1 minute read
French (Ab initio
IB FRENCH (AB INITIO)
Who is this course for?
Advertisement
The language Ab Initio course is a language acquisition course for students with little or no experience of the language.
Course Details
The Ab lnitio course is organised around five main themes which are divided in topics providing the students with opportunities to practise and explore the language as well as to develop intercultural competence.
While some of the topics are similar to those studied for GCSE, please note the focus remains a wider international understanding of the world (with a focus on French-speaking world), leading to students to consider more grown-up questions such as the coloration between technologies and shopping habits. In addition to their class-based lessons, students will have an additional 25 min session a fortnight with the French assistant, when possible, in order to discuss and develop their understanding of the topics covered in class.
IDENTITIES
• Personal attributes • Personal relationships • Eating and drinking • Physical wellbeing
EXPERIENCES
• Daily routine • Leisure • Holidays • Festivals and celebrations
HUMAN INGENUITY
• Transport • Entertainment • Media • Technology
SOCIAL ORGANISATION
• Neighbourhood • Education • The workplace • Social issues
SHARING THE PLANET
• Climate • Physical geography • The environment • Global issues
Assessment
COMPONENT FORMAT
Paper 1 Writing Paper 2 Comprehension Listening comprehension (45 minutes) Reading comprehension (1 hour) Individual A conversation with the teacher, oral based on a visual stimulus and at least one additional course theme.
DURATION WEIGHTING
1 hour
25% 1 hour 45 50%
10 mins 25%
Benefits of the Course
The language Ab Initio course achieves a reflection on cultural values and behaviours in different ways. The course is divided into three broad themes, all of which are well suited to fostering an international perspective. The language ab initio course, albeit at a basic level, seeks to develop intercultural understanding and foster a concern for global issues, as well as to raise students’ awareness of their own responsibility at a local level. In addition, students’ literacy skills are enhanced through the analysis and production of text-types such as articles , interviews speech, etc.
