The document provides information about the language ab initio course for students with little to no prior experience in the language they wish to study. It discusses the nature and goals of the course, including developing intercultural understanding. It outlines the three themes covered: Individual and Society, Leisure and Work, and Urban and Rural Environment. It also describes the assessment objectives and components for the course, which include receptive skills, productive skills, and interactive skills. The external assessment consists of three parts: a receptive skills paper, a productive skills paper, and a written assignment involving both receptive and productive skills.

1. SY 2015-2017
Instructor: Y. Lee

2. 
 The language ab initio course is designed for
students with little or no prior experience of the
language they wish to study.
 Should be a challenging educational experience
for the student.
 The language ab initio course, albeit at a basic level,
seeks to develop intercultural understanding and
foster a concern for global issues, as well as raise
students’ awareness of their own responsibility at a
local level.
Nature of Language Ab Initio

3. 
I. 个人与社会 Individual and Society
 个人详情、外貌、性格 Appearance and character
 日常起居 Daily routines
 教育Education
 饮食 Food and Drink
 身体健康 Physical health
 关系 Relationships
 购物 Shopping.
Theme and Prescribed Topics

4. 
II. 休闲与工作 Leisure and Work
 就业 Employment
 娱乐 Entertainment
 假期 Holidays
 媒体 Media
 交通 Transport
 科技 Technology
 体育运动 Sport
Theme and Prescribed Topics

5. 
III. 城市环境与乡村环境
Urban and Rural Environment
 全球问题 Global Issues
 环境方面的顾虑 Environmental concerns
 邻里 Neighborhood
 自然地理 Physical Geography
 城镇及其设施 Town and Services
 天气 Weather
Theme and Prescribed Topics

6. 个人与社会 休闲与工作
城市环境与
乡村环境
 In teams of _____ ; Within 1 Minute
 Write down as many prescribed topics in
the correct category as possible.
 Team with the most correct prescribed
topics in the right category +E.C.

7. 
指定性话题
L3-5
L7-8
L4、12
L5
L14
L9
L4
L4，L18
L10
L11
L11
L11
L11
L13
L13
L2
L2

8. Demonstrate an awareness and
understanding of the
intercultural elements related to
the topics
Communicate clearly and
effectively in a range of situations
Understand and use accurately the
basic structures of the language
Understand and use an
appropriate range of vocabulary
Use a register and a format that
are appropriate to the situation
Receptive Skills
Productive
Skills
Interactive
Skills
Assessment
Objectives

9. 
First Examinations 2015
External
Assessment
75%
• Paper 1 (1 hour and 30 minutes):
Receptive skills 30% 40 marks
• Paper 2 (1 hour): Productive skills
25% 25 marks
• Written assignment: Receptive and
productive skills 20% 20 marks
Internal
Assessment
25%
• Individual oral (10 minutes):
Interactive skills

10. May 2014 0-12 13-24 25-39 40-55 56-68 69-82 83-100
0-3 4-7 8-11 12-15 16-18 19-21 22-25

11. 0 0
3
2 2
6
3
00 0 0 0
3
2
1 1
0 0
2
1
3
2 2
00 0 0 0 0
4
3
1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N
2012 2013 2014 2015
2012 1st Cohort Ab Initio
Chinese students only
took Chinese I & II

12. External Assessment (EA)part 1
Paper 1
Receptive
Skills
1.5 hours
30%
40 marks
To assess, through a
variety of exercises,
the student’s ability
to read and
understand a range
of authentic texts.
Deduce the meaning of words
from their context
Understand grammatical
structures and functions
Be aware of the cohesive
devices that give coherence to a
text
The text booklet
consists of four
texts, and Q&A
booklet contains up
to 40 text-handing
questions.
True or false exercises
Multiple-choice
Short-answer
Table-filling
Gap-filling
Matching – synonyms, antonyms

13. Let’s take a look!
Pay close attention to the directions and
question formats.

14. External Assessment (EA)part 2
Paper 2
Productive
Skills
1 hours
25%
25 marks
Section A:
Short
writing task
7 marks
Student answer
one question
from a choice
of two
Flyer, Blog,
Email,
Invitation, List,
Menu, Message,
Notice, Poster.A minimum of
50 words, 60
Mandarin
characters.
Section B:
Extended
writing task
18 marks
Student answer
one question
from a choice
of three
Article, Blog,
Brochure, Diary,
Email, Online
entry, Essay,
Interview,
Letter, Report,
Review, Speech
A minimum of
100 words, 120
Mandarin
characters.

