AB+Initio+resources

**__IB Ab Initio Guide:__**
> > The language ab initio syllabus comprises three interconnected areas: **language, themes and texts**. Language acquisition will be achieved through the development of receptive, productive and interactive skills and competencies. **Elements of language** include vocabulary, grammatical structures, register, pronunciation and intonation. The **three themes** (individual and society, leisure and work, urban and rural environment) are made up of a series of 20 topics. These serve as the foundation for the acquisition of the language and the study of different text types. During the course, students must be taught to **understand and produce a variety of texts**. In the context of the language ab initio course, a text can be spoken, written or visual.
 * [[file:IB AB initio language guide.pdf]]
 * Guide ppt
 * Each language ab initio course has its own language-specific syllabus. The three common elements in each language-specific syllabus are:
 * vocabulary lists under topic headings
 * a list of prescribed grammar
 * a list of the instructions for the written examination papers.

**__General overview__**
The language B syllabus approaches the learning of language through meaning. Through the study of the core and the options at SL ab initio, students build the necessary skills to reach the assessment objectives of the language B course through the expansion of their receptive, productive and interactive skills. SL ab initio are differentiated by the recommended number of teaching hours, the depth of syllabus coverage, and the level of difficulty and demands of assessment and assessment criteria.


 * Objectives**
 * 1) To develop intercultural understanding by reflecting on differences and similarities between cultures.
 * 2) To describe aspects of the target language culture(s).
 * 3) To compare aspects of the target language culture(s) with similar aspects in the student’s culture(s).
 * 4) To develop language competence.


 * The Core Themes and topics:**
 * **Individual and Society** ||  **Leisure and Work**  ||  **Urban and Rural Environments**  ||
 * * Daily Routines
 * Education
 * Food and Drink
 * Personal Details
 * Health
 * Relationships
 * Shopping
 * Employment
 * Entertainment
 * Holidays
 * Media
 * Sport
 * Technology
 * Transport ||  || * Environmental Concerns
 * Global Issues
 * Neighborhood
 * Physical Geography
 * Town and Services
 * Weather ||

Text-handling exercises on four written texts, based on the core. //Assessed at the end of the academic year (May).// || ** Individual Oral: ** Three-part oral internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB offices.
 * IB Language B Ab Initio Assessments**
 * ** Ab initio External Assessments 75% ** || ** Ab initio Internal Assessments 25% ** ||
 * ** Paper 1: 30% ** (1 hour 30 minutes): Receptive skills.


 * Part 1: ** Presentation of a visual stimulus (from a choice of two) by the student.


 * Part 2: ** Follow-up questions on the visual stimulus.


 * Part 3: ** General conversation including at least two questions on the written assignment.

// Assessed in mid-February. // || // Assessed at the end of the academic year (May). // ||^  || // Assessed in Semester 2. // ||^  || Source: Timothy Smith: []
 * ** Paper 2: 25% ** (1 hour 30 minutes): Written productive skills. **Section A**: Respond to __one__ of two question prompts. **Section B**: Respond to __one__of three question prompts.
 * ** Written assignment ** : **20%** Receptive and written productive skills. A piece of writing, 200-300 words, in the target language and carried out under teacher supervision.

General overview handout for students:[[file:Explain Ab Initio Language overview 2015.docx]]

 * 1) [[image:AB Initio exam formats.png width="640" height="627"]]
 * 2) [[image:AB Initio test format 2.png width="720" height="278"]]
 * 1) [[image:AB Initio test format 2.png width="720" height="278"]]

__Oral Exam__

 * 1) [[image:AB Initio oral assessment.png width="800" height="392"]]

__**Writing assignment**__
> >
 * 1) Writing information template:French examples, but easy to change:[[file:Ab Initio Writing Assignment 2.docx]]Source: Timothy Smith: []
 * 1) [[image:AB Initio written assignment 2.png width="720" height="612"]]
 * 2) [[image:AB Initio written assignment 3.png width="720" height="208"]]