The IB Language ab initio course is designed for highly motivated Secondary 3 and 4 students with little or no prior experience with the target language other than English. Students who are already able to understand and respond to spoken and written language should not be placed in ab initio language courses.  In this course, students develop their receptive, productive, and interactive communicative skills through the study of language, themes, and topics

The students learn to communicate in the target language in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.  The students will develop receptive skills through the study of simple authentic and adapted texts. The students will develop productive skills by communicating orally and responding to questions about the themes and topics.  Students develop interactive skills by engaging in simple conversation and use strategies to negotiate meaning.

Five prescribed themes provide relevant contexts for the study of language acquisition and opportunities to communicate about personal, local, national, and global interest.  There are 4 topics prescribed for each theme.  These are reflected in the essential units for the course.   Students must be engaged in all units over the course of two years. 

Since this is an IB course CAS and TOK components will be included in the course. These will be developed through class reflections and discussions, written exercises, and activities that require critical thinking and creativity. Additionally, during the academic year several activities will prepare students for the IB assessments. This includes activities, but also, mock tests so students will understand the structure of the IB test.