight parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. From there, we’ll explore how those parts come together to form clear, complete, and meaningful sentences.

Learners will also be introduced to proper sentence structure and syntax. We will discuss subjects and predicates, clauses and phrases, and how sentence variety can improve flow and clarity. Special attention will be given to identifying and correcting common issues like run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and comma splices—mistakes that often appear in student writing and can negatively affect communication.

Punctuation rules will be a major focus of this course. We’ll cover commas, periods, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, and quotation marks in detail. Students will understand when and how to use each one, and we’ll use examples and practice activities to make these rules stick. We’ll also talk about how punctuation can affect tone and meaning.

The course will teach students how to write with both precision and personality. This includes understanding the difference between active and passive voice, choosing the right word for the context, and maintaining consistent tone. We will explore formal and informal writing styles and practice code-switching based on different audiences—such as writing an essay for school versus sending a professional email or making a post on social media.

Additionally, students will learn editing and proofreading strategies that can be applied to their own writing. We’ll practice identifying unclear or redundant phrasing, correcting grammar and spelling errors, and revising for clarity, flow, and conciseness.

Finally, learners will gain skills in written communication beyond the mechanics. They will learn how to organize ideas clearly, support their points with examples, and transition smoothly between thoughts. Whether they’re working on an essay, short story, speech, or email, these lessons will give them confidence and control over their writing.

By the end of the course, students will not only understand the rules of English but know how to use them with purpose, accuracy, and confidence.