French

Students choose a Francophone country to explore by using Virtual Reality, such as, Senegal, Cambodia, Belgium & Morocco. They chose an aspect of that culture that they were curious to discover and learn about.

During the Diploma program students will go on a field trip to Lula Lounge (centre for the arts and music in Toronto, ON) where they will participate in Lula Afrique (a French drumming and dancing workshop).

I. Course description and aims

Language acquisition consists of two modern language courses— language ab initio and language B—designed to provide students with the necessary skills and intercultural understanding to enable them to communicate successfully in an environment where the language studied is spoken.

Language B is a language acquisition course designed for students with some previous experience of the target language. Students further develop their ability to communicate through the study of language, themes and texts. There are five prescribed themes: identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organization and sharing the planet.

Both language B SL and HL students learn to communicate in the target language in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. The distinction between language B SL and HL can be seen in the level of competency the student is expected to develop in receptive, productive and interactive skills.

At HL the study of two literary works originally written in the target language is required and students are expected to extend the range and complexity of the language they use and understand in order to communicate. Students continue to develop their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar, as well as their conceptual understanding of how language works, in order to construct, analyse and evaluate arguments on a variety of topics relating to course content and the target language culture(s).

The following language acquisition aims are common to both language ab initio and language B.

• Develop international-mindedness through the study of languages, cultures, and ideas and issues of global significance.

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

• Encourage, through the study of texts and through social interaction, an awareness and appreciation of a variety of perspectives of people from diverse cultures.

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

• Develop students’ awareness of the importance of language in relation to other areas of knowledge.

• Provide students, through language learning and the process of inquiry, with opportunities for intellectual engagement and the development of critical- and creative-thinking skills.

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

• Foster curiosity, creativity and a lifelong enjoyment of language learning.

II. Curriculum model overview

The curriculum is organized around five prescribed themes with which the students engage though written, audio, visual and audio-visual texts. Students develop into successful, effective communicators by considering the conceptual understandings of context, audience, purpose, meaning and variation. Communication is evidenced through receptive, productive and interactive skills.