Please read on for more information on our department's homework and assessment policies.
Language Acquisition Homework Policy 2016-17
GRADES 7-9: Expected weekly minimum of 40 minutes total homework time to be broken up as follows: 20 minutes production (writing or speaking) and 20 minutes revision (reading, listening, using online revision resources). More reading will be required of English B students as their aim is to eventually join the mainstream English classes.
GRADES 10-12: Expected weekly minimum of 1.5 hours total homework time to be broken up as follows: 45 minutes production (writing or speaking) and 45 minutes revision (reading, listening, using online revision resources).
Additional points:
- A student's parents will be notified by an email from their teacher if the student does not complete required work twice.
- The department runs a 'Language Acquisition Club' at 1:10p.m. during lunchtime as an additional support for Language Acquisition students. Language teachers as well as native DP students are present to help and guide students during that time. Attendance at this session can be enforced if a student is not keeping up with the workload or content of their Language Acquisition course.
- Homework tasks are set on MB before the due date by the teacher for students in MYP Phases 1 and 2. Students in DP and MYP Phases 3 and above are expected to record their homework requirements independently.
GRADES 10-12: Expected weekly minimum of 1.5 hours total homework time to be broken up as follows: 45 minutes production (writing or speaking) and 45 minutes revision (reading, listening, using online revision resources).
Additional points:
- A student's parents will be notified by an email from their teacher if the student does not complete required work twice.
- The department runs a 'Language Acquisition Club' at 1:10p.m. during lunchtime as an additional support for Language Acquisition students. Language teachers as well as native DP students are present to help and guide students during that time. Attendance at this session can be enforced if a student is not keeping up with the workload or content of their Language Acquisition course.
- Homework tasks are set on MB before the due date by the teacher for students in MYP Phases 1 and 2. Students in DP and MYP Phases 3 and above are expected to record their homework requirements independently.
Language Acquisition Assessment Policy 2016-17
- All assessment tasks must have a clear link to the the vertical planning document for each of the languages offered within the department.
- For subjects/phases where multiple teachers teach the same course, all assessment tasks and unit plans must be designed and graded collaboratively to ensure consistency for our students and language progression in line with the vertical planning document.
- All summative assessment tasks will be posted on ManageBac at least 1 week prior to the assessment dates for all grades.
- All MYP summative assessment tasks have a tangible link to the unit's statement of inquiry as published on ManageBac.
- Opportunities to re-sit assessment tasks will be given only for formative assessment tasks, but not for summative assessment tasks. This is in line with the role of formative tasks to build and refine language skills, whereas summative tasks are to gauge a student's understanding of language skills and concepts at a point in time.
- The Language Acquisition department includes student self-assessment and reflection on all MYP summative tasks to build students' reflective skills. This practise, along with peer assessment is also incorporated into formative and in-class tasks wherever practical and of most benefit to students.
- The assessment practise of the teachers in our department follows the IB criteria and standards and is non-punitive. This means that the teachers look to reward students for what they are able to demonstrate in their language use.
- Through planning and assessment, the department aims to support student development of their Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills.
- All questions and texts in assessment tasks are in the target language with the possible exception of early Phase 1 tasks in the MYP when students are new to the language.
- Teachers will look to personalise learning and assessment within their course wherever possible.
- When a student misses a summative assessment due to an excused absence, the student will be allowed to take the assessment at a mutually agreed time with their teacher.
- For subjects/phases where multiple teachers teach the same course, all assessment tasks and unit plans must be designed and graded collaboratively to ensure consistency for our students and language progression in line with the vertical planning document.
- All summative assessment tasks will be posted on ManageBac at least 1 week prior to the assessment dates for all grades.
- All MYP summative assessment tasks have a tangible link to the unit's statement of inquiry as published on ManageBac.
- Opportunities to re-sit assessment tasks will be given only for formative assessment tasks, but not for summative assessment tasks. This is in line with the role of formative tasks to build and refine language skills, whereas summative tasks are to gauge a student's understanding of language skills and concepts at a point in time.
- The Language Acquisition department includes student self-assessment and reflection on all MYP summative tasks to build students' reflective skills. This practise, along with peer assessment is also incorporated into formative and in-class tasks wherever practical and of most benefit to students.
- The assessment practise of the teachers in our department follows the IB criteria and standards and is non-punitive. This means that the teachers look to reward students for what they are able to demonstrate in their language use.
- Through planning and assessment, the department aims to support student development of their Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills.
- All questions and texts in assessment tasks are in the target language with the possible exception of early Phase 1 tasks in the MYP when students are new to the language.
- Teachers will look to personalise learning and assessment within their course wherever possible.
- When a student misses a summative assessment due to an excused absence, the student will be allowed to take the assessment at a mutually agreed time with their teacher.
Language Acquisition mobile phone policy 2016-17
- The expectation is that mobile phones are left untouched in class unless authorised by the teacher.
- In case of an infraction of the above rule, the teacher can take the student's phone until the end of the class.
- On the second such infraction, the teacher will send an email home to the student's parents advising them of the situation.
- If a student incurs multiple infractions of the above rule, her/his phone can be taken and handed to the assistant principal to be collected at the end of that school day.
- In case of an infraction of the above rule, the teacher can take the student's phone until the end of the class.
- On the second such infraction, the teacher will send an email home to the student's parents advising them of the situation.
- If a student incurs multiple infractions of the above rule, her/his phone can be taken and handed to the assistant principal to be collected at the end of that school day.