On the International Baccalaureate and Its Language Programme with Emphasis on Finnish B.

The International Baccalaureate (IB), a 2-year diploma program for students aged 16-19, gives access to higher education on a world-wide basis; it also allows for various national education systems. The program is available in English, French, and Spanish. It is supervised by the IB organization, a non-profit educational foundation with headquarters in Geneva. Today, IB examinations are offered in almost 100 countries, and there are some 750 IB schools. The IB Diploma can be displayed in the shape of a hexagon. Two of the subject groups that constitute the curriculum are made up of languages, with various options. Language A1 (mother-tongue program) is compulsory for all candidates. The other language courses available are A2, B and Ab initio. Language A2 is chosen by highly competent speakers of the language. Language B is intended for non-native students who have some previous experience of that language, whereas no previous experience is required for an Ab initio language program. This article discusses the IB language program at large, and to some extent the Finnish adaptation to it. (Author/VWL)