Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[ngbrdad]

autolycus:

sandunes:

(But i'm wondering why would any one take up a new Foreign language subj at Yr5/6... unless they are preparing to take it as a standard level IB subject as a beginner)

You need to take a second language as a Group 2 subject for the IB Diploma. There are three levels currently: another first language (i.e. equivalent to Group 1, lit or lang/lit), a second language, or an ab initio ('from the beginning') language.

After ten years of MTL or however many years of HMTL, some students are very happy to start afresh. Not to mention, those languages are useful when exploring the world later in life, during exchange trips, student events (like the recent Youth Olympics) where basic translation is needed, and so on. Picking up Spanish or French helps with other Romance languages like Italian, Romanian, Catalan; picking up German helps with Dutch and Afrikaans; and Hindi will be as valuable as Mandarin in the years ahead, possibly.

But one important point to consider is which will secure them a sure 7 points right ? A 3rd language from scratch ? or a second language which they have studied for 10 years ?

[autolycus]

ngbrdad:

But one important point to consider is which will secure them a sure 7 points right ? A 3rd language from scratch ? or a second language which they have studied for 10 years ?

This is a very important point indeed. The facts are as follows: if the language has been studied for 10 years, it cannot in some cases be taken as a second language because the student, by IB rules, may be 'over-qualified'. Our local Mandarin Chinese fits in this category; it is too advanced to be a second language and not advanced enough to be a first language. A third language from scratch is actually very simple — primary-school level, basic communication. I would probably say that the two are equally difficult (or easy) for many students, and that a third language ('ab initio' level) would be more useful.

[unclebao]

Hi,


DS is in Express Stream.

Today, he was asked to choose the EP1 elective which consists of many interesting courses.

Some questions:
- how frequent is the course and from when to when?
- how many EP courses per year?
- all in all, how many EP courses will they take up till year 4?
- are there different EP courses in higher years?

Thanks in advance.

Regards.

[autolycus]

unclebao:

Some questions:

- how frequent is the course and from when to when?
- how many EP courses per year?
- all in all, how many EP courses will they take up till year 4?
- are there different EP courses in higher years?

Thanks in advance.

Regards.

The Enrichment Program consists of two cycles of two 12-week courses each year, in Year 1 and Year 2. One course each year is compulsory (e.g. Odyssey of the Mind) and one is a free choice from the list. Half the cohort will do the compulsory course in the first semester of each cycle and the other half will do it in the second semester.

The courses start normally 2-3 weeks after the beginning of the semester, after sufficient admin time to settle course choices etc. Year 1 and Year 2 courses are not necessarily the same; sometimes a Year 2 course is an advanced version of a Year 1 course.

Summary: two courses each year, total of four courses in Y1 and Y2 combined. No EP in Y3 or Y4.

The free choice options are mainly teacher-designed, and taught by the teachers who designed them. In some cases, the original teacher may no longer be around but the documentation and handing-over process allow a new teacher to take over.

[unclebao]

Thanks autolycus.


Just to clarify
- excluding the compulsory "Odyssey of the Mind", are they left with only 3 free courses?

[clayman]

Hi autolycus,


My son was informed by the teacher that the fulfillment of 30 hours of CIP is part of the promotion criteria to Year 2. May I know what activities will fall under CIP, besides being in the class committee, which I understand will log you 12 hours.

Thanks.

[autolycus]

unclebao:

Thanks autolycus.


Just to clarify
- excluding the compulsory \"Odyssey of the Mind\", are they left with only 3 free courses?

If I'm not wrong, it's Y1 compulsory OM, Y2 compulsory something else (I think it's still the business module) and 2 free options. Four in total.

[autolycus]

clayman:

Hi autolycus,


My son was informed by the teacher that the fulfillment of 30 hours of CIP is part of the promotion criteria to Year 2. May I know what activities will fall under CIP, besides being in the class committee, which I understand will log you 12 hours.

Thanks.

It's also community service (e.g. helping out at various homes and charities, flag selling, or activities like charity walkathons). The school creates and/or manages many such activities to ensure that every student has more than enough opportunities to reach 30 hours. It should not be particularly onerous. In fact, the reason why pastoral care periods are at the end of the day is so they can be used for an early lunch before students are transported off-campus for service activities, hence off-setting the time spent on such activities with curriculum time.

[clayman]

autolycus:

clayman:

Hi autolycus,


My son was informed by the teacher that the fulfillment of 30 hours of CIP is part of the promotion criteria to Year 2. May I know what activities will fall under CIP, besides being in the class committee, which I understand will log you 12 hours.

Thanks.

It's also community service (e.g. helping out at various homes and charities, flag selling, or activities like charity walkathons). The school creates and/or manages many such activities to ensure that every student has more than enough opportunities to reach 30 hours. It should not be particularly onerous. In fact, the reason why pastoral care periods are at the end of the day is so they can be used for an early lunch before students are transported off-campus for service activities, hence off-setting the time spent on such activities with curriculum time.

Many thanks autolycus. You've been a real treasure trove of information for all the ACS parents here.

[clayman]

Mandarin:

wormy:

Time table is split into week a and week b, not told if they represent odd and even week respectively

They represent the odd and even weeks within the school term. 10 weeks in each term, so you always start with week A.

Hi Mandarin,

Any reason why the school needs to have 2 sets of time-tables? And even though school supposedly finishes at 1.20pm on Wednesdays, my DS's time-table for week B has him finishing at 2.40pm instead and he was late for his 3rd Language class.