?? Crafting Effective Statements of Inquiry (SOI) in IB Language Acquisition??

Hello everyone,

In this article, I would like to share different steps to create a Statement of Inquiry. I hope it is helpful to IB educators.

Before creating SOI, it is essential to understand its purpose.

Purpose of SOI: Statements of Inquiry (SOI) serve as the compass guiding IB educators and students through an exploration of language acquisition. They encapsulate the essential elements of the unit, aligning key and related concepts with a global context. The purpose is to foster deep understanding, critical thinking, and an appreciation for the global implications of language use. ????

1. Conceptual foundation

Steps to Create a Statement of Inquiry: 1. Conceptual Foundation:

• Choose a Key Concept that is central to your unit. This is the overarching theme that ties everything together.
• Select Related Concepts that provide a nuanced understanding of the key concept.Example: In "Mi Familia," the key concept is Identity, supported by related concepts like Relationships and Culture. ????

2. Global Context Exploration:

• Consider the Topics and Skills your students will explore in the unit.
• Identify the Global Context that aligns with these topics and skills. Think about the broader global issues connected to your unit.Example: For "El Mundo Sostenible," the Global Context is Globalization and Sustainability, aligning with topics like environmental issues and sustainable practices. ????

3. Constructing the Statement of Inquiry:

• Ensure the statement does not use proper or personal nouns or the verb "to be."
• Use a present tense verb and incorporate at least two concepts and a global context exploration.
• Make the statement transferable, applicable beyond the immediate context.Example: "In exploring 'Mi Familia,' we investigate how personal identity is shaped by familial relationships and cultural influences within the global context of Identities and Relationships." ??????????

4. Global Relevance:

• Consider the global implications of your unit. How does the language and cultural understanding gained contribute to global citizenship?Example: "El Mundo Sostenible" explores how language communicates and addresses global issues of sustainability within the context of Globalization and Sustainability. ????

5. Qualifiers for Nuanced Understanding:

• Add qualifiers (e.g., often, may, can) if the statement is not universally true but still an important idea.Example: "La Tecnología" delves into how language is influenced by technological innovation, investigating its impact on communication and considering ethical dimensions within the context of Scientific and Technical Innovation. ????

Here are few examples -

?? Unit 1: Mi Familia ??

Step 1: Developing a conceptual understanding

• Key Concept: Identity
• Related Concepts: Relationships, Culture
• Conceptual Understanding: Understanding one's identity within the context of family relationships and cultural influences.

Step 2: Choosing a global context exploration

• Global Context: Identities and Relationships
• Topics and Skills: Family dynamics, personal relationships, cultural expressions in language.
• Global Issues: Cultural diversity, the impact of family structures on individual identity.

Step 3: Creating a statement of inquiry

• Statement of Inquiry: In exploring the dynamics of "Mi Familia," we investigate how personal identity is shaped by familial relationships and cultural influences within the global context of Identities and Relationships.

?? Unit 2: El Mundo Sostenible ??

Step 1: Developing a conceptual understanding

• Key Concept: Sustainability
• Related Concepts: Environment, Responsibility
• Conceptual Understanding: Recognizing the impact of human actions on the environment and the responsibility to foster sustainability.

Step 2: Choosing a global context exploration

• Global Context: Globalization and Sustainability
• Topics and Skills: Environmental issues, sustainable practices, communication about sustainability.
• Global Issues: Climate change, environmental conservation, global responsibility for sustainable living.

Step 3: Creating a statement of inquiry

• Statement of Inquiry: In our exploration of "El Mundo Sostenible," we inquire into how language is used to communicate and address global issues of sustainability within the context of Globalization and Sustainability.

?? Unit 3: La Tecnología ??

Step 1: Developing a conceptual understanding

• Key Concept: Communication
• Related Concepts: Innovation, Impact
• Conceptual Understanding: Investigating the ways in which technology shapes communication and understanding its impact on individuals and society.

Step 2: Choosing a global context exploration

• Global Context: Scientific and Technical Innovation
• Topics and Skills: Technology and language, communication tools, ethical considerations in technology use.
• Global Issues: Digital divide, ethical use of technology, the role of innovation in global communication.

Step 3: Creating a statement of inquiry

• Statement of Inquiry: Within the realm of "La Tecnología," we explore how language is influenced by technological innovation and investigate its impact on communication, considering ethical dimensions within the context of Scientific and Technical Innovation.

These statements of inquiry are designed to guide students' exploration of language acquisition in meaningful, globally relevant ways. They reflect the interconnectedness of language, culture, and global issues within the IB framework.

By following these steps, we can ensure that the Statements of Inquiry are robust, globally relevant, and empower students to engage meaningfully with language acquisition within the IB framework. ???? #IBLanguageAcquisition #StatementsOfInquiry #GlobalContexts #IBEducation