Previous Knowledge
Studying a foreign language is an essential part of the IB programme. For those students who wish to continue their study of Arabic at Standard Level (SL) at least a grade C in Arabic at GCSE is recommended. Students who choose to study Arabic ‘Ab Initio’ need have little or no previous knowledge of the language.

Arabic SL
The SL course is intended to provide students with sufficient Arabic to be able to understand and use the language for a variety of purposes in a range of social and transactional contexts.

The syllabus covers core grammar and vocabulary, and the topics promote reflection, discussion and debate through coverage of contemporary issues, including: Lifestyles and Health; the Arab World and Modern Society; and Education and Opportunity. The requisite language skills will be taught and practised in class through diverse activities, but students will also be required to undertake independent study to reinforce work done in class. Students will have to do research and will complete a variety of assessments for each topic. The major skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing will be covered in a manner that prepares students for real-life language use and also for the final examinations at the appropriate IB level.

The Arabic programme will promote key aspects of the IB Learner Profile: communication, open-mindedness and critical thinking. In this way students will be ready and able to respond to the views and judgements offered by other people in an Arabic-speaking context. These aptitudes and abilities will prepare students for success in further education, and will be a long-term asset in developing career opportunities wherever communication and language skills are valued.

Arabic Ab Initio
The Ab Initio course has more limited objectives, but follows the same principles and means as those outlined above. At the end of the course students will have the knowledge and skills to communicate in a number of settings, and will have an awareness of key aspects of Arabic culture. Topics will include: Leisure and Travel; Food and Drink; Education; Contemporary Life; the Environment; and Health and Emergencies.

Assessment
At the end of the two-year course in Arabic students will take three formal examinations, as follows: a Text Handling paper (40%); a Written Production paper (30%) and an oral examination (30%). The oral examination consists of two assessments, the first being a group assessment which takes place in class during the final year of the course, and the second is an individual interview at the end of the course.