IB Program As A Tool For Content-based Language Instruction

ABSTRACT

As we all know we don’t see the use of English language in other classes apart from English class. But if students have a chance to expose English in most of the classes, they can improve their language skills better. For this reason, we decided to handle it as ‘’content-based language instruction’’. So, we found a school named as Atatürk Türk Telekom Social Sciences High School which uses ‘’content based language instruction’’ in the classroom area. In the article that we are going to write, we will talk about IB Program as a way to carry out ‘’content-based language instruction. For second step, we will talk about prep classes in the school and how the prep class of the IB classes differs from the regular classes. Also, we will touch upon students’ level who get exposed to content-based language techniques. Following it, we will focus on ‘’ what kind of syllabus for the IB class is used ?’’ and ‘’how they held their exams for students’’. Lastly, we will talk about pros and cons of ‘’IB class’’ system and how the system can effect students for the future in terms of language use in different areas. To research all the titles in detail, we thought that it is better to visit the school and the IB classes and we will also talk with the teachers. By doing this, we will use ‘’interviewing’’ and ‘’observation’’.

INTRODUCTION

‘’In this section, me and my group members will give a short paragraph of information about CBI (Content-based Instruction) to explain what it is and how it works. For the second step, we will talk about the interviews about IB Program that we have made with both the students and the teacher in a classroom at Atatürk Türk Telekom Social Sciences High School. According to the interview, we will talk about how many students have been included in the interview that we have conducted, their age and their proficiency level. Then, we will make our main statement for the whole article: How effective IB Program is?’’

These days, many people are seeking for new ways for English language learning rather than traditional methods. At this point, Content-Based Instruction (CBI) comes out as a good way to learn a language. But what is CBI? Content-Based Instruction refers to an approach to second language acquisition that emphasizes the importance of content in contrast to other approaches or methods which are centered around the language itself, Content-Based Instruction is centered on the subject matter. Nevertheless, the approach aims to develop the students' language and academic skills. These skills are developed unconsciously through the content dealt with (Richards & Rodgers 2001: 204-205)…

BODY PART

I. General Information about IB Program

A. IB Program as general in Turkey

‘’ In this section, we will provide the readers a short information about IB Program and we will also focus on IB Program throughout Turkey (whether it does exists or not widely, if so how many school does carry out this Program and what is the range of curriculum) based on the information that we received from the interviews.’’

If we talk about what IB Program is, International Baccalaureate (IB) is a worldwide, nonprofit education program founded to give all students the opportunity to receive an education fit for a globalizing world. There are four IB education programs, all of which are intended to develop students’ intellectual, emotional, personal and social skills. High school students will mostly be concerned with the IB Diploma Program (DP) and the Career-related Program (CP), which consist of six main subjects. IB Program is applied in almost 5,000 schools all around the world. How about in Turkey? How many schools do offer this program? According to the results of our interview…

B. IB Program in Atatürk Türk Telekom Social Sciences High School

‘’ In this section, we will examine how ATTSSHS offer IB Program as an IB School according to information from the interview with the teacher of a IB class. For this purpose, we will talk about how many years it lasts as a Program and how the students get prepared for these classes. So, we will focus on the basic features of a preparation class for IB Program. Also, we will talk about the students’ previous proficiency level and their current level and we will see how much they have improved. Lastly, we will examine how students get exposed to this Program and how the curriculum is offered. We will talk about the content of the classes briefly and how students are evaluated in the end. ‘’

Türk Telekom Social Sciences High School is one of the most qualificated schools of Ankara not only with its teachers but also with their students. Establishing in 2004, it has been earned reputation as the second social sciences high school in Turkey alongside with İstanbul Social Sciences Hihj School. It has also another fame when it comes to originality in education Turkey, in this school, school bells hasn’t been ringing for 10 years unlike typical schools in Turkey. Also, there isn’t any obligation fort he students to wear unfiorm. As a result of being a social science high school, it has one year preparation year in which students learn English efficiently for next years and take some social classes. So why is this school has so much uniqueness in their system and what does also make them that much special? Türk Telekom Social Sciences High School has an IB program (International Baccalaureate) which offers challenges students to excel in their studies, and encourage both personal and academic achievement. It is simply a two-year educational programme primarily aimed at 16 to 18 year olds. In this program, students have the chance to earn a diploma which they can directly apply to EU universities. On the other hand, students of classic educational system have to take exams to get the university of get a grant to meet the European cost of living or else you just need to have a rich family to do it.

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This system in Türk Telekom starts with English preparation classes. Not every student studies in the program. After one semester, students have to make a choice if they want to study in IB program. The ones who chose the program are separeted from the other students and they start to take different classes from the beginning of second semester of their preparation year. The level of English classes that they take is a bit different from the other preparation classes. While normal system is generally focused on grammar, IB mostly is focused on writing, speaking, listening skills. Alongside with skills, students also take English Literature and history classes as well in their first year of high school education.

II. Advantages of IB Program

‘’ In this section, we will mention about advantages and disadvantages of IB Program.

If we come to the advantages of IB Program, first advantage of IB Program is global recognition. The IB Diploma is recognized by all leading universities, which instantly puts you on the world stage. The students who graduated with an IB Diploma are more advantageous than their peers who graduated from a regular program. The students who graduating with the IB Diploma are able to study at universities all around the world, often with advanced credit. Regardless of where you sit your IB exams, the results mean the same thing, and they are understood by admissions officers. Country specific programs don’t have the same global recognition, so it’s harder for universities to understand the results and compare you fairly to other candidates.

Second advantage of IB Program is to prepare students for the university. Because the IB Diploma is effectively a “university preparation program”, in that it teaches you skills and ways of learning that will set you up to do well at a university education level. For example, a student, who complete two years of IB Program practice, mastered important skills such as university style essay writing or report and he/she learn how to conduct an independent research. When this student starts the university, she/he has less difficulty adapting to university and lessons according to other classmates who graduated from a normal program. While other students are looking up referencing guides and working out how to structure such a long essay, you’ll be on your body paragraph, keeping up with source citations as you go.

Another advantage of IB is the personal development. Because IB program develops you as a whole. IB program aims to develop creativity among students thereby emphasizing more on social and emotional development by involving them in community services. It also helps you to develop your soft skills such as teamwork and empathy. It helps them to explore issues and concepts which have both local and global significance.

III. Disadvantages of IB Program

If we come to the disadvantages of IB Program, the first and most important disadvantages of it can be length of study. IB is like a difficult and tiring marathon. If you want to do well in IB, you need to be a “long distance learner”. IB program requires continuous work and effort. It's like going to University 2 years earlier, you don't get to enjoy your high school by bumming around and being a kid for the last 2 years you can (as you would do in A-levels)

The second disadvantages of IB is less flexibility. Even if the IB program has a wide range of subjects to choose from but not every school will be able to teach all the courses. So, there is less flexibility in IB. Also, it requires a deeper understanding of the subject. You will have to study all the six subjects and if you want to leave arts then you can do the double subject, but the triple subject is not allowed.

CONCLUSION

‘’ In this section, there will be a recirculation of the thesis idea which we have conducted from the introduction. We will decide on whether IB Program is genuinely effective for the students to learn a language in a classroom and if so how much it will affect the students’ academic life in the future.’’