Introduction
Every IB Chinese B student works with the five prescribed themes that guide teaching, assessment, and cultural exploration. These themes ensure the course is more than just vocabulary and grammar practice — they connect language learning to global issues and intercultural understanding.
Whether you’re preparing for exams or trying to understand the syllabus, knowing these themes is essential. This guide explains each theme in detail, shows how they appear in exams, and gives strategies for mastering them.
Quick Start Checklist
- Identities: Explore health, lifestyle, and personal values.
- Experiences: Discuss daily life, leisure, and travel.
- Human Ingenuity: Connect with technology, media, and creativity.
- Social Organization: Examine education, communities, and politics.
- Sharing the Planet: Address environment, ethics, and global challenges.
- Link themes to vocabulary: Build word banks for each.
- Expect theme-based exam prompts: Papers and oral tasks always connect back.
Why Themes Matter in IB Chinese B
Themes are not just academic categories. They ensure that language learning is relevant, authentic, and connected to global issues. In exams, prompts are always tied to themes, and in oral tasks, visual stimuli are chosen with them in mind.
By engaging with the themes, students expand their ability to discuss a wide range of topics — from personal hobbies to climate change — in Chinese.
Theme 1: Identities
This theme focuses on how individuals express themselves and their values. Topics include:
- Health and lifestyle (健康与生活方式).
- Personal relationships (人际关系).
- Food and nutrition (饮食).
- Subcultures and individuality (亚文化).
In practice: You may be asked to write about healthy living in Paper 1 or discuss social media’s role in shaping identity during your oral exam.
Strategy: Build vocabulary around emotions, health habits, and personal choices. Practice expressing opinions with justification.
Theme 2: Experiences
This theme connects to the activities and events that shape people’s lives. Topics include:
- Daily routines (日常生活).
- Leisure and hobbies (休闲活动).
- Holidays and travel (假期与旅行).
- Life stories (人生经历).
In practice: Listening tasks might involve travel announcements, while Paper 1 could require a blog post about a holiday.
Strategy: Collect vocabulary for time phrases, transport, and activities. Practice writing diary entries to describe experiences vividly.
Theme 3: Human Ingenuity
This theme explores human creativity and innovation. Topics include:
- Science and technology (科学与技术).
- Communication and media (传播与媒体).
- Entertainment (娱乐).
- Creativity and invention (创造与发明).
In practice: You might analyze a news article on technology for Paper 2 or present on the role of media during the oral exam.
Strategy: Focus on connectors for explaining cause and effect. Practice discussing pros and cons of technology and media.
Theme 4: Social Organization
This theme focuses on how people organize communities and societies. Topics include:
- Education (教育).
- Work (工作).
- Social relationships (社会关系).
- Law and order (法律与秩序).
- Community engagement (社区参与).
In practice: You could be asked to write a formal letter about school policies or discuss social challenges in an oral conversation.
Strategy: Learn formal expressions for addressing authority. Practice expressing structured arguments in writing.
Theme 5: Sharing the Planet
This theme addresses global issues and ethics. Topics include:
- Environment (环境).
- Climate change (气候变化).
- Global challenges (全球性问题).
- Human rights (人权).
- Equality (平等).
In practice: Paper 2 may present an article about environmental policies, or the oral exam may ask you to discuss ethical dilemmas.
Strategy: Build vocabulary around sustainability, global cooperation, and ethical values. Practice presenting balanced arguments.
How Themes Shape Assessments
- Paper 1 (Writing): Prompts always tie back to themes (e.g., write a speech on environmental responsibility).
- Paper 2 (Reading and Listening): Texts and audios are chosen from theme-related contexts.
- Individual Oral: Visual stimulus is always linked to one of the themes.
Mastering the themes ensures you are ready for every exam component.
Tips for Studying Themes
- Create vocabulary lists by theme: Organize words by Identities, Experiences, etc.
- Practice each text type within themes: Write blog posts, letters, or speeches about different themes.
- Discuss themes aloud: Partner practice helps for the oral exam.
- Use authentic sources: Read Chinese articles or watch videos related to each theme.
- Connect themes to your own life: Personal examples make your answers stronger and more authentic.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are all themes tested equally in IB Chinese B?
Yes. While some themes may appear more often in past papers, any of the five can appear in exams. Prepare for all equally to avoid surprises.
2. How should I study vocabulary for the themes?
Build thematic word banks and practice using them in sentences. Flashcards are useful, but context is better — always apply words in writing or speaking.
3. Do HL students go deeper into themes than SL?
Yes. HL students are expected to analyze more complex texts and make broader cultural connections. For example, while SL may discuss school routines, HL may analyze education policy in Chinese society.
Conclusion
The five core themes of IB Chinese B provide the backbone of the course. They ensure students don’t just learn language, but also explore global issues, cultural perspectives, and practical communication. By mastering Identities, Experiences, Human Ingenuity, Social Organization, and Sharing the Planet, you’ll be prepared for every assessment — and develop skills that go far beyond exams.
RevisionDojo resources are designed around these themes, giving you the vocabulary, practice tasks, and cultural context you need to succeed. With steady preparation, you’ll be ready to tackle any exam prompt with confidence.
