IB Spanish ab initio

Spanish ab initio is a beginner-level course designed for students with little to no prior knowledge of Spanish. It focuses on building basic language skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, while introducing students to the culture and customs of Spanish-speaking countries.

It is important to mention that the syllabus remains the same no matter which language you choose. The IB Language ab initio syllabus does not provide specific topics or concepts that students must apprehend. Instead, the syllabus has been divided into 5 main themes: Identities, Experiences, Human ingenuity, Social organization, Sharing the planet.

Types of texts

While exploring the 5 themes outlined above, IB Language ab initio students will concurrently study different text types. These include:

• Personal texts, such as: Blog, Diary, Email, Invitation, Journal, List, Personal letter,
• Professional texts, such as: Blog, Brochure, Catalogue, Email, Essay, Formal letter, Interview, Invitation, Literature, Personal statement/CV, Questionnaire, Recipe, Report,
• Mass media texts, such as: Advertisement, Article (newspaper, magazine), Blog, Brochure, Film, Flyer, Interview, Leaflet, Literature, News report, Newsletter, Podcast, Poster, Public commentary

It consists of 75% external assessment and 25% internal assessment.

External:

• Paper 1 (productive skills) Two written tasks of 70-150 words each from a choice of three tasks, choosing a text type for each task from among those listed in the examination instructions.
• Paper 2 (receptive skills) Separate sections for listening and reading. comprehension exercises on three audio passages and three written texts, drawn from all five theme.

Internal

• Individual oral assessment: For the individual oral internal assessment, the stimulus at language ab initio SL is a visual image that is clearly relevant to one (or more) of the themes of the course.
  Part 1 - Presentation: The student describes the visual stimulus and relates it to the relevant theme and the target culture(s).
  Part 2 - Follow-up discussion: The teacher engages the student on the theme that was presented, expanding on what the student has provided in the presentation
  Part 3 - General discussion: The teacher and student have a general discussion on at least one additional theme taken from the five themes around which the course is based. 3-4 minutes.

There are five themes (identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organization, sharing the planet) organized in 20 topics.

• Identidades (Identities)
• Atributos personales
• Relaciones personales
• Comida y bebida
• Bienestar físico
• Experiencias (Experiences)
• Rutina diaria
• Ocio
• Vacaciones
• Festivales y celebraciones
• Ingenio humano (Human ingenuity)
• Transporte
• Entretenimiento
• Medios de comunicación
• Tecnología
• Organización social (Social organization)
• Mi barrio
• Educación
• Lugar de trabajo
• Cuestiones sociales
• Como compartimos el planeta
• Clima
• Geografía física
• Medio ambiente
• Cuestiones globales

• Analyze both form and content: explore how language shapes meaning in media and literature.
• Build a strong foundation: focus on basic grammar and everyday vocabulary.
• Be clear and accurate: simple sentences are fine, just make them correct.
• Practice speaking: pronunciation, intonation, and confidence matter.
• Use visuals and context clues in listening and reading tasks.
• Stay organized: plan your writing, check for errors, and follow task instructions.

Spanish Ab Initio is designed for true beginners. You’ll start from the ground up, learning essential vocabulary and grammar for everyday communication.

You can expect to

• build a core lexicon through themed units (food, travel, health, technology)
• practice pronunciation and listening comprehension with audio drills and songs
• participate in dialogues, surveys and role-plays
• produce guided writing tasks such as postcards, simple narratives and descriptions

As we move through the IB curriculum, you’ll prepare for both internal and external assessments. Here’s what comes next:

• Internal oral assessments that combine individual responses with interactive exchanges
• External written examinations featuring text analysis, essay writing and listening tasks
• Extended essay or comparative commentary for Literature and Language & Literature students
• Regular feedback sessions and targeted workshops to hone exam strategies

I’m here to support you every step of the way. Let’s make this course a journey of discovery, growth and genuine connection with the Spanish-speaking world.