Language acquisition
Language acquisition is comprised of two modern language courses --language ab initio and language B— that are offered in a plethora of modern languages and a classical languages course that is offered in Latin and Classical Greek.
Language ab initio and language B are language acquisition courses designed to provide students with the required skills and intercultural understanding to enable them to successfully communicate in an environment where the language is spoken. These courses when combined with the principles of the IB Learner Profile allows the student to go beyond the limits of the classroom setting, expanding their awareness of the world and cultivating respect for cultural diversity.
Language ab initio and language B are language acquisition courses designed to provide students with the required skills and intercultural understanding to enable them to successfully communicate in an environment where the language is spoken. These courses when combined with the principles of the IB Learner Profile allows the student to go beyond the limits of the classroom setting, expanding their awareness of the world and cultivating respect for cultural diversity.
The two modern language courses—language ab initio and language B— develop a student's linguistic abilities through the acquisition of receptive, productive and interactive skills defined below.
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
The following aims are common to both Language B and Language ab initio.
- 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 (French) 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 the basis for further study, work and leisure through the use of an additional language.
- Foster curiosity, creativity and a lifelong enjoyment of language learning.
Language b standard level and language b higher level
Language B is a language acquisition course created for students with some previous experience of the target language, in this case French. In the French B course, students advance the development of their ability to communicate in French through the study of language, texts, and course themes.
In doing so, students develop conceptual understandings of how language is formed, how it works, how it has evolved, as appropriate to the level of the course.
French B is available at both the Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).
In doing so, students develop conceptual understandings of how language is formed, how it works, how it has evolved, as appropriate to the level of the course.
French B is available at both the Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).
Distinctions between sl and hl
At both levels of French B, students learn to communicate in French in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
Students at BOTH French B SL and French B HL will:
**ONLY FRENCH B HL STUDENTS**
The distinction between French B SL and French B HL can also be seen in the level of competency the student is expected to develop in the receptive, productive, and interactive skills below.
Students at BOTH French B SL and French B HL will:
- describe situations
- narrate events
- make comparisons
- explain problems
- state and support their personal biases/opinions on a variety of topics relating to the course content
**ONLY FRENCH B HL STUDENTS**
- French B HL students will study two (2) literary works originally written entirely in French.
The distinction between French B SL and French B HL can also be seen in the level of competency the student is expected to develop in the receptive, productive, and interactive skills below.
french B SL
RECEPTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL understand a range of written and spoken authentic personal, professional, and mass media texts on topics of interest.
Students WILL understand description of events, feelings, and wishes.
Students WILL understand comparisons and recognise a straightforward and linear argument.
Students WILL use context clues to deduce the meaning of sentences and unknown words and phrases.
PRODUCTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL write texts for a variety of purposes and make oral presentations on topics of interest.
Students WILL write descriptive texts for a variety of topics.
Students WILL use and understand clear speech on a variety of topics relating to the course content and the French Culture.
Students WILL use a variety of strategies to negotiate meaning and foster communication.
INTERACTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL initiate and maintain the flow of conversations and discussions.
Students WILL express and respond to opinions and feelings on a variety of topics.
Students WILL use and understand clear speech on a variety of topics relating to the course and the French and Francophone Cultures.
Students WILL use a variety of strategies to negotiate meaning and establish communication.
Students WILL understand a range of written and spoken authentic personal, professional, and mass media texts on topics of interest.
Students WILL understand description of events, feelings, and wishes.
Students WILL understand comparisons and recognise a straightforward and linear argument.
Students WILL use context clues to deduce the meaning of sentences and unknown words and phrases.
PRODUCTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL write texts for a variety of purposes and make oral presentations on topics of interest.
Students WILL write descriptive texts for a variety of topics.
Students WILL use and understand clear speech on a variety of topics relating to the course content and the French Culture.
Students WILL use a variety of strategies to negotiate meaning and foster communication.
INTERACTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL initiate and maintain the flow of conversations and discussions.
Students WILL express and respond to opinions and feelings on a variety of topics.
Students WILL use and understand clear speech on a variety of topics relating to the course and the French and Francophone Cultures.
Students WILL use a variety of strategies to negotiate meaning and establish communication.
French B hL
At HL, students are expected to extend the range of complexity of the language they use and understand in order to communicate. Students will 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 different topics relating to the course and the French and Francophone Culture.
RECEPTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL understand a range of written and spoken authentic personal, professional, and mass media texts on topics of interest.
