Language B

Overview

Language B is a foreign language-learning course, which enables students to gain competence in a modern language other than their own mother tongue. The main focus of the department is to provide a supportive environment in which students acquire language by developing the 4 macro-skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Themes are selected to reflect the students’ level of experience with the target language, they are intended to be relevant to both student interests and to current events in the countries of the target language and globally. Students are also exposed to cultural aspects of the target language countries with the consequent promotion of intercultural awareness. This allows students to understand the inextricable relationship between language, culture, thought and the world in which they live.

Grade 9 & 10

Students in Grades 9 and 10 are required to take German in addition to English and may take a third language.

These courses develop the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking with the emphasis on communicative competence. Language structures and vocabulary are taught using a thematic approach.

Students who have opted for the IGCSE will take the Foreign Language examination in the relevant subject. There is no IGCSE option for beginner or B2 level courses

Foreign Language for Beginners (German, French, Spanish – depending on demand)

This is a two-year beginner’s course for those starting the language in 9th grade. The aim is to develop basic communicative competence across the areas of listening, writing, reading and speaking.

As study of German is compulsory, students new to the school who have little or no German will take this course.

The Spanish/French course is designed for students new to MIS in grade 9 or who joined the Middle School too late to start a third language. It is not permissible to switch from French to Spanish or from Spanish to French at this stage.

It is envisaged that students taking these courses would be equipped to undertake the IB Diploma Language B Standard Level program in 11th grade. However, it is demanding and students intending to continue with a language for the IB Diploma program will need to work very diligently in 9th & 10th grade.

Foreign Language B2 (German)

This course builds on the Middle School German programme for those students who have had one year of previous study and further develops the skills of listening, writing, reading and speaking with the emphasis on communicative competence. Language structures and vocabulary are taught using a thematic approach.

Foreign Language B Standard (French, German, Spanish)

This course builds on the Middle School programme for those students who have had two or three years of previous study and further develops the skills of listening, writing, reading and speaking with the emphasis on communicative competence. Language structures and vocabulary are taught using a thematic approach.

It is envisaged that students taking these courses would undertake the IB Diploma Language B Standard or Higher Level program in 11th grade. For Higher Level a minimum of 3 years experience with the target language is required and there is a pre-requisite of a grade 5 or better

Foreign Language B Advanced (German only)

This course builds on the Middle School German programme for those students who have had more than three years of previous study and further develops the skills of listening, writing, reading and speaking with the emphasis on communicative competence. Language structures and vocabulary are taught using a thematic approach.

This course is intended to serve the needs of those students who have attended MIS and have lived in Germany for some years. Students should aim to graduate into the A1 German (Language & Literature) for the IB Diploma program.

Grade 11 & 12

Language B (Higher Level)

This language course is intended for non-native speakers of the language with less than five years of exposure to the target language. This is a challenging course for non-native speakers of a language who are refining their skills in that language. A broad range of writing skills is taught including the academic essay, personal narrative and the newspaper editorial. Reading comprehension skills are developed through the use of authentic text selected from various genres including the novel, short stories, poetry and journalism. Oral language skills are refined through discussion, debate and public speaking activities.

To be eligible for Higher Level students should have a minimum of 3 years of full-time instruction in the language and there is a prerequisite of a grade 5 or better.

Non-native students who have taken German lessons from Junior School, through Middle School and into Senior School would be ineligible for Language B and therefore expected to take A2 German for the IB Diploma. Similarly native or near native speakers of French or Spanish are not eligible for Language B

Language B (Standard Level)

This course is intended for non-native speakers of a language and leads to the IB Language B Standard Level examination at the end of grade 12. It is similar to the Higher Level course in that the same types of language learning activities take place, but are differentiated for students who are functioning at a lower level of skill with that language. Students in the standard level course are required to do less reading and writing than those at higher level.Assessment is adjusted for standard level students whose language skills are limited to an intermediate level of proficiency. The course emphasises the development of oral language skills, vocabulary, reading comprehension and written expression.

Language ab initio (Standard Level)

At MIS we offer the Language ab initio course in German only. This course is intended for students who have no previous experience with the German language. The focus is on the acquisition of language required for purposes and situations usual in everyday social situations. It is similar to the Language B courses in that the same types of language activities are employed, but are differentiated for students who are functioning at a basic level of skill in German. Assessment is adjusted for students who are limited to a basic level of proficiency in German.