15. In papers 1 and 2
the use of dictionaries and
reference material is not
permitted.
All responses must be in the
target language – 中文

16. 小考 – 对还是错?
1. You may not use dictionaries or notes during the Paper
1 and Paper 2 Exam
2. Paper 1 and Paper 2 both are 1 hour and 30 minutes.
3. In Paper 2 you have to write 2 essays, one from Part A
(60 characters), one from Part B (120 characters).
4. In Paper 1 you have to read 4 texts, and answer the
questions (matching, multiple choice, gap filling…etc.)
in English.
5. External Assessment is 75% of the overall DP grade.

17. External Assessment Criteria
Paper 2
Section A – 60 Character Section B – 120 Character
Total Marks 7
Criterion A
Language
3
Criterion B
Message
3
Criterion C
Format
1
Total Marks 18
Criterion A
Language
8
Criterion B
Message
8
Criterion C
Format
2

18. Let’s take a look!
Pay close attention to the directions and
question formats.

19. Your school is organizing
a “campaign for a healthy
life”. Design a poster for
the campaign with advice
about:
 Food
 Physical Exercise
 Sleep
 Stress
You are on holiday in an
English speaking country.
On your personal blog
you post a message about
someone you have just
met. In your blog entry
you explain:
 Three details about
this person
 Where you met
 What you have been
doing together
 What your future plans
are.
In teams, brain storm and answer one
of the following question in Chinese.
Minimum 60 Characters

20. 
 Does the student demonstrate an ability to use the
language effectively and accurately?
 Does the student use spelling, calligraphy,
vocabulary and grammatical structures correctly
and accurately?
Criterion A: Language

21. Criterion A Level Descriptor
0
• Language inaccuracies completely obscure
communication.
1
• Language inaccuracies often obscure
communication.
2
• Language is generally accurate and does
not obscure communication.
3
• Language is mostly accurate and
communication is clear.

22. 
 Is all the relevant information conveyed?
Criterion B: Message
0
• No relevant information has been conveyed.
1
• Some relevant information has been conveyed.
2
• More than half relevant information has been conveyed.
3
• All relevant information has been conveyed effectively.

23. 
 Is all the relevant information conveyed?
Criterion C: Format
0 • The format is not appropriate.
1 • The format is appropriate.

24. 3. Your teacher has asked you to speak about the
disadvantages of using public transport. Write the text of
your speech. Mention at least three disadvantages.
4. You have interviewed a famous athlete for the school
newspaper. You asked him/her why s/he chose his/her
sport, what s/he had to do to become a champion and what
s/he is going to do in the future. Write the text of the
interview.
5. You want to work during the weekends as a tourist guide in
your city. Write a letter to the Tourist Office. Introduce
yourself, explain why you are writing and give several
reasons why the Tourist Office should employ you.
Paper 2
Section B
Answer one of the following questions. Write at least 100
words (120 characters)

25. 
To what extend does the student demonstrate an
ability to use the language effectively and accurately?
 Does the student use a range of vocabulary and
grammatical structures?
 Does the student show awareness of the appropriate
register for the task?
Criterion A: Language

26. Criterion A Level Descriptor
0
• The response does not reach a standard described by
the descriptors below.
1-2
• The response and communication are of limited effectiveness.
• The range of vocabulary is limited
• Some basic grammatical structures are used accurately. These are
isolated and limited in range.
• Register is inappropriate.
3-4
• The response and communication are partially effective.
• The range of vocabulary is sometimes varied.
• Most basic grammatical structures are used accurately.
• Register is partially appropriate.

