Effectiveness of the International Baccalaureate
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Approach in Fostering
Speaking Skills among Japanese Additional
Language Learners
Yuya Akatsuka
Waseda University Honjo Senior High School
Waseda University Institute for Digital Enhancement of Cognitive Development

International Baccalaureate (IB)
Diploma Programme (DP)Theory of Knowledge (TOK)To what extent are the approaches tothe teaching and learning of TOK
effective for improving learners’
English proficiency?

Modelopen-inquiry based learning
is a student-centred approach
begins with students’ question(s)encourages students to decide topic(s) on their own(Spronken-Smith and Walker, 2010)

Practicen=10 (senior high school students)
1 class hour ×11 weeks (1 class hour = 90 mins)

Procedure
Step 1. Understand BICS and CALP
Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills(BICS)
Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency(CALP)
Step 2. Understand differences between informative andpersuasive presentations
Step 3. Create “knowledge questions” (essential question),analyse a variety of issues at local and/or global level.
Step 4. Explore and investigate a topic

Measurement
Academic Word List, (AWL) (Coxhead, 2000)
Used a rubric designed by the IB

Step 1: BICS and CALP
e.g. Avoid vague words that we use in spokenlanguage, e.g. big, biggest, good, thing, nice, like,etc.
× At the Hachiko exit of Shibuya station, there is acute statue of a dog, that represents a really nicestory.
↓✔ At the Hachiko exit of Shibuya station, there is abronze statue of a dog, that represents a movingstory.

STEP 1: BICS and CALP
e.g. In general, use a one-word verb instead of aphrasal verb (as in spoken language).
× To improve better cardiac health, we should cut
back on our consumption of high cholesterol foods.
↓✔ To improve better cardiac health, we should
reduce our consumption of high cholesterol foods(Hedges, L., King, L., Maclure, G., & Swash, L.., 2012)

STEP2: A persuasive presentation style

1. Bicycle Helmets Should Be 2. The Life of Helen
Compulsory In Japan
Keller
3. To Try and To Fail is Better 4. How the Moon’s
Than Never Trying At All
Gravity Affects the Tides
5. An Examination of “I am a 6. You Can Make aCat” by Natsume SosekiDifferencePresentation Procedure
1. Focus on real-life situation:(RLS)↓
2. Create a “knowledge question”↓
3. Analyse RLS from a global perspective, and explain how
the “knowledge question” can apply to other real-lifesituations.
↓4. Answer the “knowledge question”↓
5. Suggest possible solution(s)STEP 3: Create a “Knowledge question”

You Tube. Most Shady Place in Japan: Kabukicho, Tokyo's Red Light
Districthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WaiCrN92yg

Academic Word List

Broccoli has tons of nutrition and affect to your body andhealth.
I want to convince you why Kamakura is famous
destination in Japan.
Most of food waste happened during marketing andconsuming process.
Another expert says that there is 22% of children cannot
speak their mother tongue of their languages.
If you have enough sleep, you also have positive effectAppropriate use of language….
In conclusion, what we do for food waste is now is torealise reduce the number of food waste is each person.

The reliability of common sense is depended on each believer’sperspective.
Since arts for example, painting, sculpture, handicrafts,
architecture music, dance and poem are the properties which
are created by human’s activities for appreciating the values,
however, when human cannot find those values, arts will notaffect human’s behavior or mind.
To what extent do circumstances or environments affect to theemotion?
How does cultural context affect the communication?
Some teens are not enough matured to accept things that isdifferent.
There are differences of definition of beauty on each country.
This conference is quite crucial because of the new outcomes ofinternational agreement on climate change.
Government can manipulate people by using and restricting
media.
These words have somewhat ambiguous, unclear, or flexible
broad meanings.
She thinks it is inappropriate to do that in public.

Academic Word List
Participants

AB
C
DEF
GH
I
J
Average

1st

2nd
7
1
4
7
14
8
3
2
2
5
5.3

Difference
16
7
4
6
15
5
11
7
4
10
8.5

+9+6±0-1+1-3+8+5+2+5+ 3.2

Content

5Structure Valid reasons are givenwith
supportingevidence.
 The topic andcontent
maintain theaudienceinterest
Two or more
valid reasons are
given with good
supportingevidence.
The topic andcontent maintainthe audienceinterest
throughout thepresentation

AcademicLanguage

Presentation
SkillsThere is a Effective use
logical orderof rhetoricalto thedevices.
presentation.  Appropriate
The Thesis
use of formal
statement islanguage
clearly made Effective
bodylanguage
 Effective useof voice

A variety of very
engaging
rhetorical devices
are used.
Appropriate
formal language
is usedthroughout thepresentation.

Very effective useof body language,eye contact,
movement andthe pace of thepresentation.
Very effective useof variation andvolume of voice

The introduction
is very inviting
and a clear thesis
statement ismade.
Information isextremely wellstructured withan introduction,
main body andconclusion

RubricCriterion
Content

1st3.02nd
4.2

Difference+ 1.2

Structure

3.1

3.9+ 0.8

Academic
language
Presentation
skills2.9

4.1+ 1.2

3.2

3.8+ 0.6

References and acknowledgement
Coxhead, A. (2000). A New Academic Word List. TESOL Quarterly, 34(2): 213-238.
Oxford University Press. (2014). Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English. UK.:AuthorSpronken-Smith, R., & Walker, R. (2010). Can inquiry-based learning strengthen thelinks between teaching and disciplinary research? Studies in HigherEducation, 35(6), 723-740.

Acknowlegement
This work is a part of the outcome research performed under the EIKEN 28thGrant.