IB French ab initio Discussion Skills Compétences De Discussion Notes

Discussion Skills: Mastering the Interactive Oral (IO)

1. The Importance of the Discussion
   1. The IO (Internal Assessment) discussion checks if you can listen, respond, and develop ideas naturally in French.
   2. Unlike the presentation, you do not control the questions in this section.
   3. This makes it the most unpredictable part of the exam, but it is your best chance to show you are a confident communicator.
   4. You should aim to show la fluidité (fluency) and la compréhension (understanding).

Active Listening: Understanding the Questions

1. Listen Carefully to Follow-up Questions
   1. The role of l'examinateur (the examiner) is to evaluate how well you understand French.
   2. If you rush or only half-listen, you might give a response that is hors sujet (off-topic).
   3. Listening shows respect and helps you adapt your answer directly to the question.
   4. It is okay to take a second or two before you start speaking.
   5. Le silence (silence) shows that you are en train de réfléchir (in the process of thinking).

The PEE Method: Structuring Your Answers

1. Respond with Point, Evidence, and Explanation
   1. Strong answers have several layers rather than just one short sentence.
   2. Using the PEE structure ensures you make a clear argument and explain why it matters.
   3. This structure helps you reach the higher mark bands in the IB criteria.
2. Step 1: Le Point (The Point)
   1. State your main idea clearly.
   2. Example: L'image montre la pollution dans la ville. (The image shows pollution in the city.)
3. Step 2: La Preuve (The Evidence)
   1. Give a specific detail from the photo or your studies.
   2. Example: Par exemple, il y a beaucoup de voitures et de fumée. (For example, there are many cars and smoke.)
4. Step 3: L'Explication (The Explanation)