27. Criterion A Level Descriptor
5-6
• The response is generally accurate and
communication is generally effective.
• The range of vocabulary used is varied.
• Basic grammatical structures and a limited range of
more complex grammatical structures are used
accurately.
• Register is appropriate.
7-8
• The response is accurate and communication is
effective.
• The range of vocabulary used is varied and effective.
• Basic and complex grammatical structures are used
accurately.
• Register is appropriate.

28. 
To what extent does the student fulfill the task?
 Are the ideas well developed?
 Is there evidence of a logical structure (paragraphing
and sequencing)?
 Are cohesive devices used effectively?
Criterion B: Message

29. Criterion B Level Descriptor
0
• The response does not reach a standard described by
the descriptors below.
1-2
• The task has been partially fulfilled.
• One or more ideas have been identified and have been partially
developed.
• There is limited evidence of a logical structure.
• There is a partially successful use of a limited range of simple
cohesive devices.
3-4
• The task has been generally fulfilled.
• One or more ideas have been identified and have been
developed.
• There is evidence of a logical structure.
• There is a generally successful use of a range of simple cohesive
devices.

30. Criterion B Level Descriptor
5-6
• The task has been fulfilled.
• All ideas have been identified and some have been
developed well.
• There is a logical structure.
• There is successful use of a range of simple cohesive
devices.
7-8
• The task have been developed well.
• There is an effective, logical structure.
• There is successful use of a range of simple and some
complex cohesive devices.

31. 
 To what extent does the student succeed in using
the correct text type?
 Does the student use the appropriate format?
Criterion C: Format
0 • The format is not appropriate.
1 • The format is partially appropriate.
2 • The format is appropriate

32. External Assessment (EA) part 3
Written Assignment *new
Receptive and Productive Skills 20%
• Independent work of the student
• Word processed in the target language
• The title of the written assignment and the theme it comes
from (individual and society, leisure and work) is the choice
of the student
• The research process is student driven and guided by
teachers. There is no formal amount of time for the research
process.
• Sources may be found by the student or generated by the
teacher or a combination of both.

33. External Assessment (EA)
part 3 cont’d
Objectives To develop intercultural understanding by
reflecting on differences and similarities
between cultures
To describe aspects of the target language
cultures
To compare aspects of the target language
cultures with similar aspects in the students’
cultures
To develop language competence

34. Requirements
Length
240-420
characters
Sources
2-4 sources
in the target
language
Communicative purposes
A: 描述
A
description
of the
chosen topic
in relation to
specific
aspects of
the target
culture(s)
B: 比较
A
comparison
of the
differences
and/or
similarities
between the
chosen topic
in the target
culture and
the student’s
cultures
C: 反思
A reflection
related to
the chosen
topic
Write in the form of
short written
responses under three
separate heading in the
target language: A—
Description, B—
Comparison, C--
Reflection.
Must reflect on:
 Which aspect of your
chosen topic
surprised you?
 Why do you think
these cultural
similarities/differenc
es exist?
 What might a person
from the target
culture find different
about your chosen
topic in your
cultures?

35. External
Assessment
Criteria
Written
Assignment
Total Marks 20
Criterion A
Description
2
Criterion B
Comparison
3
Criterion C
Reflection Question 1
3
Criterion D
Reflection Question 2
3
Criterion E
Reflection Question 3
3
Criterion F
Language
4
Criterion G
Formal requirements and register
2

36. Formal Guidelines
Written Assignment
The student must submit:
• A word processed piece of writing
• The sources in the target language
• A bibliography in standard format with references to all
sources in all languages
• Quotations can be included but will not be part of the
overall word count. If used they must be appropriately
referenced.
• Unacknowledged quotations will be investigated as
potential academic misconduct

37. Internal Assessment (IA)
Purpose
Demonstrate orally the application of the
student’s skills and knowledge.
Part I
The student’s
presentation
of the visual
stimulus
(approx. 1-2
min)
Part II
The teacher’s
questions on
the visual
stimulus
(approx. 2-3
min)
Part III
A general
conversation
(approx. 4-5
min)

38. Internal Assessment (IA)
Individual
Oral
Productive
Skills
10 min
Plus 15 min of
preparation
25%
Supervised
preparation time
15min
The student receives
two previously unseen
stimuli and selects
one for the
presentation.
Working notes can
be made at this
stage.
Part I:
Presentation
1-2 min
Part II:
Questions
2-3 min
Part III:
Conversation
4-5 min
At least two
questions on the
written assignment
followed by general
conversation on a
broad range of topics.

