Sixth Form Subject Guide 2019-2021 REDRAFTED Sixth Form Choices Guide | Page 44

IB French ab initio (Standard Level) HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: Mrs A Watt ([email protected]) Entry Requirements No previous knowledge of the language is required. This course meets the needs of students who are interested in learning a new language, (not studied at GCSE), as part of the IB Diploma. Where next? Linguists are in constant demand and French - and the same is true for any Modern Language - is now viewed by universities as a facilitating subject, which means that it will help you with whatever subject you ultimately choose to study, and whatever career you take. Linguists are trained to think structurally, to express themselves articulately and present focused arguments, which are skills that employers seek and value highly. Language graduates are sought after by employers not merely for their linguistic skills, but for the intellectual rigour and cultural understanding which their course has offered. Young people with language skills are in short demand and so by taking a language you place yourself in an advantageous position in the job market. Furthermore, having spent a year abroad makes you a more mature, adaptable and independent individual. According to recruitment consultants, a language can add 10 – 15% to your salary and most language graduates do jobs where languages are advantageous but not central to their work. Furthermore linguists have the lowest unemployment rates overall, (outdone only by medicine and law). They find their way into a wide range of jobs – including banks and other financial institutions, the travel and hospitality business, the media including journalism, advertising, PR, retail, education, charities, international organisations and many others. About 10% choose to work abroad, mostly in commercial and business areas. WHAT WILL I STUDY? The five themes of the IB course are:      Identities Experiences Human Ingenuity Social Organisation Sharing the planet HOW IS THE COURSE ASSESSED?    Internal Assessment: Oral Component 25%: 7-10 minutes plus 15 mins of formal preparation time. External Assessment: Productive Skills 25% Paper 1: Writing (1 hours) External Assessment: Receptive Skills 50% Paper 2: Reading ( 1 hour) Listening (45 mins) 43