ib languages for 5th formers 2012
TRANSCRIPT
IB Languages at KES
An Introduction
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French Spanish German Italian
Course availability 2012-2013
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
FrenchDJA JLA HJC
CMLD PJE KDPSpanish CRB HJC AE FCL RET
German JLA AXH JH FCL
Italian CMLD
Qualified to teach
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French 4 6Spanish 4 6 4German 4 6 4Italian 4
Periods per week
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French 1 2Spanish 1 2 1German 1 2 1Italian 1
Number of teachers
Subject to timetabling constraints
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French B A*Spanish B A* n/aGerman B A* n/aItalian n/a
Suitable for students with IGCSE grade
SL/HL Course aims
SL/HL Course outline
SL/HL : a possible course structure
SL/HL : text types
Although there are topics, the course is not organised around them.
The central organising principle of IB languages is text types.
Text types : some examples
Article, Blog, Diary entry, Brochure, Leaflet, Flyer, Pamphlet, Advertisement, Essay, Interview, Speech, Presentation, News report, Official report, Review, Set of instructions, Guidelines, Formal letter, Informal letter.
SL exams
HL exams
Ab initio
Ab initio
Ab initio : some text types
Advertisement, Notice, Article from magazine, Novel, Blog, Picture, Book, Poem, Brochure, Postcard, Diary, Poster, Email, Questionnaire, Essay, Radio programme, Film, Recipe, Flyer, Report, Interview, Review, Invitation, Short story, Label, Social networking site, Formal letter, Informal letter, Song, List, Speech, Map, Survey, Menu, Timetable, Message, Travel guide, Note, Web page…
Ab initio : exams
Challenges
All three courses (AI, SL, HL) are as challenging as each other, but in different ways.
Ab initio, in particular, should not be seen as an easy option. It is not!
All three courses set demanding standards and the top grades can only be achieved by the most hard-working of students.
Advice : Higher Level
Only take HL if you have a track record of success in languages and are considered by your teachers to be an able and committed linguist.
Do not consider HL if you are likely to get anything below an A* at IGCSE.
This course is extremely demanding, but hugely rewarding for those with the right skills, motivation and determination. It is the ideal route to language study at university.
Advice : Standard Level
SL is usually the best option for most students. It is accessible to those with an A or a B at IGCSE. It allows you to build on the years you have already invested in language study.
It is a challenging course. You will be expected to reach similar levels of competence to those on the HL course, but you will cover less ground on the way. The exams are shorter too.
SL is the ideal course for non-specialist linguists.
Advice : Ab initio
Ab initio is the course to consider if it is more important to you to make a fresh start than to build on past success.
It is a demanding course. You will be expected to reach a standard beyond that of IGCSE in only 4-5 terms of study. That’s a tall order, but achievable if you are prepared to work hard and invest an appropriate amount of time in language study outside the classroom.
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French 57 11Spanish 10 5 18German 4 3 0Italian 7
Course numbers, Divisions 2011-2012
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French 30 11Spanish 13 27 9German 8 4 0Italian 13
Course numbers, Divisions 2010-2011