The IB Diploma Language & Literature course is designed to help students develop a sophisticated understanding of literary and non-literary texts and to explore the distinctive intentions of writers from a variety of cultures and media. Students study in detail a variety of texts from different genres, cultures, and periods and the relationships between different works to strengthen literary analysis and promote a lifelong critical engagement with the written and spoken word. The course is offered at both Higher Level and Standard Level, and students are expected to develop writing and oral skills to an advanced level.

Topics of Study in English: 

• Media Texts:  The role of journalism and advertising in reflecting and refracting social issues.

• Poetry:  Finding meaning at the intersection of Poetry and Lyrics.
  Kendrick Lamar, Carol Ann Duffy and Taylor Swift

• Dystopian Literature:  The respective role of comics and manga in representations of the Holocaust, Iranian Islamic Revolution, and the bombing of Hiroshima.
  Barefoot Gen, Persepolis, Maus

• HL - Drama How can comedy be used as social criticism?
  The Importance of Being Earnest

• HL  Post-Colonial Perspectives: Examining issues of cultural identity & language in postcolonial societies.
  The White Tiger / Purple Hibiscus

Units of Study in Dutch: 

• The Power of Politics: An awareness of the effect of framing in mass communication.

• The Upper Class on the High Ground: An exploration of family drama and keeping up appearances through multiple perspectives.

• The Grass is Never Greener: The immigration experience and the disillusionment of displacement.

• Home is where the Heart is: A look into a woman’s moving personal journey in search of answers related to family mysteries.

• Letting Go of the Past: A family’s ongoing struggle to leave the feudal past behind and its acceptance of the inevitable.

• The Dynamics between Society and Literature: Overcoming poverty, addictions and neglect; a personal coming-of-age account.

• Embracing the Human Dilemma: The philosophy of action as observed in the confession of an exiled French lawyer.

*Higher Level students will study a total of thirteen texts over the two year course, while Standard Level students will study a total of nine texts over the two year course.

EXTERNAL

Paper 1: Timed written commentary of an unseen non-literary text - 35% 

• SL has a guided choice of one text and must write for 75 minutes

• HL has a guided analysis of two texts and must write for 135 minutes

Paper 2: Timed comparative essay on the literature studied - 35% (25% for HL)

• Choice of four general questions 

• Write for 105 minutes

Written Assignment (HL only): Extended essay of 1200-1500 words on either literary or non-literary texts studied - 20%

INTERNAL

Individual Oral: Timed spoken analysis on two of the texts studied in relation to a global issue of the student’s choice - 30% (20% for HL)

• Must include one literary and one non-literary text

• Consists of a 10 minute analysis following by 5 minutes of questioning

• Internally assessed and externally moderated

Additionally, students will have to complete a Learner Portfolio that collects the student’s work and engagement with the coursework. It will not be formally assessed. 

• An appreciation of a wide range of literary and non-literary texts from different periods, in different styles, genres and contexts.

• An extended awareness of different cultures from the written texts and media texts.

• An ability to compare and contrast texts and analyse them in detail.

• Improved confidence and communication skills through the development of oral and written expression and critical thinking. 

And beyond...

• The Language and Literature course is an accepted preparation for the study of all language courses at university.

• The ability to analyse texts and communicate effectively is useful in any career. 

• Be a discerning and sophisticated reader of a wide range of texts.

• Be observant and show interest in current affairs.

• Have sensitivity to a variety of cultural contexts.

• Be willing to examine different perspectives.

• Organize notes and handouts.

• Annotate texts thoroughly.

• Plan written work carefully.

• Review work and learn from errors.

• Contribute to class discussion and present your ideas confidently.

• Keep up with reading assignments and deadlines.

Standard Level

• Achievement at MYP level 4 both overall and for criteria A

Higher Level

• Achievement at MYP level 5 both overall and for criteria A

The IB Diploma Literature course is designed to help students develop a sophisticated understanding of literary texts and to explore the distinctive intentions of writers from a variety of cultures. Students study in detail different genres and periods and the relationships between different works to strengthen literary analysis and promote a lifelong enjoyment of reading literature. It is a highly academic course, and students are expected to develop writing and oral skills to a sophisticated level.

Units of Study*: 

• Readers, Writers, & Texts

• Time & Space

• Intertextuality

*Standard Level students will study a total of nine texts over the two year course.

ADDITIONAL POINTS - LANGUAGE A SUBJECT OTHER THAN ENGLISH & DUTCH

• The IB allows students who cannot follow a group 1 course in English and/or Dutch to study literature in their own mother tongue language: e.g. Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish... This is called the School-Supported Self-Taught option (SSST). This literature course can only be followed at Standard Level.

• The IB recommendation is that students who follow the self-taught option get guidance and feedback from a tutor, if possible. The school can provide parents with guidelines and with a list of recommended tutors.

• All costs for tutoring will be paid by the parents, but the school can offer a 10% reduction in DP on the annual school fees if the parents opt to have a tutor for at least one lesson per week and the student is not able to study an English or Dutch language and literature course.  

• The school supports the students by facilitating the tutoring ( through providing a classroom and/or technical support if needed ), by organising a study hour every week and by liaising with the tutor. The school follows the students’ progress and ensures that all the IB assessment tasks are submitted.

EXTERNAL

Paper 1: Timed written commentary of an unseen literary text(s) - 35% 

• A guided choice of one text and must write for 75 minutes

Paper 2: Timed comparative essay on the literature studied - 35%

• Choice of four general questions 

• Write for 105 minutes

INTERNAL

Individual Oral: Timed spoken analysis on two of the texts studied in relation to a global issue of the student’s choice - 30%

• Must include one text in translation

• Consists of a 10 minute analysis following by 5 minutes of questioning

• Internally assessed and externally moderated

Additionally, students will have to complete a Learner Portfolio that collects the student’s work and engagement with the coursework. It will not be formally assessed.