HS MODERN LANGUAGES/ Language Acquisition

The High School Modern Languages programs are rigorous courses of study leading to external examinations from two important programs: the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (at the end of Grade 10) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (at the end of Grade 12). The IGCSE exams are optional at the end of grade 10. Students continue studying Modern Languages either in IB or non IB levels in grades 11 and 12.

Students in Grades 9 and 10 follow the Cambridge IGCSE Program. The IGCSE Modern Languages Program develops a set of transferable skills for understanding and communicating in everyday situations in the target language. Learners begin to develop cultural awareness of countries and communities. They acquire the essential linguistic skills required for progression to further studies or employment.

Gr 11 students who choose Modern Languages in IB follow the IB Diploma Program course in Language B or Language AB Initio:

Language B: This course is a language acquisition course developed at two levels-standard level (SL) and higher level (HL)-for students with some background in the target language. At both levels of language B (SL and HL), students learn to communicate in the target language in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. They describe situations, narrate events, make comparisons, explain problems, and state and support their personal opinions on a variety of topics relating to course content. The study of two literary works originally written in the target language is required only at language B HL.

Language AB Initio: Language ab initio is a language acquisition course designed for students with no prior experience of the target language, or for those students with very limited previous exposure. It should be noted that language ab initio is offered at SL only.