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IB: Modern Languages
Spanish ab initio (may also be available in French and German)
Entry Requirements
The standard required of a candidate after a two year course ab initio is commensurate with what is required of a good GCSE candidate. The nature of the language taught and the range of vocabulary and grammar needed are also very similar to the demands of GCSE. However, given the intensive nature of the course, candidates must have obtained at least grade B in their GCSE foreign language.
Course Content
An ab initio IB Spanish course should enable students to gain a working knowledge of the language to enable them to survive in transactional situations abroad and prepare them for greater use of the language in a social or working context in the future, while also giving them a basic awareness of the culture of the Spanish language community.
Topics covered:
Personal identity
Education and the world of work
The town and services
Food and drink
The environment
Health and emergencies
French and German
Higher and Standard Levels
Entry Requirements
The demands of the IB Language B in Modern Foreign Languages are rigorous. Candidates will need at least a B grade at GCSE to be accepted at the Higher level and a C grade for Standard level. Both levels give the opportunity to increase competence in the written and spoken language, while developing knowledge and awareness of the culture and civilisation of the particular language community. At the same time students compare that community with the mother tongue community and also view the wider world through the eyes of that community, thus gaining a new and different perspective.
Course Content
On the linguistic side, students work to broaden their vocabulary and to extend their grasp of and competence in handling the grammatical structures of the language. Skill in expressing themselves both in speaking and writing the language is developed in a range of contexts, using written text sources, audio and video materials and the internet. Some residential experience in the language community will therefore be advisable in holiday time during the course and IB students of French will be expected to participate in the existing annual European work experience exchange visit to St Etienne in France run by this school. IB students of German should participate in the annual exchange visit to Munich.
Topics covered:
Family and relationships, rights and responsibilities, crime and punishment.
Education and training
Leisure trends
Mass media, science and technology
Immigration and multiculturalism, racism, jobs and careers, equal opportunities
The target language community in a European and world context, distribution of wealth, health issues, future possibilities
The environment, pollution, conservation, tourism, transport issues, future trends
The study of a special aspect of the target language community: this may be of a cultural, historical, economic or geographical nature.
Assessment
Higher Level studies explore topics at greater depth than Standard Level students and are required to tackle more demanding tasks and write at greater length in their written examinations. The written examinations make up 70% of the marks at both levels. There are two written examinations which are externally set and assessed. The first is a paper containing comprehension and language manipulation exercises together with a short piece of writing in the language. The second requires students to write an essay chosen from a list in a range of registers. The speaking component makes up the remaining 30% of the marks and is internally assessed and externally moderated during the second year of the course. At both levels candidates have to participate in group discussions as well as a personal speaking test to show their knowledge of and give their opinions of the topics which they have covered on the course.
Subject Leader: Mrs K. Howarth, k.howarth@finhampark.co.uk
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