Group 2 - Language Acquisition 

Group 2 - Spanish B

In the Spanish IB course you will be learning a great deal about Spain and Latin America and therefore you will find the topics much more interesting than those learnt in ( I)GCSE but also much more demanding. 

READING AND LISTENING 

Any opportunity to practise your Spanish is welcome; newspapers like BBC Mundo ( https://www.bbc.com/mundo) give you a chance to read the news in the target language as well as the usual El mundo  (https://www.elmundo.es/ )  or El País ( https://elpais.com/) , ABC(  https://www.abc.es/)..

If you have Netflix and you are a fan of TV series or films make sure that you put the subtitles on and go for it! Don't forget Spanish TV- plenty of opportunities to listen to news, watch series ( it's possible to see the subtitles on the right) https://www.rtve.es/alacarta/

If music is what you really like and you have a good memory for lyrics, you might consider using lyrics training to learn some Spanish songs:  https://es.lyricstraining.com/es

VOCABULARY

The IB expects a higher level of vocabulary and of course idiomatic expressions and sophisticated structures. We will be covering some topics that are familiar to you such as family, health, diet and technology, and others that are more demanding like Immigration or Human Rights. To give you a taste of the vocabulary that you will be exposed to during Years 12 and 13, here is a booklet with questions on those topics and their vocabulary list:

GRAMMAR

Below is a booklet of all of the tenses covered in IGCSE. However, if you prefer to use online resources, you can always rely on some excellent websites:

Group 2- Mandarin BSL 

Course Overview:

IB B does not have a prescribed but the following is a guideline:

At IGCSE level, you should know 1-600 by heart. For IB BSL, candidates need to know all 1200 vocabulary. So for you this summer, you could start from 600 and work up to 900, if you would like to. This is optional. 

In addition, Ms. Fong has prepared a list of vocabulary for IB AB initio which is also helpful for students transitioning from IGCSE to IB BSL: 

Also, Mr. Moorman has a Quizlet class with a lot of CORE vocabulary for IB BSL Mandarin: https://quizlet.com/join/xuhRkpGHT

IB B emphasises the use of idioms and linking to the Chinese culture:

Group 2 - Mandarin Ab Initio

Assessment breakdown: 

Syllabus

Use the following link to get an idea of IB Ab Initio vocabulary

The following booklet is from the previous syllabus, but it contains some useful vocabulary so it is worth a look: 

Group 2 - English Language B


Reading and Language Practice

A preparedness to read about curriculum themes and topics in one’s spare time is important in English B. Doing so will broaden your knowledge and help familiarise you with the structural and linguistic features of various – primarily non-fiction – text types. Though subscriptions are required, the following websites provide an excellent range of reading material with related language practice activities:

Though not particular to English B, the EAP Foundation provides some excellent resources for students in English-medium education. Explore its website here: www.eapfoundation.com. Particularly recommended is the advice given on how to write cohesively and coherently. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EzJICqv3WY.

Literature

The second literary text to be read is Avni Doshi's 'Burnt Sugar'. You may care to read the novel over the summer.

As you read, having a look at a Guardian review of the novel here which will help you understand the book’s plot, character and themes.

Textbooks

Should you wish to invest in a course textbook, Cambridge University Press’s English B for The IB Diploma or Oxford’s IB English B Course book Pack are the ones to go for.

Next Steps

Interested in finding out what studying at university in the UK might be like? Check out https://www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk.

Group 2 - French B

In the French IB course you will be learning a lot about Francophone culture and therefore you will find the topics much more interesting than those learnt in IGCSE but also much more demanding. 

Group 2 - German B

dcsg.fireflycloud.asia/european-languages/german-1/ib/german-b/post-16-study-

Group 2 - German ab initio

It would be a good idea to look through the course guide so you have more of an idea about what we will be doing in this course.  


Group 2 - Spanish ab initio

You are going to need to be ready to learn a new language - so above all you really need to come with an open mind, ready to learn new language structures, ways of thinking, and cultural backgrounds.

This clip is an excellent starting point -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyGFz-zIjHE

Here is the course guide - in English - please start to familiarise yourself with the topics we will cover, and the assessment criteria -