From this group, students choose a second language. The IB philosophy stresses the importance of students having at their command more than one language in order to assist them to think internationally. The apprenticeship of learning a foreign language is both a training for other language acquisition and a testing ground for tolerance, in that it will, by its very nature, teach new ways of thinking and looking at the world.

Entry Requirements

This is a two-year course for non-native speakers of the language who have no prior formal training in this language.

Aims

• To encourage positive attitudes to the learning of other languages and to their speakers and countries
• To develop the students’ ability to communicate in the chosen language, in order to deal adequately with familiar and practical needs
• To introduce the students to a different culture through the study of the chosen language

Content

This course comprises five themes:

1. Identities – Explore the nature of the self and what it is to be human.
2. Experiences – Explore and tell the stories of the events, experiences and journeys that shape our lives
3. Human Ingenuity – Explore the ways in which human creativity and innovation affect our world
4. Social Organisation – Explore the ways in which groups of people organise themselves, or are organised, through common systems or interests
5. Sharing the Planet – Explore the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals and communities in the modern world

Assessment at Standard Level Ab initio

External Assessment – 75%

Paper 1:  Productive skills – writing 25%

Paper 2:  Receptive skills – 50%

                 Listening comprehension (45 mins) (25 marks)

                 Reading comprehension (1 hour) (40 marks)

Internal Assessment – 25%

Individual oral assessment                            

Assessment Criteria at Standard Level

Students will be assessed on their ability to:

• Communicate clearly, fluently, accurately and effectively in a range of situations, demonstrating linguistic competence and intercultural understanding (language)
• Organise and express ideas on a range of topics, in a clear, coherent and convincing manner (message/content)
• Use language appropriate to a range of contexts and text types (format)
• Understand, analyse and respond to a range of written and spoken texts

Costs:  All costs are approximate

• French:  IB Workbook $60, Education Perfect $30, Assessment in Language Competence (ALC exam) $20
• Chinese:  Learning Chinese Steps $50, Education Perfect $30, Assessment in Language Competence (ALC exam) $20
• Spanish: IB Workbook $60, Education Perfect $30, Workbook $10, Assessment in Language Competence (ALC exam) $20