Dear Students,
The IB French ab initio course is a language acquisition and intercultural understanding course designed to help you develop the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.
This course is intended for students who are beginners or who have very limited experience with the French language. Throughout the course, you will develop receptive, productive, and interactive language skills through the study of themes and texts that place you in an international context and encourage mutual understanding while increasing your awareness of local and global challenges.
Your conceptual understanding of communication will help you understand how language works, including its different forms and variations. Grammar structures and vocabulary will be studied within meaningful contexts and through a thematic approach.
In other words, you are encouraged to use the thinking and reflection skills that you have already developed in your previous educational experiences and transfer those skills to the learning of French as a target language.
Nature du cours
Les objectifs d’évaluation
The following assessment objectives describe what you are expected to develop and demonstrate throughout the course.
| Assessment Objectives | Course Components |
|---|---|
| 1. Communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of contexts and for different communication purposes. | Paper 1: Written Production (Writing) Individual Oral |
| 2. Understand and use language appropriate to different audiences, as well as intercultural and interpersonal contexts. | Paper 1: Written Production (Writing) Paper 2: Listening and Reading Comprehension Individual Oral |
| 3. Understand and use language to express ideas accurately and fluently. | Paper 1: Written Production (Writing) Paper 2: Listening and Reading Comprehension Individual Oral |
| 4. Identify, organize, and present ideas on a variety of topics. | Paper 1: Written Production (Writing) Individual Oral |
| 5. Understand, analyze, and reflect on a variety of written, audio, visual, and audiovisual texts. | Paper 2: Listening and Reading Comprehension Individual Oral |
As IB French ab initio students, you are expected to develop five key abilities:
- Communicate effectively in different situations and for different purposes.
- Adapt your language according to your audience and cultural context.
- Express your ideas accurately and fluently in French.
- Organize and present your ideas clearly on a range of topics.
- Understand and analyze different types of texts and media, including written texts, audio recordings, images, and videos.
These objectives are assessed through:
- Paper 1 (Writing) – where you demonstrate your ability to write in different text types.
- Paper 2 (Listening and Reading) – where you show your understanding of spoken and written French.
- The Individual Oral – where you demonstrate your ability to communicate and interact in French.
Together, these assessments evaluate your receptive skills (listening and reading), productive skills (writing), and interactive skills (speaking and interaction).
Les traits du profil de l’apprenant
Another fundamental objective of the Language B course is to help you develop international-mindedness through intercultural understanding.
By doing so, you will also develop the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.
Investigateurs
You will develop your natural curiosity and learn to conduct research independently.
Penseurs
You will apply your thinking skills critically and creatively to solve problems and explore ideas.
Informés et instruits
You will explore concepts and issues within both local and global contexts, while acquiring knowledge across a broad range of disciplines.
Communicateurs
You will learn to understand and communicate your ideas and knowledge in more than one language and use a variety of communication methods effectively.
Intègres
You will act with integrity and honesty while demonstrating fairness, justice, and respect for others.
Ouverts d’esprit
You will learn to appreciate your own culture while remaining open to other cultures and perspectives. You will develop the habit of considering a range of viewpoints before forming conclusions.
Altruistes
You will demonstrate empathy, compassion, and respect for others. You will recognize the importance of service and contributing positively to the lives of others and to the environment.
Audacieux
You will approach unfamiliar situations, uncertainty, and new challenges with courage and confidence. You will be willing to explore new roles, ideas, and strategies.
Équilibrés
You will understand the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between your intellectual, physical, and emotional well-being.
Réfléchis
You will regularly reflect on your learning and experiences. You will learn to identify your strengths and areas for improvement and set meaningful goals for your personal development.
Ce que cela signifie pour vous
Throughout this course, I expect you to:
- Develop confidence in communicating in French.
- Take responsibility for your own learning.
- Engage actively with different cultures and perspectives.
- Apply critical and creative thinking skills.
- Reflect regularly on your progress.
