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IB Diploma Programme (DP) Japanese

We cater to students studying Ab Initio Japanese or Language B Japanese in the IB Diploma Programme (DP).

Japanese Language B (SL/HL)

These are Language Acquisition courses for students with some previous experience of the target language, and are taken at either Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL). The two levels differ in the number of recommended teaching hours, the level of competency the student is expected to develop, and that HL students are required to study two literary works originally written in the target language.

Through these courses, students develop the ability to communicate in the target language through the study of language, themes and texts.

The syllabus is organised into five prescribed themes, which must all be addressed equally in the course. Beyond that, teachers are free to work with the themes in a way that best helps them to organise a course plan and build upon students' interests in the target language and its culture. The course guide outlines a series of recommended topics to be considered indicative content for each theme as well as possible questions, however neither the recommended topics nor the possible questions are prescribed.

The table below summarises the five prescribed themes, recommended topics and possible questions:
Theme Guiding Principle Optional Recommended Topics Possible Questions
Identities Explore the nature of the self and how we express who we are.
  • Lifestyles
  • Health and well-being
  • Beliefs and values
  • Subcultures
  • Language and identity
  • What constitutes an identity?
  • How do we express our identity?
  • What ideas and images do we associate with a healthy lifestyle?
  • How do language and culture contribute to form our identity?
Experiences Explore and tell the stories of the events, experiences and journeys that shape our lives.
  • Leisure activities
  • Holidays and travel
  • Life stories
  • Rites of passage
  • Customs and traditions
  • Migration
  • How does travel broaden our horizons?
  • How does our past shape our present and our future?
  • How and why do different cultures mark important moments in life?
  • How would living in another culture affect our worldview?
Human ingenuity Explore the ways in which human creativity and innovation affect our world.
  • Entertainment
  • Artistic expressions
  • Communication and media
  • Technology
  • Scientific innovation
  • How do developments in science and technology influence our lives?
  • How do the arts help us understand the world?
  • What can we learn about a culture through its artistic expression?
  • How do the media change the way we relate to each other?
Social organisation Explore the ways in which groups of people organise themselves, or are organised, through common systems or interests.
  • Social relationships
  • Community
  • Social engagement
  • Education
  • The working world
  • Law and order
  • What is the individual’s role in the community?
  • What role do rules and regulations play in the formation of a society?
  • What role does language play in a society?
  • What opportunities and challenges does the 21st-century workplace bring?
Sharing the planet Explore the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals and communities in the modern world.
  • The environment
  • Human rights
  • Peace and conflict
  • Equality
  • Globalization
  • Ethics
  • Urban and rural environment
  • What environmental and social issues present challenges to the world, and how can these challenges be overcome?
  • What ethical issues arise from living in the modern world, and how do we resolve them?
  • What challenges and benefits does globalization bring?
  • What challenges and benefits result from changes in urban and rural environments?

Japanese Language B (SL) Assessment

At the culmination of the course, Japanese Language B is subjected to both an internal and an external assessment. The asessment components for Japanese B Standard Level (SL) are arranged as follows:

External Assessment (SL)

Paper 1 (35% weighting)
Productive Skills - Writing (1 hour, 15 minutes - 30 marks)
One writing task of 250–400 words from a choice of three, each from a different theme, choosing a text type from among those listed in the examination instructions.

Paper 2 (35% weighting)
Receptive skills - Reading comprehension (1 hour - 40 marks)
Comprehension exercises on three written texts, drawn from all five themes. Each text extract will be no more than 40 lines - usually of a magazine article, travel brochure, newspaper article, blog, website, email, or letter.

Internal Assessment (SL)

Individual oral assessment (30% weighting)
A conversation with the teacher, based on a visual stimulus, followed by discussion based on an additional theme. (30 marks)
This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.


Japanese Language B (HL) Assessment

The asessment components for Japanese B Higher Level (HL) are arranged as follows:

External Assessment (HL)

Paper 1 (35% weighting)
Productive Skills - Writing (1 hour, 30 minutes - 30 marks)
One writing task of 450–600 words from a choice of three, each from a different theme, choosing a text type from among those listed in the examination instructions.

Paper 2 (35% weighting)
Receptive skills - Reading comprehension (1 hour - 40 marks)
Comprehension exercises on three written texts, drawn from all five themes. Each text extract will be no more than 40 lines - usually of a magazine article, travel brochure, newspaper article, blog, website, email, or letter.

Internal Assessment (HL)

Individual oral assessment (30% weighting)
A conversation with the teacher, based on an extract from one of the literary works studied in class, followed by discussion based on one or more of the themes from the syllabus. (30 marks)
This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.

Please note that the above assessment outlines are modified versions of those shown in the IB subject brief. They have been implemented by the IBO as of 2020 as a Covid support measure.

Below is a link to the subject brief for Language B subjects at both SL and HL:

Click here to view the Language B page of the IB website for more information.

DP Japanese Ab Initio  Back to IB Diploma Programme

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