Language Ab Initio (SL only): Mandarin, Spanish and French

Language ab initio is a language acquisition course designed for students with no prior experience of the target language, or for those students with very limited previous exposure. It should be noted that language ab initio is offered at SL only. 

The ab initio courses offer students the chance to take up a new language at IBDP and to reach a reasonable level of communication in only two years. This is a suitable course for students who are interested in learning how to communicate effectively in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. At the language ab initio level, a student develops receptive, productive and interactive communicative skills. 

The Extended Essay is not an option for Language ab initio students. 

Students will have opportunities to draw on their experiences in the core (i.e. transferring the critical thinking process explored in TOK to the development of arguments in written text types such as a blog or email; using personal knowledge gained from a CAS experience as a cultural comparison; developing ideas for CAS activities as a result of themes and topics explored). 

Suitability 

The language ab initio course is designed for students with little or no prior experience of the language they wish to study. All final decisions on the appropriateness of the course for which students are entered are taken by coordinators in liaison with teachers, using their experience and professional judgment to guide them. The most important consideration is that the language ab initio course should be a challenging educational experience for the student (IB Language ab initio Guide). 

• Experiences: explore and tell the stories of the events, experiences and journeys that shape our lives. 

  • • daily routine 

    • leisure 

    • holidays 

    • festivals and celebrations 

• Human ingenuity: explore the ways in which human creativity and innovation affect our world. 

  • • transport 

    • entertainment 

    • media 

    • Technology 

• Social organisation: explore the ways in which groups of people organise themselves or are organised through common systems or interests. 

  • • neighbourhood 

    • education 

    • the workplace 

    • social issues 

• Sharing the planet: explore the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals and communities in the modern world. 

  • • climate 

    • physical geography 

    • the environment 

    • global issues 

• Paper 2: receptive skills (1 hour 45 minutes)– 50% comprehension exercises on three audio passages and three written texts, drawn from all five themes. It is made up of 2 parts: 

  • • listening comprehension (45 minutes, 25 marks) 

    • reading comprehension (1 hour, 40 marks) 

Internal Assessment: Interactive skills – 25% 

• Individual Oral – (7 to 10 minutes) a presentation on a theme addressed in a visual stimulus, followed by a discussion and a general conversation on at least one additional course theme (30 marks) 

If you have any questions, please email Ms Laurie Kraaijeveld, head of high school languages, at lkr@uwcsea.edu.sg