- Demonstrate the attributes of the IB Learner Profile in your daily learning.
By the end of the course, you should not only be able to communicate effectively in French, but also become a more internationally minded, reflective, and responsible learner.
This diagram illustrates the philosophy and structure of the IBDP French ab initio course. It shows that communication is at the center of language learning, and everything else in the course supports the development of communication skills.
1. Communication is the Core of the Course
At the center of the diagram is:
Communication
Through communication, you develop three key language competencies:
Compétences réceptives (Receptive Skills)
These are the skills used to understand language.
Examples:
- Listening to audio recordings
- Reading articles, emails, blogs, and texts
- Understanding spoken and written French
IB Assessments:
- Paper 2 Listening
- Paper 2 Reading
Compétences productives (Productive Skills)
These are the skills used to produce language.
Examples:
- Writing emails
- Writing articles
- Writing blogs
- Writing reports
IB Assessments:
- Paper 1 Writing
Compétences interactives (Interactive Skills)
These are the skills used to communicate with others.
Examples:
- Conversations
- Discussions
- Asking and answering questions
- Expressing opinions
IB Assessments:
- Individual Oral
2. Four elements support Communication
Around communication are four important components.
Thèmes (Themes)
The prescribed IB themes provide the content through which you learn the language.
Examples:
- Identities
- Experiences
- Human Ingenuity
- Social Organization
- Sharing the Planet
These themes give you topics to discuss, read about, write about, and listen to.
Textes (Texts)
You learn language through different text types.
Examples:
- Blog
- Article
- Interview
- Brochure
- Speech
- Report
Each text type teaches you different communication skills.
Langue (Language)
This refers to:
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Sentence structures
- Pronunciation
Language is the tool that allows communication to happen.
Without language knowledge, communication is impossible.
Concepts (Concepts)
Concepts help you understand how language works and how meaning is created.
Examples:
- Communication
- Culture
- Connections
- Perspective
Conceptual understanding allows you to think more deeply about language rather than simply memorizing vocabulary.
3. International Mindedness
On the left side:
Sensibilité internationale (International Mindedness)
This means that throughout the course, you are encouraged to:
- Understand different cultures
- Respect different perspectives
- Compare cultures
- Develop intercultural understanding
This is a fundamental goal of the IB.
Language learning is not only about grammar; it is also about understanding people and cultures.
4. Approaches to Learning (ATL Skills)
On the right side:
Compétences spécifiques aux approches de l’apprentissage
These are the ATL Skills used throughout the course.
Examples:
Communication Skills
- Presenting ideas
- Discussing opinions
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing information
- Making connections
Research Skills
- Finding information
- Evaluating sources
Self-Management Skills
- Organization
- Time management
Social Skills
- Collaboration
- Respectful interaction
These skills help you become an independent learner.
5. Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
At the top:
Liens vers la TdC (Theory of Knowledge)
Language is closely connected to TOK because it raises questions such as:
- How does language influence thought?
- Can language shape reality?
- How do different cultures communicate ideas?
You will often reflect on these questions while studying French.
6. CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service)
At the bottom:
Créativité, Activité, Service (CAS)
The language course can connect naturally to CAS experiences.
Examples:
Creativity
- Producing French videos
- Creating posters
- Writing blogs
Activity
- Organizing cultural events
- Participating in language clubs
Service
- Helping younger students learn French
- Community projects involving Francophone cultures
Main message of the Diagram
The diagram shows that:
Communication is the heart of the French Ab Initio course.
To become an effective communicator, you will learn through:
- Themes
- Texts
- Language
- Concepts
while developing:
- Receptive skills (listening and reading)
- Productive skills (writing)
- Interactive skills (speaking)
all within an international and intercultural context supported by ATL skills, TOK connections, and CAS experiences.
As your teacher, I want you to remember one key idea:
We are not learning French simply to learn grammar; we are learning French in order to communicate meaningfully with people, understand different cultures, and become internationally minded global citizens.
