Process

The different paths towards language development

There are many ways schools may decide to deliver language development, including;

• a school designed course

• an extension to a DP group 2 language acquisition course

• an external provider such as a local language school

• an online language course

• a school-monitored self-directed language study

Image: Okubo, Leonardo Toshiro. Unsplash, 2019.

The process will depend somewhat on the context of your school and how the language development course is offered. Language development will look very different in a school with 110 nationalities and 80 mother tongues when compared with a bilingual school or a school with mainly first language English speakers.

In some schools, online or self-directed language learning may take place during independent study periods, but in others, learning might take place in groups or classes for all CP students together. The possibilities are endless and IB schools vary enormously! Your school will decide how best to deliver language development based on your school context and the language profile of the student body.

Potentially, you may be offered a range of options, and you can decide the language and level best suited to your individual needs, background and career ambitions.

The following questions may help you decide which route to take:

• What language(s) do you already speak or understand?

• What additional language(s) have you already studied and may want to take further?

• Which language would be most useful to you for employment or travel?

• Which language would be challenging, relevant and enjoyable for you to study?

Whatever language is chosen, either by you, or by the school, you will map your learning over the course of the CP via your language development portfolio, and this is assessed by the school.