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What is IB’s Group 2 – Language Acquisition
International Baccalaureate (IB) offers a wide range of subjects to its students, including its group 2 languages. It is mandatory that a student selects at least one subject from group 2 in order to receive an IB diploma, regardless of whether it’s a regular or irregular IB diploma. Just in case you didn’t know, a regular diploma is when a student has taken one subject from every group between groups 1-5, with group 6 as an exception, that the IB offers while an irregular diploma is when a student does not meet the requirement of selecting one subject from every group between group 1-5. When it comes to choosing a language, students have to decide whether to take the language at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL), and whether to study the language ab initio SL or as a second language. This decision can be a challenging one, as it will affect not only the workload but also your grades and future prospects. In this blog, we will explore the factors that students should consider when deciding between ab initio SL, SL, and HL for a language in IB.
What Exactly is Ab Initio SL, B SL and B HL?
First of all, let’s talk about what exactly does “ab initio” mean. ab initio is Latin for “from the beginning,” and in the context of IB, it means that the student is starting the language from scratch. This means that students do not have any prior knowledge or experience with the language, and they will learn it as if they were a native speaker. In contrast, if a student takes a language as a second language, they will have already studied the language in their home country or in a previous educational setting. The IB only offers ab initio in SL only and not in HL.
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a language ab initio SL? One of the main advantages is that the student will have the opportunity to learn the language from scratch, and this will enable them to develop their language skills from the ground up. Furthermore, taking a language ab initio SL can be a unique and enriching experience for a student, as they could be exposed to a new culture and way of life. It is also much easier to obtain a greater score in the subject which will definitely help your final IB score as well. On the other hand, learning a language in ab initio SL can be a bit challenging and time-consuming task, as it requires some dedication and hard work if you are completely new to the language (this applies to B SL and B HL as well but those would be on a greater scale).
B SL stands for “Standard Level,” which is a course that is designed for students who have some prior experience with the language being studied. The B SL course provides a solid foundation in the language and aims to develop students’ communicative competence in the language. Students who successfully complete the B SL course should be able to communicate effectively in a range of everyday situations and understand the main ideas of authentic texts in the target language.
B HL stands for “Higher Level,” which is a course that is designed for students who have a high level of proficiency in the language being studied. The B HL course aims to develop students’ advanced language skills and cultural awareness, with a focus on analyzing and evaluating a range of authentic texts in the target language. Students who successfully complete the B HL course should be able to communicate confidently and effectively in a wide range of contexts, and have a deep understanding of the culture and society associated with the target language.
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a language at SL or HL? The main advantage of taking a language at SL is that the workload is lighter than taking it at HL. This means that students will have more time to focus on other subjects and activities, and they will not be as overwhelmed with coursework. On the other hand, taking a language at SL will not result in as high a grade as taking it at HL, and students may struggle to reach their full potential in the language.
Taking a language at HL, on the other hand, offers students the opportunity to reach their full potential in the language. This is because the HL curriculum is more challenging and demanding than the SL curriculum, and students will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the language and culture. Furthermore, taking a language at HL can result in a higher grade and open up more opportunities for students in the future, such as study abroad programs or job opportunities. However, taking a language at HL can also be a very challenging and time-consuming task, and students may find the workload overwhelming.
Also Read: How to score well in IB French Language & Acquisition?
Languages to Choose from and Future Prospects
So essentially, there are a lot, and I mean a lot of languages to choose from in the ab initio SL to B HL and if you search it up, usually you would receive a list of certain languages. However, you cannot freely choose the language you want as your school must offer this language as an option for students. Usually, depending on the region, the available languages for group 2 will be according to that region. Additionally, your school could offer other languages through other means such as online lessons. Unless you are extremely fixed upon the language that your school may offer via online lessons, taking up languages that teachers teach in-person to you is more recommended as you can always turn to teachers for any questions that you may have at any time and they will help you out.
When it comes to college majors and career options, B HL is primarily of higher value for a student when they wish to select a college major or career option that requires and demands effective language fluency and communication. Otherwise, colleges or companies in other fields will usually not require individuals to have completed a certain language at a certain difficulty and will not affect a student’s prospects for applying at a college or job. Below are some career paths that will require students to pick up at least B SL:
- Foreign language
- Linguistics
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Cultural Studies
- Global Studies
The Assessment and Grading Format:
| Ab Initio SL | B SL | B HL |
| Paper 1: Productive Skills [Writing] (25% of total grade) – This paper requires students to write two pieces in the range of 70-150 words in the target language from the titles or questions provided in the examination
Marks – 30 Duration – 1 hour |
Paper 1: Productive Skills [Writing] (25% of total grade) – This paper requires students to write one piece in the range of 250-400 words in the target language from a choice of three prescribed titles.
