Vocabulary: The language arts vocabulary program holds students accountable for vocabulary lists derived from the new words encountered in lesson presentations. This program also exposes students to some of the structures and meaning relationships among words. Lower grade topics include parts of speech, syllabication, prefixes, suffixes and roots, antonyms and synonyms, and dictionary skills. Upper level topics expand to include etymology, connotation and denotation, varieties of English, and context clues.

Comprehension Skills: FCA Language Arts helps students develop the ability to effectively read the lines, read between the lines, and read beyond the lines. The developmental sequence across the levels includes (1) identifying main ideas and details (what was said), identifying the audience (to whom it was said), finding the purpose (why it was said), questioning the occasion (when it was said); (2) analyzing point of view (perspective from which it was said) and technique (how it was said); (3) uncovering implication and inference (what wasn't said); and (4) evaluating and applying (responding to what was heard, viewed, or read).

Literature studies: In the elementary grades, the language arts program uses literary works to apply basic principles in reading comprehension and to introduce students to general characteristics of literature and major literary categories such as fiction and nonfiction, poetry and prose. To expand upon the program's literature base, book-report projects (including book lists) are interspersed across grades 3-8 to help students develop their own reading tastes.

Spelling: Spelling lessons appear in every FCA's Language Arts unit from grades 3-8. Instruction and word lists drill and reinforce phonics rules/skills and provide opportunities for application in composition.

Penmanship: The FCA's Language Arts program does not include handwriting technology but includes print-based materials that can be integrated with the FCA program.

Grammar: Studies focus on developing students' awareness of the structure of language and the conventions of written Standard English to improve their speaking and writing skills. Grades 3-6 emphasize basic parts of speech and rules of capitalization and punctuation. Grades 7-8 cover sentence structure, variety, and basic diagramming; verb forms and types; phrases and clauses; usage; and sentence reduction and expansion.

Composition: In addition to providing opportunities for students to apply principles of grammar and usage in written assignments, FCA Language Arts provides writing instruction across the grade levels. Grades 3-6 focus on techniques of invention, word choice, sentence and paragraph structure, paragraph development (e.g. narration, exposition, description), journal and letter writing, story and poetry writing, basic research writing, and writing about literature. Higher grades incorporate formal instruction on the five-paragraph composition, the essay, the research paper, literary criticism, speech writing, and creative writing. FCA Language Arts also uses writing assignments as a means of application and assessment on a variety of topics.

Listening and speaking skills are introduced as vital components for effective communication in grades 3-6 and taught as specific skills in grades 7-8. Topics include conversational etiquette, note taking, interviewing and preparing, delivering, and evaluating speeches.