Pathways is a dual skills course that can be taught in parallel or as separate parts - Reading and Writing, and Listening and Speaking - with topics and language that complement and reflect each other. Students benefit from a focused skills curriculum where they can genuinely develop, not just practice, the skills they will need for effective language use. Pathways is particularly suited for academic English language learners, with the topics and texts introducing the language stemming from a more academic context. Furthermore, the strong element of critical thinking present in both modules encourages and stimulates higher-order thinking skills and students' ability to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize information from a wide range of sources. Significant and authentic content from National Geographic creates the ideal environment for this and stimulates students' curiosity and engagement.