Group 2 (Language Acquisition)

This group involves the study of a second foreign language. There are four language choices in Group 2. There is some flexibility as to the languages offered each year in Group 2, as it will depend upon each intake.

Language B

The Language B programme is offered in English, Spanish and Mandarin.

Nature of the Subject

Every diploma student is required to study a Group 2 language at either Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL).

Language B is a foreign language learning course designed for students with some previous experience of the language, for example, completing the IGCSE in the same language.

The course aim is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the language, whilst enabling them to develop a high proficiency in applying it to a variety of communicative contexts.

Students will develop their skills in the language through exploring its social, academic and cultural elements. This will be achieved by studying a wide variety of texts, by learning to write in a wide variety of styles and by communicating effectively to many different audiences.

Students who take a Language B and Language A course, who successfully pass their subjects are eligible for the IB Bilingual Diploma, which is viewed favourably in university applications.

Syllabus Outline

The main focus of the course is on language acquisition and the development of the four primary language skills.

Competence in each of the primary skills will involve an understanding of three inter-related areas:

Language; handling the language system accurately
Cultural Interaction; selecting language appropriate to a particular cultural and social context
Message; understanding ideas and how they are organised in order to communicate them appropriately.

The successful Language B candidate will demonstrate competence in the control of language, an appreciation of language appropriateness and an understanding of how meaning is best communicated.

All students will develop these skills through the study of four themes:

• identities

• experiences

• human ingenuity

• social organization

• sharing the planet.

Students studying at HL will also be required to study two literary texts in the target language.

Assessment

External Assessment 75%

Standard Level: 3 hours total

Paper 1: 1 hour 15 minutes, 25%, Productive skills: Writing (30 marks)

Paper 2: 1 hour 45 minutes, 50%, Receptive skills: Listening & Reading comprehension (65 marks)

Higher Level: 3 hours 30 minutes

Paper 1: 1 hour 30 minutes, 25%, Productive skills: Writing (30 marks)

Paper 2: 1 hour 45 minutes, 50%, Receptive skills: Listening & Reading comprehension (65 marks)

Internal Assessment 25%

Individual Oral Activity

A conversation with the teacher, based on a visual stimulus, followed by discussion based on an additional theme. (30 marks)

For HL students, the extract will be based on one of the literary texts studied in class.

For more information:

English B: Speak to Ms Tinoco or Ms Halliday

Spanish B or Ab Initio: Speak to Mr Tebbutt or
Ms Alfaro

French Ab Initio: Speak to Mr Tebbutt

Mandarin B: Speak to Mr Tebbutt or Ms Guan

Language Ab Initio

Ab Initio language is currently offered in French, Mandarin and Spanish

Nature of the Subject

The Ab Initio programme is a foreign language programme to be studied over 2 years at Standard Level by students who have little or no previous experience of learning the target language. Students who have previously studied a language cannot take the language at Ab initio at IB. For example, students currently completing an IGCSE in Spanish, may not take Spanish Ab Initio at IB level.

This programme is appropriate for students interested in learning a new, foreign language as part of their IB Course. When choosing whether to study at Ab Initio level, IB says: “The most important consideration is that the language ab initio course should be a challenging, educational experience for the student.”

In two years the candidates will achieve a standard approximating that of IGCSE, although with greater communication skills on a broader range of topics.
As with Language B, the language skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking are equally weighted on the Ab Initio programme and in assessment.
Oral assessment by coursework will take place in the final year of studies at the end of which there is also an individual oral examination.

Syllabus Outline

Five prescribed themes are common to the syllabuses of language ab initio and language B; the themes provide relevant contexts for study at all levels of language acquisition in the DP, and opportunities for students to communicate about matters of personal, local or national, and global interest.

The five prescribed themes are:

• identities

• experiences

• human ingenuity

• social organization

• sharing the planet.

Because a structured learning environment is crucial for the success of beginning language learners, the language ab initio syllabus prescribes four topics for each of the five prescribed themes. Thus, in total there are 20 topics that must be addressed in the language ab initio course.

Assessment

External assessment (2 hours 45 minutes) (75%)

Paper 1 (1 hour) (25%)

Productive skills—writing (30 marks)
Two written tasks of 70–150 words each from a choice of three tasks, choosing a text type for each task from among those listed in the examination instructions.

Paper 2 (1 hour 45 minutes) (50%)

Receptive skills—separate sections for listening and reading (65 marks)
Listening comprehension (45 minutes) (25 marks)
Reading comprehension (1 hour) (40 marks)
Comprehension exercises on three audio passages and three written texts, drawn from all five themes.

Internal assessment - Individual oral assessment (25%)

A conversation with the teacher, based on a visual stimulus and at least one additional course theme. (30 marks)

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