Spanish ab initio

Syllabus, prerequisites and materials

Syllabus (summary)

IB language ab initio courses are designed to integrate three main areas: language, texts and cultural awareness.

The language component of the course is designed so that the four primary language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) may be developed in an integrated way. To that end, Spanish ab initio students may be involved in forms of communication such as newspaper, telephone conversations, class discussions about a written text, informal conversations, conferences, drama, and e-mails. Furthermore, students are expected to develop accuracy and fluency in expression, and control over the four language skills: vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and intonation.

The language component is constructed around a core syllabus which features seven topics that develop students' language competency in a range of real life contextual themes: the individual, education and work, town and services, food and drink, leisure and travel, health and emergencies, and the environment.

A range of texts form the backbone of the course. Language skills are not developed in isolation but rather through the use of a wide range of contemporary materials such as advertisements, newspaper and magazine articles, catalogues, forms, instructions, and much more. Teachers and students collaborate to choose texts that address the students' needs and interests.

Cultural awareness is the third area of the course design. Students are expected to become familiar with aspects of the everyday life and culture of Spanish-speaking countries through the texts they study. The study of particular features of the culture is not an end in itself but a means by which the students learn about a different way of life, and consequently develop their language skills.

Prerequisites

No prior study of Spanish is expected. The language ab initio courses are language learning courses for beginners, designed to be followed over two years by students who have no previous experience of learning the target language.

Materials

There is no standard textbook for this course. The IB language ab initio subject guide asserts that language should be developed through the study of contemporary materials and primary resources that reflect the culture concerned. Relevant course materials will be made available online by teachers and course designers.

Adapted from the IB Language ab initio Guide (Spanish) © International Baccalaureate Organization