Language B / IST's third language

Starting in J4, IST students take a third language. Some take a third Language A, in other words they speak a third language (usually at home) and so are ready to move into reading and writing and to preparing for literature study from Middle School and onward. Other students take a "new" language, one they do not yet speak. This is what we call Language B.

Language A means having language skills at a level sufficent to be able (a) to read and respond (orally and in writing) to literature and (b) to follow courses of study in other areas in that language (such as history, or chemistry or art history). Language A also includes studying the language itself - semantics, etymology, philology.

In contrast, Language B means being able to communicate in that language - to live in the country(ies), read newspapers, watch television - without necessarily being able to analyse literature or to take classes. Language B does not mean a Second Language or a Foreign Language, although much of the early instruction and teaching/learning approaches may be the same.

So an IST graduate will have two languages at literate levels, and a third at either literate or communicative.