Language 2 (Group 2)

Group 2 consists of two modern language courses—language ab initio and language B—At TISA we offer Language B in Spanish, French and English and Language ab initio in Spanish. Language ab initio and language B are language acquisition courses 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. This process encourages the learner to go beyond the confines of the classroom, expanding an awareness of the world and fostering respect for cultural diversity. The group 2 courses use a balance between approaches to learning that are teacher-centred (teacher-led activities and assessment in the classroom) and those that are learner-centred (activities designed to allow the students to take the initiative, which can also involve student participation in the evaluation of their learning).

Language ab initio

The language ab initio course is organized into three themes.

• Individual and society
• Leisure and work
• Urban and rural environment

Each theme has a list of topics that provide the students with opportunities to practise and explore the language as well as to develop intercultural understanding. Through the development of receptive, productive and interactive skills, students should be able to respond and interact appropriately in a defined range of everyday situations. Each language ab initio course has a language-specific syllabus (see the Language ab initio guide “Syllabus content”) that is used in conjunction with the guide. Language ab initio is available at SL only.

Language ab initio syllabus outline

Three areas of study—language, texts and themes—provide the basis of the two-year language ab initio course. These three fundamental areas are interconnected and should be studied concurrently. Interactive, productive and receptive skills are developed through study in these three areas and are of equal importance. The student develops a greater awareness of his or her own culture(s) through learning about another. Intercultural understanding provides both the link between the three areas of the course and the lens through which they should be addressed.

Assessment component		Weighting
External assessment		75%
Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes): Receptive skills Understanding of four written texts. (40 marks) Text-handling exercises.		30%
Paper 2 (1 hour): Productive skills Two compulsory writing exercises. (25 marks) Section A (7 marks): One question to be answered from a choice of two. Section B (18 marks): One question to be answered from a choice of three.		25%
Written assignment (2 hours): Receptive and productive skills A piece of writing, 200–300 words, in the target language carried out in class under teacher supervision. (20 marks)		20%
Internal assessment (10 minutes): Interactive skills Individual oral (25 marks) Three-part oral internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB towards the end of the course. Part 1: Presentation of a visual stimulus (from a choice of two) by the student Part 2: Follow-up questions on the visual stimulus Part 3: General conversation including at least two questions on the written assignment		25%

Language B

Language B is an additional language-learning course designed for students with some previous learning of that language. It may be studied at either SL or HL. The main focus of the course is on language acquisition and development of language skills. These language skills should be developed through the study and use of a range of written and spoken material. Such material will extend from everyday oral exchanges to literary texts, and should be related to the culture(s) concerned. The material should be chosen to enable students to develop mastery of language skills and intercultural understanding. It should not be intended solely for the study of specific subject matter or content.

SL and HL are differentiated by the recommended number of teaching hours, the depth of syllabus coverage, the study of literature at HL, and the level of difficulty and demands of assessment and assessment criteria.

The core—with topics common to both levels—is divided into three areas and is a required area of study.

• Communication and media
• Global issues
• Social relationships

In addition, at both SL and HL, teachers select two from the following five options.

• Cultural diversity
• Customs and traditions
• Health
• Leisure
• Science and technology

Also, at HL, students read two works of literature.

It is essential that teachers are allowed the prescribed minimum number of teaching hours necessary to meet the requirements of the language B course. At SL the minimum prescribed number of hours is 150 and at HL it is 240 hours.

SL Assessment component		Weighting
External assessment		70%
Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes): Receptive skills Text-handling exercises on four written texts, based on the core.		25%
Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes): Written productive skills One writing exercise of 250–400 words from a choice of five, based on the options.		25%
Written assignment: Receptive and written productive skills Intertextual reading followed by a written exercise of 300–400 words plus a 100-word rationale, based on the core.		20%
Internal assessment Internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB.		30%
Individual oral (8–10 minutes) Based on the options: 15 minutes’ preparation time and a 10-minute (maximum) presentation and discussion with the teacher.		20%
Interactive oral activity Based on the core: Three classroom activities assessed by the teacher.		10%

HL Assessment component		Weighting
External assessment		70%
Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes): Receptive skills Text-handling exercises on five written texts, based on the core.		25%
Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes): Written productive skills Two compulsory writing exercises. Section A: One task of 250–400 words, based on the options, to be selected from a choice of five. Section B: Response of 150–250 words to a stimulus text, based on the core.		25%
Written assignment: Receptive and written productive skills Creative writing of 500–600 words plus a 150-word rationale, based on one of the literary texts read.		20%
Internal assessment Internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB.		30%
Individual oral (8–10 minutes) Based on the options: 15 minutes’ preparation time and a 10-minute (maximum) presentation and discussion with the teacher.		20%
Interactive oral activity Based on the core: Three classroom activities assessed by the teacher.		10%