Marks – 30 Duration – 1 hour 15 minutes |
Paper 1: Productive Skills [Writing] (25% of total grade) – This paper requires students to write one piece in the range of 450-600 words in the target language from a choice of three prescribed titles
Marks – 30 Duration – 1 hour 30 minutes |
Paper 2:
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Paper 2:
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Paper 2:
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| Internal Assessment (IA) – Individual Oral Assessment(25% of total grade) – Students will need to complete a 7-10 minute individual oral assessment with a 1-2 minute individual oral presentation in the target language based upon a visual stimulus(an image essentially) along with questions being asked by the teacher based upon the visual stimulus for 3-4 minutes and a general discussion based upon an additional course theme for a duration of 3-4 minutes.
Preparation Time – 15 minutes Marks – 30 marks |
Internal Assessment (IA) – Individual Oral Assessment(25% of total grade) – Students will need to complete a 12-15 minute individual oral assessment with a 3-4 minute individual oral presentation in the target language based upon a visual stimulus(an image essentially) along with questions being asked by the teacher based upon the visual stimulus for 4-5 minutes and a general discussion based upon an additional course theme for a duration of 5-6 minutes.
Preparation Time – 15 minutes Marks – 30 marks |
Internal Assessment (IA) – Individual Oral Assessment(25% of total grade) – Students will need to complete a 12-15 minute individual oral assessment with a 3-4 minute individual oral presentation in the target language based upon an extract that has a word count of approximately 300 words that is from one of the literary works discussed in class along with questions being asked by the teacher based upon the extract for 4-5 minutes and a general discussion based upon at least one additional course theme for a duration of 5-6 minutes.
Preparation Time – 20 minutes Marks – 30 marks |
How do I choose between the 3?
So, how do students decide between ab initio SL, B SL, and B HL for a language in IB? There are several factors that students should consider when making this decision. These include:
- Time Management: Students should consider their time management skills and their ability to balance the workload of the language course with their other subjects and activities. Taking up a B SL or B HL will require you to invest time into learning the language if you are not that familiar with the language. Additionally, learning a language could become more time consuming than learning for other subjects such as chemistry and you may feel pressured about that.
- Language Learning Skills: Students should consider their language learning skills and their ability to dedicate time and effort to learning the language. If you feel that you aren’t an expert at picking up or learning other languages, then you should definitely consider ab initio SL more. On the other hand, if you are amazing at learning a language, then B SL or B HL is for you.
- Career Goals: Students should consider their career goals and whether taking the language at SL or HL will benefit them in the future. Certain jobs will require fluency and communication in a particular language and in that scenario, B SL or B HL will play a crucial role in your skillset. If this isn’t the case, then picking up ab initio SL would be better as it may not be important to you in your career at all.
- Prior Knowledge: If students have prior knowledge or experience with the language, then depending upon the other subjects that they may require for college applications and career choices, B SL or B HL, primarily B SL, would be a great option. It not only proves that you were willing to take the tougher path but it also shows that you possess fluency and knowledge in a particular language. However, if you do not have prior knowledge at all or only to a certain extent, then selecting ab initio SL would be a better choice.
- Personal Interests: Finally, students should consider their personal interests and whether they have a passion for learning the language. If a student has an interest in the language and culture, they will be more likely to put in the effort and time required to succeed in the course and therefore, all three are open options. On the contrary, if a student does not have the motivation or passion to learn a language, then choosing ab initio SL is your safe bet.
In conclusion, the decision of whether to choose ab initio SL, SL, or HL for a language in IB can be a challenging one. However, by considering factors such as time management skills, language learning skills, career goals, prior knowledge, and personal interests, students can make an informed decision that will help them reach their full potential and achieve their goals. In my honest opinion, unless your aim is to work in a certain city or your career has a primary requirement of learning a language in detail, I would recommend taking the easy road and selecting ab initio. Personally, I felt that thanks to taking French ab initio SL, I had a much easier time experiencing and completing the IB. I didn’t have a major interest in learning a language to a great extent and I wouldn’t be able to efficiently manage my workload with French B SL or B HL. However, don’t take my word for it if you think that B SL or B HL might be beneficial to you. If you’re passionate and you think you can learn a language to that extent, then do take a B SL or B HL. No matter what decision a student makes, learning a new language can be a rewarding and enriching experience that will benefit them in many ways throughout their life.
