| French |
Grades 9-10 (French I)
This course is designed to meet the communicative needs of beginning students in grades 9 - 12. The basic grammar and vocabulary taught center around the targeted communicative functions. A great effort is made to guide students towards spontaneous expression and to provide many opportunities, notably through role-playing, to apply their skills to real-life situations. All four skills, speaking, listening, reading and writing are developed throughout the year. Students learn vocabulary and grammar primarily through active use of the language.
Grades 9-10 (French II)
The course is designed to meet the communicative needs of second year students in grades 9 - 12. Specific effort is made to encourage students towards spontaneous expression by stressing oral communication activities, as well as to further develop reading comprehension, grammar and writing skills. A great effort is made to provide many opportunities, notably through role-playing, to apply their skills to real-life situations. Students continue to study French culture, particularly as it applies to France and European French-speaking countries.
Grades 9-10 (French III)
The course is designed to meet the communicative needs of third year students in grades 9 - 12. The teaching of grammar and vocabulary is reviewed and further developed; research, oral presentations, book reviews and free composition are stressed. Specific effort is made to encourage students to develop oral as well as written fluency. Students are initiated to modern literature studies from France and other French-speaking countries and continue to study the culture of France and the French-speaking world. Topics of study include celebration of personal and family events, school life, leisure activities, carnivals and other cultural celebrations, travel in the French-speaking world, jobs, health, sports, and current events.
Grades 9-10 (French IV)
This course is designed to meet the communicative needs of fourth year students in grades 9 - 12. The course is conducted entirely in French, and advanced grammar and vocabulary, as well as literature and literary analysis, are taught. Reading texts cover a variety of topics dealing with personal and social needs of adolescents. Students are encouraged to strive for mastery in oral and written expression. Students continue to study the culture of France and the French-speaking world. They research various topics, submit book reports, make oral presentations on a variety of themes, and take part in debates.
Grades 9-10 (French V)
This course is designed to meet the communicative needs of students in grades 9 – 12 who have studied French for five years or more. The course is conducted entirely in French. Grammar and vocabulary are reviewed, and literature and literary analysis, are emphasized. Students will read literary excerpts, short novels and a variety of other written works. Students are encouraged to continue to strive for mastery in oral and written expression. They research topics related to the units studied, write reports, make oral presentations on what has been studied, and take part in debates.
Grades 11-12
IB French ab initio Year 1 and 2 (SL)
IB French ab initio is a two-year language program that is designed to give students who have not studied a foreign language for an extended period of time the opportunity to meet the IB requirements for Group 2. It is designed to meet the interactive needs of beginners by developing the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing through the study of a wide range of oral and written texts. The basic grammar and vocabulary taught center on targeted communicative functions. The goal is to guide students towards spontaneous expression by providing maximum exposure to French and many opportunities to apply language skills to real-life communicative needs, interests, and social contexts.
IB French B Year 1 and 2 (HL and SL)
IB French B is designed for students who have had previous experience studying French.
The main focus of the program is on language acquisition and development, but the study of literature and other texts is also an integral part of the course. A successful French B student should not only learn and assimilate basic language structures, but should also be able to use the language in a range of situations and purposes. In the context of the IB French B course, the successful use of the language consists of demonstrating competence in three distinct but interrelated areas:
• Language: handling the language system accurately (grammar, syntax, etc.)
• Cultural interaction: selecting language appropriate to a particular cultural and social context
• Message: understanding ideas and how they are organized in order to communicate them appropriately
IB French A2 Year 1 and 2 (HL and SL)
The study of French as a Language A2 option is aimed at students who already have a high level of competence in the language and who want to reinforce and refine spoken and written language skills through the study of a wide range of texts, both literary and non-literary.
The French language A2 courses are designed for native speakers and for students with an already high level competence in the target language. Emphasis is placed on elements of French culture, literature and history. The preparation for the IB French A2 examination is spread over two years.
The main focus of these courses is on the reinforcement and refinement of language skills, as distinct from language acquisition. Students will also be given the opportunity to explore the cultures of the language, and to make connections between other languages and cultures with
which they are familiar. They are thus able to use the language for purposes and in situations involving sophisticated discussion, argument and debate. The French language A2 courses are offered at both higher and standard level.
