IB Chinese SL and HL

Standard Level:

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 successfully completed NCEA Level 1, or equivalent. It is offered at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).

Aims of the Language B course at Standard Level:

• Develop students’ intercultural understanding

• Enable students to understand and use the language they have studied in a range of contexts and for a variety of purposes

• Encourage, through the study of texts and social interaction, an awareness and appreciation of the different perspectives of people from other cultures

• Develop awareness of the role of language in relation to other areas of knowledge

• Develop students’ awareness of the relationship between the languages and cultures with which they are familiar

• Provide students with a basis for further study, work and leisure through the use of an additional language

• Provide the opportunity for enjoyment, creativity and intellectual stimulation through knowledge of an additional language.

Content:

The 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

All language course selections will be reviewed by the Head of Faculty (HOF) Languages and the IB Diploma Coordinator to ensure the best fit for each student's linguistic profile and learning journey in accordance with IB guidelines.