Ab initio paper 2

Ab Initio Generic WorkshopLeader: Marc Biefnot Session 5: Teaching Productive Skills

IBAP Workshops

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2007

Introductions 2

Move around the room and find someone you have not met yet.

Find out some more about them – who are they beyond their job, what is unique or interesting about them?


Aim of Paper 2: Productive skills

N.B.:100 words = 120 Chinese char. = 200 Japanese char.

Current syllabus1h. 30 – 30%

New syllabus1h. – 25%

A: Short writing task (60 words min.)One task from a choice of two. /30

A: Short writing task (50 words min.)One task from a choice of two. /7

B: Extended writing task (120 words min.)One task from a choice of three. /60

B: Extended writing task (100 words min.)One task from a choice of three. /18


SOME STRATEGIES TO TEACH THE PRODUCTIVE SKILLS


Some strategies to teach the essays

Do not assign essays in isolation. Link them to a unit that you are teaching: thematic or grammatical.

Essays all have a communicative function: Clarity of language is important, but so are the following:

What? (Content), How? (Format) and For whom? (Register)

The idea: Ab Initio Essay = WRITTEN ROLE PLAY.


A Possible Strategy : The Writing Portfolio

“Allow candidates to see their writing as a continuous work-in-progress, rather than as a series of more or less successful end-products. Initiate or continue and further develop the use of semester-long writing portfolios that promote the importance of reflexive re-writing. “ Italian S.R. May 04

This portfolio can take the shape of a weblog or blog.

Example of a blog used in an IB Language B class: http://profmarc.blogspot.com/


Another Strategy : Collective Correction Session


Some advice to the students

Read questions carefully and understand task: Find out which format to use and what level of

language is best suited. Make an outline/check list of all the ideas to develop. Think of what tenses to use. After you have written your draft, check you language

and look for your usual silly little language mistakes (mostly verb endings, noun genders, agreement of nouns and adjectives…) and “Anglicisms”.

Organize your text in paragraphs, use connectors.


Sharing Ideas to Teach Paper 2

Choose one lesson idea/activity related to Paper 2 to share with others.

Consider things such as:

What topic of the three themes this coversWhat skills can be integratedWhat learning activities you would useWhy its works well/tips for successAny pitfalls


WRITER’S BLOCK?EXAMPLES FOR THE NEW GUIDE

I wish I were an IB Ab

Initio student…


Paper 2 examples – New Section A

1-You have invited a few friends to dinner to celebrate your birthday and you want to prepare a special dish. Write an e-mail to your mother to ask her for the recipe of a dish she prepared for you before you left home. In your email:

remind her of the occasion on which she prepared it for you ask her for the recipe explain why you want it.

2-While visiting Venice you have lost a personal object (e.g. a piece of jeweler, your camera, your mobile, etc.). You went to the police station where you were asked to write a formal report with a description of the object you have lost. In your report:

specify its value state where you lost it explain when you lost it.



3-A new shop which you really like has just opened in your town centre. Write a blog entry telling your friends about the shop. In your entry, state:

where it is located what it sells why you like it so much.

4-You went to a Japanese family's home on Sunday for lunch. Write a thank-you note to the family to express your gratitude. In your note state:

how much you enjoyed the food what you liked most about the meal a day on which you would like to meet the family again.



5-Your pet has been missing for three days now. You decide to put up a notice in a local supermarket. In your notice:

describe your pet’s appearance offer a reward to the person who finds it give your contact details.


Paper 2 examples – New Section B

1-You have become the television critic for the school paper. Write a review on your favourite TV programme. Explain why it is a good programme and tell your readers when it is on. Advise them to watch it.

2-Your best friend has just moved to another city. You miss her/him a lot. In a page of your diary, explain your feelings. Describe your friend and say why she/he was so special to you and why you miss him / her.



3-A younger friend of yours wants to register on the IB diploma course, but s/he is not sure this is going to be the right choice. You want to help her/him. Write a letter to her/him in which you give him/her advice on the basis of your school experience and explain the advantages and disadvantages of the IB Diploma course. Tell him / her why s /he should enroll.

4-Your Russian friend has the intention of moving to your town. Write a letter to him/her recommending the best area to live taking into consideration transport, security, house prices shopping, sport and leisure facilities



5-Your school was closed yesterday. What sort of day did you have? Where did you go? What was interesting? With whom did you go? Your teacher has asked you to prepare a speech about yesterday. Write the text of your speech.


Discussion

Which topics appeal to you and why? Are any relevant to all languages? Are any culturally insensitive? Which ones need modification?


Possible Activity

Write 2 Section A and 1 Section B Paper 2 tasks taking into account the following:

What elements from the guide are covered: language, the three themes and intercultural understanding?

Which classroom activities would you use to introduce the essay?

Any tips/pitfalls to share?

Ab initio paper 2

Education

Transcript of Ab initio paper 2