ICSE Syllabus for Class 8 English

The syllabus of Class 8 English is designed in such a way that students can holistically develop language skills. It covers all the aspects of a language - listening, speaking, writing, reading, and Grammar.

Listening and Speaking

Students listen to varied texts from varied genres as well as registers. This includes poems, stories, lectures, narratives, etc. This helps in writing as well as in aural comprehension. They listen and then comprehend topics including discourses, lectures, speeches, debates, group discussions, etc. 

Students then analyse and evaluate the language's use in varied contexts, be it television, newspaper, or billboards, and interpret it. Students can also adapt to the various tasks and contents that are not limited to word choices, stress, tone, gesture, and body language. They collect and then collate ideas to seek clarifications and thus keep any discussion relevant.

Reading

The theme covers literary as well as non-literary texts on varied themes of different niches. The themes include family, self, friends, home, and many more. Extensive reading through various topics helps incomprehension and drawing inferences from what is read. The student also focuses on the vocabulary choices, mode, and tone used in the text, and understands the figurative language. They deconstruct the textual part and then understand the plot, its central theme, and viewpoint. They also delve deeper to understand and analyse the text from the drama or the production viewpoint.

Reading and Writing

Students learn how to write a composition of around 250 to 300 words. They also learn to write formal and informal letters, stories, personal narratives and write across varied disciplines. They learn how to use technology as a source to enhance their research. The topic teaches them to follow a set process of planning, writing, revising, editing, and rewriting the context if need be.

Grammar and Vocabulary in Context

In this section, students will understand how to use phrases and clauses. They also build on their sentence formation and learn how to use simple and compound sentences. They learn how to use idioms and the figure of speech in various contexts.

Suggested Textbooks for ICSE Class 8 English

ICSE board is known for the liberty that it provides to its students in terms of reading materials i.e. books. Students are free to choose books according to their convenience, which they think are the best according to their requirements. ICSE has only laid out the syllabus. Below are a few of the books which can comprehensively cover the syllabus:

• Foundations in English by Pearson

• Learner’s Grammar and Composition by Oxford Publications

• Starting with Comprehension by Pearson 

Students are advised to choose according to their convenience and satisfaction. After reading the above-mentioned books, students will be able to cover the syllabus, develop an understanding of the subject and cover questions asked in the exam.

Further Suggested Reading List

The best way to learn and master any language is to remain in touch with the literature it has to offer. It not only helps with improving language skills but also introduces students to global literature and perspectives. ICSE board has kept this very well in mind and thus it has prescribed a very inclusive reading list for the students. To make the list as inclusive as possible several books are written by authors coming from different parts of the world are included, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Sherlock Holmes, Les Miserables, Ramayana/Mahabharata, The Hobbit, Lord of the Flies, A Tale of Two Cities, The Pearl, graphic novels like Maus, etc. Students are prescribed to read these books and develop a deeper understanding of the language and Indian as well as international English literature.