English
in the IB Diploma Program To take or not to take, THAT is the question!
Well, you have to take English to graduate AISJ - so here’s how it all works …
*** By the way, you have to take English because it is the soul food of our lives! (says the English teacher) ‌ -
We think in words (you’re reading this)
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We communicate with one another in words (speaking, texting, writing, whispering, shouting)
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We (try) to make sense of the world by telling one another stories (or reading the stories of other people)
(SO, by taking English, you get better at all of these ... and that makes the world more beautiful)
Where does it fit? The DP model
English ∗ English is a Group 1 subject, so it fits into ‘Studies in Language and Literature’ ∗ It may be taken as a Higher level (HL) or Standard level (SL) , and it is divided into options of: Literature Language and Literature * In rare cases it may also be taken as a non-IB subject in order to obtain AISJ credit
Pathway into IB English
What is IB English about? ∗ IB English (Language A) involves an intensive study in how language ultimately constructs and impacts meaning – in both literary and non-literary works. Students will learn to think critically, to speak and write persuasively, and to engage the imagination in and against a chaotic world.
What is the difference between Lang/ Lit and Lit? BOTH
What makes
•Both courses involve intensive reading, writing, and formal speaking. •Both courses are offered at HL and SL. •Both courses involve literary and non-literary works.
•A study in journalism and mass media •A study of the evolution of language
Lang/ Lit unique is …
What makes Lit unique is …
•A study in film and film adaptation (from novel to the screen) •A study in photography as a mode of communication
How will I be assessed? Higher Level (HL/SL) Paper 1
Textual Analysis Lang/Lit 25% Lit 20%
Paper 2
Essay
25%
Written Task Lit 25% Lang/Lit 20% Oral Commentary
15%
Oral Presentation/Activity
15%
These skills will form the backbone of your English studies and will assist you in all of your classes ‌ into College/University and beyond. Analytical Skills
Develop skills to critically understand a text (context, style, perspective, etc.).
Persuasion -
Develop skills (through a study in rhetoric) to understand the different interactions between text, audience, and purpose..
Expression
Develop powers of expression through both written and oral communication.
Creativity Engage the imagination in both the appreciation and creation of original work (short stories, poetry, memoirs).
Language -
Independent Judgments -
Develop refined skills in language to generate and distinguish meaning. If humans deal with one another through language, then understanding language is a key to understanding human beings (and the world).
Develop skills for independently assessing a work for its effectiveness in achieving various goals.
Connections -
Develop skills for making relevant associations within and across texts.
Perspective-
Develop one’s perspective(s) of the world through the exposure that literature brings to a vast range of lives and ways of living.