International Baccalaureate
 

The Middle Years Programme - MYP

Japanese Language Courses Grade 5-6

Gr. 5/6 Language B Foundation

This course is for beginners who have had no previous or very little experience learning the Japanese language. This course is an introduction to speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing of modern standard Japanese with the goal to acquire basic communication skills. Effort is also made to expose students to Japanese culture. Daily instruction includes various activities, e.g.: speaking practice in pairs, drills, games, tasks and projects, reading and writing basic Japanese (hiragana, katakana).
 

Gr. 5/6 Language B Standard

This course is intended for intermediate level students. In this course students will develop accuracy, orally and in written form, as well as expand their vocabulary and strengthen the grammatical base through various language activities. Students will learn about 100 kanji and how to use a dictionary to develop their vocabulary power. Also students will practice and develop oral presentations such as a simple speech. In writing, students will write simple essays.
  

Gr. 6 Language B Advanced

This course is targeted at students who speak near-native Japanese. Emphasis is placed on developing vocabulary used in written and spoken Japanese. Expression of ideas and feelings in a variety of situations is practiced while the use of literature is introduced throughout the course. This leads to an enhanced understanding of Japanese culture and thought. Students will know 500-700 kanji upon completion of this course.
 
Japanese Language Courses Grade 7-8

Gr. 7/8 Language B Foundation

This course is designed for beginning students who have had no previous or just a little experience learning the Japanese language. The course is an introduction to speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing of modern standard Japanese with the goal to understand and respond to classroom instructions and to acquire basic oral and written communication skills. Students will learn hiragana, katakana and about 50 kanji by the end of this course. Effort is also made to expose the students to Japanese culture.
 

Gr. 7 Language B Standard

This course is designed for advanced beginner grade 7 students. The course emphasizes grammar and a wider selection of vocabulary to deal with real situations and provides students with a foundation for further study of the Japanese language. Students will write multiple paragraphs, short essays, letters, messages, invitations, a diary and more. Students will learn about 100-150 kanji by the end of this course. 
 

Gr. 8 Language B Standard
 

The course is intended for intermediate level grade 8 students. In this course students will develop reading comprehension skills to understand the context of reading materials and to empower their vocabulary and expression. Students will practice and develop oral presentations such as simple speech and skits. In reading activities, students will practice to grasp main ideas of a story, its main characters, and the plot. In writing activities, students will write multiple paragraphs for essays and creative writing. Students will learn about 150-200 kanji by the end of this course.
 

Gr. 7 Language B Advanced
 

This course is intended for grade 7 students who are near-native speakers of Japanese. It is designed to facilitate the development of reading, writing and thinking skills as well as focus on speaking and listening skills to handle various kinds of situations. Students will spend a good deal of time increasing vocabulary and kanji. Grammatical structures will be studied so students can develop their ability to communicate in Japanese with accuracy and fluency. Students will discuss the theme of the stories, main characters and problems. Students will learn about 700-800 kanji by the end of this course.
 

Gr. 8 Language B Advanced
 

This course is intended for grade 8 students who are near-native speaker of Japanese. This course facilitates students to foster curiosity, interest and enjoyment in learning language and literature through interdisciplinary theme and area of interaction. Students are expected to read a wide range of texts with understanding and to write effectively for various purposes using accurate grammar and vocabulary. Students will learn 800-1000 kanji by the end of this course.

 
Japanese Language Courses Grade 9-10

Gr. 9-10 Language B Foundation

This course is targeted at new or beginning students of Japanese. The basic communication skills are emphasized. Speaking, listening comprehension, simple readings and writing are the main goals for this course resulting in the students gaining confidence in using the Japanese language. Cultural aspects are also incorporated. Although conversation skills are stressed, students will also learn the Japanese phonetic writing symbols, hiragana and katakana, and 50-100 kanji upon completion of this course.
 

Gr. 9 Language B Standard

This course is designed for grade 9 students who are non-native speakers of Japanese. The course emphasizes more complicated grammar and a wider range of vocabulary to deal with real situations and provides students with a foundation for further study of the Japanese language. Writing skills will be developed as well as reading comprehension skills. Grasping the main ideas and summarizing from various materials will be enhanced. Students will learn about 150-300 kanji by the end of this course.
 

Gr. 10 Language B Standard

This course is intended for grade 10 students who are non-native speakers of Japanese. The course will help students further develop their speaking skills and their use of descriptive vocabulary. They will listen to a variety of spoken Japanese and respond appropriately to the language demands. Students will develop new vocabulary through selected reading materials, understanding main ideas, and summarizing what is presented in a variety of texts. The reading comprehension skills of skimming, scanning and intensive reading will be enhanced. Students will be able to write various types of essays that follow appropriate organization. Students will learn about 300-500 kanji by the end of this course.
 

Gr. 9 Language B Advanced

This course is intended for grade 9 students who are near-native speakers of Japanese. Students will read challenging materials and begin to look closely at various styles of writing as well as the author’s messages to readers. The course also focuses on improving the students’ syntax and semantics in order for them to develop their reading comprehension. The students will read newspapers and write summaries and comments about articles. Students will learn kanji about 1000-1200 kanji by the end of this course.
 

Gr. 10 Language B Advanced
 

This course is designed for grade 10 students who are near-native speakers of Japanese. The goals of this class are to: become a responsible, independent learner; read various and voluminous texts in Japanese and comprehend their themes and linguistic characteristics; develop the ability to write a clear commentary; grasp the main idea of the text; and foster the attitude of listening carefully and speaking logically. Students will learn about 1200-1500 kanji by the end of this course.
 
Spanish Language Course - Grade 9 - 10
 

Year 1 & 2 Spanish
 

Year 1 & 2 Spanish is offered as a two-year beginning course, which exposes the students to the grammatical, listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of Spanish. The instruction will follow “proficiency-based” curriculum guidelines - the entry point being the functional use of language. We will also explore Hispanic cultures extensively. Classes meet during all three trimesters. 
NOTE: Students must submit a full plan for their intended IB Diploma courses to the IB coordinator upon signing up for this course. Careful thought to available options should take place with advice from the coordinator.
 
Chinese Language Course - Grades 9 - 10
 

Year 1 & 2 Chinese

Year 1 & 2 Chinese is offered as a two-year beginning course, which exposes the students to the grammatical, listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of Mandarin Chinese. The instruction will follow “proficiency-based” curriculum guidelines - the entry point being the functional use of language. We will learn the simplified characters and Pinyin, and explore Chinese culture extensively. Classes meet during all three trimesters.
 

NOTE: Students must submit a full plan for their intended IB Diploma courses to the IB coordinator upon signing up for this course. Careful thought to available options should take place with advice from the coordinator.