Other Languages

Course summary

It is a requirement of the IB Diploma Programme that pupils study at least one foreign language. The aim is to promote an understanding of another culture through the study of a second language. The main emphasis of the modern language courses is language acquisition and use in a range of contexts and for different purposes. One of the aims is also to help pupils develop an understanding of the relationship between the languages and cultures, along with their international mindedness. Group 2 courses Language B Ab Initio (SL only) Italian, German, Spanish. This course is designed for pupils with very little or no prior experience of the language. The course consists of 5 prescribed themes: • Identities • Experiences • Human ingenuity • Social organisation • Sharing the planet Language acquisition is achieved through the development of receptive, productive and interactive skills and competencies. Elements of language include vocabulary, grammatical structures, register, pronunciation and intonation. However, it is not just about learning the language; you also need to demonstrate an awareness and understanding of intercultural elements relating to the topics covered, i.e. how and why similarities and differences exist between different countries. You will also be taught how to recognise and reproduce a range of text types such as letters, blogs, and reviews and adapt your language to the targeted audience and the purpose of your writing (conceptual understanding). The level achieved by the end of the course is the equivalent of a high IGSCE level. Please note that Ab Initio IB languages (German/Italian/Spanish) should not be regarded as an easy option: the course is brisk and challenging. You need to be highly motivated as you are expected to reach GCSE standard in just two or three terms and learn large amounts of vocabulary quickly. For some, a fresh start may be necessary or recommended; an ab initio language may be selected as long as there has been no previous study of it for a significant period of time. Most pupils are happiest when they continue studying a language they have studied and enjoyed at GCSE. Language B (SL and HL) French, German, Spanish. Language B is a language acquisition course available at Standard (SL) and Higher Level (HL). It is designed for pupils who have some prior knowledge in the target language. While acquiring a language, pupils will explore the culture(s) connected to it. The focus of these courses is language acquisition, intercultural understanding and international mindedness. The Language B syllabus approaches the learning of language through meaning. Through the study of five prescribed themes at SL and HL, plus two literary works at HL, pupils build the necessary skills to reach the assessment objectives of the language B course through the expansion of their receptive, productive and interactive skills. The five prescribed themes studied are: • Identities • Experiences • Human ingenuity • Social organisation • Sharing the planet SL and HL are differentiated by the recommended number of teaching hours, the depth of syllabus coverage, the study of literature at HL, and the level of difficulty and demands of assessment and application of assessment criteria.