Diploma Programme Subject Brief:
Language Acquisition
The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is a rigorous, academically challenging and balanced programme of education designed to prepare students aged 16 to 19 for success at university and life beyond. The DP aims to encourage students to be knowledgeable, inquiring, caring and compassionate, and to develop intercultural understanding, open-mindedness and the attitudes necessary to respect and evaluate a range of viewpoints.
I. Course Description and Aims
The IB DP language B course provides students with the opportunity to acquire or develop an additional language and to promote an understanding of other cultures through the study of language.
French B is a language acquisition course developed at two levels—standard level (SL) and higher level (HL)—for students with some background in the target language. While acquiring a language, students will explore the culture(s) connected to it. The focus of these courses is language acquisition and intercultural understanding.
The aims of the French B SL course are to:
There are six assessment objectives for the language B course. Students will be assessed on their ability to:
The six assessment objectives for French B SL & HL:
French B is a language acquisition course developed at two levels—standard level (SL) and higher level (HL)—for students with some background in the target language. While acquiring a language, students will explore the culture(s) connected to it. The focus of these courses is language acquisition and intercultural understanding.
The aims of the French B SL course are to:
- Develop you intercultural understanding
- Establish and develop an understanding and appreciation of the differences that exist between your own and the francophone cultures.
- Enable you to understand and use French in a range of contexts and for a variety of purposes
- Be able to understand and communicate in French in a social or academic setting. Whether you're at a business meeting, or meeting up with friends.
- Encourage, through the study of texts and social interaction, an awareness and appreciation of the different perspectives of people from other cultures.
- The Francophone world is rich in cultural diversity. Through the study of books, magazines, articles, films, radio etc., you will be able to appreciate the diverse backgrounds that people who share the French language possess.
- Develop your awareness of the role of French in relation to other areas of knowledge
- Understand how French plays a role in the other five groups of study within the parameters of the IB Diploma Programme Curriculum.
- Develop your awareness of the relationship between the languages and cultures with which you are already familiar.
- Create and establish connections between French and the languages and customs you are already familiar with
- Provide you with a basis for further study, work and leisure through the use of an additional language.
- Be able to pursue further studies and/or research in French
- Provide you with the opportunity for enjoyment, creativity, and intellectual stimulation through knowledge of an additional language.
- Learning French to expand your capacity to explore other facets of you life.
There are six assessment objectives for the language B course. Students will be assessed on their ability to:
The six assessment objectives for French B SL & HL:
- Communicate clearly and effectively in a range of situations, demonstrating linguistic competence and intercultural understanding.
- Use language appropriate to a range of interpersonal and/or cultural contexts.
- Understand and use language to express and respond to a range of ideas with accuracy and fluency.
- Organize ideas on a range of topics , in a clear, coherent and convincing manner.
- Understand, analyse and respond to a range of written and spoken texts
- Understand and use works of literature in the target language of study (HL ONLY).
II. Curriculum Model Overview
There are three core topics that are compulsory for students studying French at SL and HL. Students are required to explore and study at the very least, two aspects from each core topic.
**Instructor chooses the options that the class will study and explore**
**Instructor chooses the options that the class will study and explore**
|
Core
Communication and Media Global Issues Social Relationships |
Options
Cultural Diversity Customs and Traditions Health Leisure Science and Technology |
Core
Communication and Media
How people interact, transmit and gather data for the purposes of information and entertainment.
•advertising •bias in media •censorship •internet •press •radio and television •sensationalism in media •telephone. |
Global Issues
Current matters and future scenarios that have an impact at a regional, national and/or international level, bearing in mind that they need to be addressed from the perspective of the target language’s culture(s). •drugs •energy reserves •food and water •global warming, climate change, natural disasters •globalization •international economy •migration (rural–urban, or international) •poverty and famine •racism, prejudice, discrimination •the effect of man on nature •the environment and sustainability. |
Social Relationships
How people interrelate and behave—as members of a community, individually and in groups. •celebrations, social and religious events •educational system •language and cultural identity, or self- identity •linguistic dominance •minorities •multilingualism •nationalism, patriotism, fanaticism •relationships (friendship, work, family) •social and/or political structures •social behaviours and stances •taboos versus what is socially acceptable. |
Options
Cultural Diversity
The ethnic, gender, racial, ideological and socio-economic varieties within a community of the target language.
• beliefs, values and norms
• culinary heritage
• how culture is learned
• intercultural assimilation
• interlinguistic influence
• language diversity
• migration
• population diversity
• subcultures
• the concepts of human beauty
• verbal and non-verbal communication.
• beliefs, values and norms
• culinary heritage
• how culture is learned
• intercultural assimilation
• interlinguistic influence
• language diversity
• migration
• population diversity
• subcultures
• the concepts of human beauty
• verbal and non-verbal communication.
Customs and Traditions
The current and past practices, representations, expressions and knowledge that belong to a community of the target language.
• celebrations, social and religious events
• dress codes, uniforms
• etiquette and protocols
• fashion
• food
• historical events
• national costumes
• the arts.
• celebrations, social and religious events
• dress codes, uniforms
• etiquette and protocols
• fashion
• food
• historical events
• national costumes
• the arts.
Health
Physical, mental and social well-being, as well as matters related to illnesses.
• concepts of beauty and health
• diet and nutrition
• drug abuse
• epidemics
• health services
• hygiene
• illnesses, symptoms of good/ill health
• mental health
• physical exercise
• surgery
• traditional and alternative medicine.
• concepts of beauty and health
• diet and nutrition
• drug abuse
• epidemics
• health services
• hygiene
• illnesses, symptoms of good/ill health
• mental health
• physical exercise
• surgery
• traditional and alternative medicine.
Leisure
The variety of activities performed for enjoyment.
• entertainment
• exhibitions and shows
• games
• hobbies
• recreation
• social interaction through leisure
• sports
• travelling.
• entertainment
• exhibitions and shows
• games
• hobbies
• recreation
• social interaction through leisure
• sports
• travelling.
Science and Technology
The relationship between science and technology, and their impact on a community of the target language.
• entertainment
• ethics and science
• ethics and technology
• impact of information technology on society
• natural sciences
• renewable energy
• scientific research
• social sciences.
• entertainment
• ethics and science
• ethics and technology
• impact of information technology on society
• natural sciences
• renewable energy
• scientific research
• social sciences.
Literature (HL Courses Only)
Reading Literature in French can be both a daunting yet enjoyable task. Exploring literature allows you to delve deeper into the French Culture. Literature helps students broaden their vocabulary and to use language in a more creative manner, developing fluent reading skills, promoting interpretative and inferential skills, and contributing to intercultural understanding. Students should understand the works in some depth, but literary criticism as such is not an objective of the French B HL course.
Students are required to read two works of literature originally written in the target language. These works may be from any genre, or may both be of the same genre. They do not need to be linked in any way (by author, theme, period).
**Instructor chooses the works of literature that will be studied in class**
Students are required to read two works of literature originally written in the target language. These works may be from any genre, or may both be of the same genre. They do not need to be linked in any way (by author, theme, period).
**Instructor chooses the works of literature that will be studied in class**