Group 2: Second Languages (B language)

English, French, Spanish, German

English B is a language acquisition course designed for students with some previous experience of the target language (B1/B2). In the language B course, students develop their ability to communicate in the target language through the study of language, themes and texts. In doing so, they also develop conceptual understandings of how language works, as appropriate to the level of the course.

The course is offered at HL only, 6 hours a week, and is based on a variety of topics connected to five prescribed themes: identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organisation, sharing the planet. While exploring the topics connected to the themes, students exercise all the skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

The English B course exposes students to a wide range of non-literary texts in a variety of media (advertisements, speeches, news and feature articles, films, reports, essays). Students are also required to read and discuss two literary texts, which are then a basis for one of the assessment tasks.

The IB DP language B course provides students with the opportunity to acquire or develop an additional language and to promote an understanding of other cultures through the study of language. Language B is designed for students who possess a degree of knowledge and experience in the target language. Those learning a language B at higher level should be able to follow university courses in other disciplines in the language B that is studied.

The aims of the language B higher level course are to:

• develop students’ intercultural understanding
• enable students to understand and use the language they have studied in a range of contexts and for a variety of purposes
• encourage, through the study of texts and through social interaction, an awareness and appreciation of the different perspectives of people from other cultures
• develop students’ awareness of the role of language in relation to other areas of knowledge
• develop students’ awareness of the relationship between the languages and cultures with which they are familiar
• provide students with a basis for further study, work and leisure through the use of an additional language
• provide the opportunity for enjoyment, creativity and intellectual stimulation through knowledge of an additional language.

Adapted from: www.ibo.org