Students WILL understand the fundamental elements of literary texts such as theme, plot, and character.
Students WILL understand and analyse arguments, distinguishing main points from relevant supporting details and/or explanations.
Students WILL use a variety of strategies to deduce meaning.
PRODUCTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL present and develop their ideas and opinions on a variety of topics, BOTH orally and written.
Students WILL construct and support arguments with explanations and examples.
Students WILL speak and write at length, and with purpose, in order to meet wide range of communicative needs:
INTERACTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL initiate and maintain close oral exchanges, displaying some ability to make adjustments in style or emphasis.
Students WILL use a variety of strategies to maintain flow of conversations and discussions on a variety of topics relating to the course content and French and Francophone Cultures.
Students WILL become adept in negotiating meaning and foster communication.
RECEPTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL understand a range of written and spoken authentic personal, professional, and mass media texts on topics of interest.
Students WILL understand the fundamental elements of literary texts such as theme, plot, and character.
Students WILL understand and analyse arguments, distinguishing main points from relevant supporting details and/or explanations.
Students WILL use a variety of strategies to deduce meaning.
PRODUCTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL present and develop their ideas and opinions on a variety of topics, BOTH orally and written.
Students WILL construct and support arguments with explanations and examples.
Students WILL speak and write at length, and with purpose, in order to meet wide range of communicative needs:
- describing
- narrating
- comparing
- explaining
- persuading
- justifying
- evaluating
INTERACTIVE SKILLS:
Students WILL initiate and maintain close oral exchanges, displaying some ability to make adjustments in style or emphasis.
Students WILL use a variety of strategies to maintain flow of conversations and discussions on a variety of topics relating to the course content and French and Francophone Cultures.
Students WILL become adept in negotiating meaning and foster communication.
Language acquisition and international-mindness
International-mindness is central to the IB philosophy and instrumental in aspiring to a more peaceful world. Language acquisition courses do not have as their only goal the development of language skills, but also fostering intercultural understanding and global engagement.
engaging with sensitive topics
All language acquisition courses will provide students the opportunity to engage with a broad range of texts, stimuli, and scenarios that address topics of personal, local, national and global significance. Topics such as racism, climate change, poverty, inequality, religion, the list goes on and on.
Engagements with these topics, whether intentional or accidental, can be opportunities for development of the IB Learner profile traits. Both instructors and students should approach such subjects in a sensitive, responsible and reflective manner, bearing in mind IB's mission statement to nurture internationally minded individuals.
Consideration should definitely be given to the personal and social values of both students and instructors. Schools must make every reasonable effort to encourage students to respond appropriately (without seeking to offend), to promote respect for their peers and to consider the consequences of their arguments.
Engagements with these topics, whether intentional or accidental, can be opportunities for development of the IB Learner profile traits. Both instructors and students should approach such subjects in a sensitive, responsible and reflective manner, bearing in mind IB's mission statement to nurture internationally minded individuals.
Consideration should definitely be given to the personal and social values of both students and instructors. Schools must make every reasonable effort to encourage students to respond appropriately (without seeking to offend), to promote respect for their peers and to consider the consequences of their arguments.
Summary
As you can see, the curriculum objectives for both French B SL and French B HL are similar yet different.
French B SL follows a more standard approach and is designed for students with very little experience with the French Language. It provides students the opportunity to ameliorate language skills to be able to communicate with ease without having to over exert the learner's mind with complex grammar/sentence structures.
French B HL is a course designed for students who have had extensive experience with French but are no where near fluent or native and express issues with fluid communication. This course is designed to push students to learn complex sentence structures, read literature, and to be able to create and defend arguments with ease.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF THE CURRICULUM/COURSE OBJECTIVES PLEASE LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW OR SEND ME AN EMAIL AT JULESFRANCO@IBFRENCHSURVIVALGUIDE.COM.
French B SL follows a more standard approach and is designed for students with very little experience with the French Language. It provides students the opportunity to ameliorate language skills to be able to communicate with ease without having to over exert the learner's mind with complex grammar/sentence structures.
French B HL is a course designed for students who have had extensive experience with French but are no where near fluent or native and express issues with fluid communication. This course is designed to push students to learn complex sentence structures, read literature, and to be able to create and defend arguments with ease.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF THE CURRICULUM/COURSE OBJECTIVES PLEASE LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW OR SEND ME AN EMAIL AT JULESFRANCO@IBFRENCHSURVIVALGUIDE.COM.