The PhasesThe phases provide the natural progression of learning required in any discipline. What makes them special is that a student can start their MYP journey in any given phase.
In many schools, students start the first year in phase 1 because they are new to the language. They progress through the phases as they continue studying - completing about a phase per year. Larger schools may offer more phases at each year level, allowing students to enter a language acquisition course at an intermediate or more advanced phase and nurture their progression from there. Irrespective of a student's level upon arrival, there is a level that suits each one with the final phase (phase 6) providing the bridge to the Language and Literature courses. |
Skills |
I have created a simplified list of the progression of the communication skills taught in any Language Acquisition course. Students learn how to listen, speak, read, write, view and interpret information in each phase, at varying degrees. This gives you a quick overview of how the course is structured but is by no means an exhaustive look at the programme and all of its intricacies.
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Listening:
Identify basic facts, main ideas and some details in prompts dealing with everyday situations; Make a personal response |
Speaking:
Interact in simple rehearsed exchanges; Use a basic range of vocabulary and grammar; Use clear pronunciation |
Reading:
Read texts 200-300 words long; Identify basic facts, messages, main ideas and supporting details; Recognize basic aspects of format and style and author's purpose |
Writing:
Write 100-150 words without the use of an aid; Use basic vocabulary and grammar correctly; Organize information logically using basic linking words |
Viewing:
Recognize basic conventions used in visual media as well as basic aspects of format and style |
Interpreting:
Identify ideas, opinions and attitudes; respond on a personal level; Recognize the author's purpose |
Listening:
Understand basic facts, messages, main ideas and supporting details in prompts dealing with familiar situations; Make a personal response |
Speaking:
Interact in basic structured exchanges; Use a basic range of vocabulary and grammar; Use clear pronunciation |
Reading:
Read texts 400-500 words long; Identify basic facts, main ideas and supporting details and draw conclusions; Recognize basic conventions including format and style and author's purpose |
Writing:
Write 100-150 words without the use of an aid; Use a basic range of vocabulary and grammar correctly; Organize information and ideas logically using a basic range of linking words |
Viewing:
Recognize basic conventions used in visual media as well as basic aspects of format and style |
Interpreting:
Identify ideas, opinions and attitudes; Respond on a personal level; Recognize the author's purpose |
Listening:
Understand main ideas and supporting details and draw conclusions in prompts dealing with familiar and some unfamiliar situations; Make a personal response based on experience and opinion |
Speaking:
Interact in rehearsed and unrehearsed exchanges; Use a range of vocabulary and grammar; use clear pronunciation |
Reading:
Read texts 600-700 words long; Understand main ideas and supporting details and draw conclusions; dealing with everyday situations; Understand basic conventions including format and style and author's purpose |
Writing:
Write 200-250 words without the use of an aid; Use a range of vocabulary and grammar correctly; Organize information and ideas logically using a range of linking words |
Viewing:
Understand conventions used in visual media as well as aspects of format and style |
Interpreting:
Identify ideas, opinions and attitudes; Respond based on personal experiences and opinions; Recognize the author's purpose |
Listening:
Construct meaning and draw conclusions from main ideas and supporting details in prompts dealing with familiar and unfamiliar situations; Make a personal response based on experience and opinion |
Speaking:
Engage in rehearsed and unrehearsed to share ideas exchanges; Use a range of vocabulary and grammar; Use clear pronunciation |
Reading:
Read texts 800-900 words long; Understand implied information, main ideas and supporting details, and draw conclusions; Interpret basic conventions including format and style and author's purpose |
Writing:
Write 200-250 words without the use of an aid; Use a range of vocabulary and grammar correctly; Organize information and ideas into a structured text using a wide range of linking words |
Viewing:
Interpret conventions used in visual media as well as various aspects of format and style |
Interpreting:
Identify ideas, opinions and attitudes; Respond based on personal experiences and opinions; Recognize the author's purpose |
Listening:
Analyse and draw conclusions from information, main ideas and supporting details in prompts dealing with social and academic situations; Make a personal response based on experience and opinion and from a global perspective |
Speaking:
Engage in rehearsed and unrehearsed exchanges to share ideas; Use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures; Use clear pronunciation, intonation and fluency |
Reading:
Read texts 900-1000 words long; Analyse and draw conclusions from main ideas and supporting details; Analyse basic conventions including format and style and author's purpose |
Writing:
Write 300-400 words without the use of an aid; Use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures correctly; Organize information and ideas into a structured text using a wide range of linking words |
Viewing:
Analyse conventions used in visual media as well as various aspects of format and style |
Interpreting:
Analyse opinions and attitudes; Respond based on personal experiences and opinions from a global perspective; Recognize the author's purpose |
Listening:
Evaluate and draw conclusions from information, main ideas and supporting details in prompts dealing with social and academic situations; Make a personal response based on experience and opinion and from a global perspective |
Speaking:
Engage in unrehearsed and complex exchanges to share significant ideas; Use a wide range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures; Use oratory technique |
Reading:
Read texts 1300-1500 words long; Evaluate and draw conclusions from main ideas and supporting details; Interpret the author's style and intentions based on the intended audience purpose |
Writing:
Write 300-400 words without the use of an aid; Use a wide range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures correctly; Organize information and ideas into a structured text using a wide range of linking words |
Viewing:
Evaluate conventions used in visual media and interpret the author's choice of format and style to suit the intended audience and purpose |
Interpreting:
Evaluate opinions and attitudes; Respond based on personal experiences and opinions from a global perspective; Recognize the intended audience and the author's purpose |