Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zackback]

http://www.ibo.org/

Any good?

[jvalmer]

The IB curriculum is really good. Originally intended as a common curriculum to educate children of diplomats and people working overseas.

Based on my experience, there were only two high schools in my area that offered a full IB program. The only students that took IB classes were bright, most average students wouldn't be able to handle a full IB load. But it is possible to take 1 course if you're particularly strong in that subject. Also, many senior IB credits can be used for many freshmen university courses worldwide (at least in english speaking universities). That IBO do review schools every once in a while for re-accreditation.

[UknowsI]

I don't know anything about IB from a teachers perspective, but quite a few of my highschool friends went to IB for their high school education. Outside of the US/UK, IB is from what I've understood the most internationally accepted education. All my friends who went abroad, had parents who worked for the UN and so on studied at IB. It might be perceived slightly different in different countries, but in my home country it was a bit of an upper class high school for "international" children, which gave them a clear advantage if they wanted to study abroad for uni, as well as the ability to follow the same curriculum if they were moving from country to country during high school.

[jvalmer]

Let me add, that in the schools that offered a full IB curriculum, the vast majority of students were immigrants or the children of immigrants. Which basically is a nice way of saying overwhelming majority East and South Asian with a sprinkling of Eastern European students. Those students were either genuinely smart, or just spend ungodly hours studying.

Anyways this was in Alberta, Canada, and it wasn't considered upper class, since it was offered in only the largest public schools for free just like any other public school program. If you were accepted into an IB program, or class, you were free to go out of district to attend that school. But it was considered academically elite.

From my experience students rarely used their IB courses as credit for university courses. From the ones I've met they say most of their freshmen year was basically a repeat of their IB classes and it really helped boost their GPA to get into their desired program.

[northway]

Most of my uni friends graduated out of international school IB programs and were able to use their credits to take off their entire first year of school (at McGill). My understanding is that they are basically looked at the same way as AP in the States, which means a lot of private colleges aren't going to accept.

[UknowsI]

Take my information with a grain of salt since it's all second hand information, but it sounds like all of us have a positive impression of the academical quality of IB.

[Zackback]

What kind of credentials does one need to have in order to teach a subject or subjects for IB?

[young_clinton]

I would ask one question before taking any classes there. Is it accredited? I don't see any accreditation whatsoever. You probably should look elsewhere.

[UknowsI]

[FMPJ]

The IB program is terrific, probably superior to APs. Seoul Foreign School and GSIS both use it.

[jaime728]