The Secrets of Success in the IB Language B SL Oral

What are the challenges of the IB language orals?

The pressure Tom describes is one that has been echoed by many IB language students over the years. Being scared of speaking or presenting in front of people is one of the most common anxieties around, and doing it in another language can be even more intimidating. Anxiety is normal in this situation. Students don’t want to fail or sound stupid. So, let us start this blog with a reminder to be kind, be gentle and be prepared! In my experience, aside from nerves, the biggest challenge in the IA is having students connect the visual stimulus to the target culture. Students will be assigned two visual stimuli (photos, ads, poster etc.) on two of the themes studied in class (SL). They prepare a short presentation in which they should:

1. Describe the visual stimulus briefly
2. Relate the visual stimulus to the theme
3. Develop the presentation based on the theme depicted on the stimulus
4. Give their opinion on the topic
5. Connect the visual stimulus to the target culture

source : Language B Guide, p48, IBO, 2021. (highlighting authors)

Students have to link the stimulus to the target culture during the presentation without being prompted by the teacher. Students often know this but forget to do it in the moment. They will then score a maximum of 3 points out of 6 in criteria B1, which is why it is so important to prepare them for this. The other oral marks are based on the use of language, structures and vocabulary; content of the conversation; and interactive skills in the conversation between the student and teacher. This last point is another key area of challenge. Some students tend to wait for the teacher to prompt them all the time rather than engaging in a spontaneous conversation. It ends up being an interrogation, rather than a natural conversation. How can we help our students elaborate on their answers? How can we give them the skills so that when they are under the pressure of an examination situation they utilise them?

Top Tips for the Language B IA oral for teachers

Before the IA

• Make sure you provide plenty of opportunities for students to have the same kind of experience that they will encounter in the exam (presentations using visual stimuli, open conversations on the themes, recorded presentations etc.)
• Provide cultural information on all the themes studied in class and practise with students on how to make the cultural link
• Practise embedding sentence stems that make links to the culture of the language
• Encourage students to research and journal cultural information on the different themes
• Ensure the students are familiar with the assessment criteria

During the IA

• Make the student feel relaxed and comfortable
• Provide clear visual stimuli, related to the topics studied in class, that allow students to make cultural connections
• Ask open-ended questions on opinions rather than on content
• Adjust the questions to the student’s knowledge and level of language

Top Tips for students during the Language B IA Oral

During the 15-minute preparation time

• Pick a visual stimulus on a topic you are familiar with (theme, content, vocabulary)
• Make sure you have enough information on the target culture to connect it with the visual stimulus - remembering to use the sentence stems practiced in class
• Write down the ideas in the order that you will present them
• Organise your time well

During the presentation

• Talk loudly and clearly
• Make sure your presentation is around 3 to 4 minutes long
• Make sure you cover all the points in your notes
• Make sure you connect the visual stimulus to the target culture

During the conversation

• Make sure you elaborate when you answer a question
• Take the initiative
• Show enthusiasm
• Ask for clarification if you do not understand something
• If you do not have information about what you have been asked, just say it and the teacher will change the question

You can find some videos related to the IA (for teachers requires IB Login) The Language B Teacher Support Material (for teachers requires IB Login) also has more support. Within the subject page I have placed these and further help and resources.