39. 
The Visual Stimulus Will…
 Allow the student to describe a scene or situation
objectively
 Allow the student to narrate a story
 Allow the student to offer a personal interpretation
of that scene or situation
 Enable the teacher to lead the student into a wider
conversation
 Be relevant to the age of the students

40. Internal Assessment Criteria
Individual Oral: Interactive Skills
Total Marks 25
Criterion A
Productive Skills
10
Criterion B
Interactive and Receptive
Skills
15

41. 
 To what extend does the student demonstrate an
ability to use the language effectively and
accurately?
 Do the student’s pronunciation and intonation
facilitate the understanding of the message?
 Does the student’s use of vocabulary facilitate
the understanding of the message?
 Does the student’s use of grammar facilitate the
understanding of the message?
Criterion A: Productive Skills

42. Criterion A Level Descriptor
0
• Communication does not reach a standard described by the
descriptors below.
1-2
• The response and communication are of limited effectiveness.
3-4
• The response and communication are partially effective.
5-6
• The response is generally accurate and communication is generally
effective.
7-8
• The response is accurate and communication is effective.
9-10
• The response is accurate and communication is very effective.

43. 
 To what extend does the student understand and
demonstrate an ability to interact and develop
answers throughout the oral?
 Is the student able to understand
straightforward exchange?
 Is the student able to answer appropriately?
 Is the student able to maintain a conversation?
Criterion B:
Interactive and receptive skills

44. Criterion B Level Descriptor
0
• Comprehension and interaction do not reach a standard
described by the descriptors below.
1-3
• Comprehension and interaction are limited.
4-6
• Comprehension and interaction are partially sustained.
7-9
• Comprehension and interaction are generally sustained.
10-12
• Comprehension and interaction are mostly sustained.
13-15
• Comprehension and interaction are consistently sustained.

45. 
指定性话题
Appearance and character
Daily routines
Education
Food and Drink
Physical health
Relationships
Shopping
Employment
Entertainment
Holidays
Media
Transport
Technology
Sport
Environmental concerns
Neighborhood
Physical Geography
Town and Services
Weather
Global Issues

46. 休闲娱乐 个人身体健康
Describe a scene or situation
Narrate a Story
Personal Interpretation
Lead into a Wilder Conversation

47. 
休闲娱乐
有一个男人和一
个女人在情人节
那天晚上去电影
院约会。
Who, What,
Where, When,
Why?
他们很喜欢对方，
所以他们笑得很
开心。
男人穿着黄色的
夹克和白色T恤
衫，女人穿着一
件漂亮的绿色洋
装。
他们看起来像中
国人。
男人比较年轻。
他们都有短头发。
电影院有很多
人，他们在看喜
剧片。

48. 
个人身体健康
With a Partner
You will have 15 minutes to come up with a 2
minute presentation of the following picture.
The pair with the best presentation + E.C.
Vocabulary is varied and effective
Pronunciation and intonation used always facilitate the
understanding of the message.
Basic and more complex grammatical structures are used
accurately
Describe a scene or situation
Narrate a Story
Personal Interpretation

49. 日常起居 城市环境天气
Describe a scene or situation
Narrate a Story
Personal Interpretation
Lead into a Wilder Conversation

50. 教育 科技与媒体
Describe a scene or situation
Narrate a Story
Personal Interpretation
Lead into a Wilder Conversation

51. 
Tentative Deadlines
Written assignment
Year 2, the 2nd quarter around Nov. 26-Dec 1st
after thanksgiving break before winter break.
Individual Oral
Year 2, the 3nd quarter in Feb
External Assessment Paper I and Paper II
Year 2, early May

52. Please raise your hand and ask now if
you have any concerns or suggestions.