TOK
Nota: Contenido descargable en español al final de la página.
The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is one of the three core elements of the Diploma Programme. Through a process of enquiry and critical thinking, it aims at uncovering the nature of knowledge and how we know what we claim to know. By making connections between areas of shared and personal knowledge, students become more aware of their own perspectives and how they might differ from others.
The TOK course is not studied in isolation. Students and teachers are encouraged to link their subjects to the fundamental questions of knowledge acquisition, allowing for a transversal learning approach.
How do we know what we claim to know?
This is the central question posed by TOK, whose objectives are to encourage people to think critically about different ways and areas of knowledge, as well as to reflect on the role and nature of knowledge in their own culture and in the cultures of others.
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We speak of a knowledge issue when we consider a knowledge question that connects a way of knowing with an area of knowledge.
What do we mean by Language?
The TOK course presents Language as one of the specific ways of knowing. To drive this explicit exploration of language, the guide suggests some discussion questions, which are neither prescriptive nor exhaustive. Below is a small selection of questions.
| Guide's questions | Additional questions |
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How do we say Language in Spanish?
Language, understood as the system of oral or written signs that we use to communicate within a group, is la lengua. In contrast, language as the intellectual ability that all human beings possess to communicate through signs in order to express our thoughts is el lenguaje. Finally, the concrete and individual manifestation of language — that is, the act of producing sounds and words, either orally or in writing — is el habla, which in English could be translated as either language or speech.
This example shows some of the challenges involved in translation.
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De Profe a Profe:
Como nota personal, yo hablo con fluidez cuatro idiomas, siendo el inglés mi tercera lengua, y tengo conocimientos funcionales de otros tres. Creo que es justo describirme como una ávida aprendiz de lenguas. Desde pequeña, todo lo relacionado con los idiomas ha despertado mi interés: la etimología de las palabras, la evolución del lenguaje, la lógica de la sintaxis, los sutiles matices de la intención comunicativa que a menudo se esconden tras la gramática, y las vastas posibilidades de sonidos y tonos. Pero por encima de todos estos fascinantes descubrimientos, y más allá de la evidente utilidad de poder comunicarme con soltura en varios idiomas, para mí el resultado más poderoso y emocionante de aprender una lengua extranjera es la experiencia catártica y transformadora que ocurre dentro de mí. Mi nuevo idioma me obliga a cuestionar aspectos de mi conocimiento que daba por sentados, agudiza mi conciencia sobre cómo funciona mi mente e incluso influye en mi personalidad.
Como profesora de Español Ab Initio, invito y animo a mis alumnos a compartir sus sentimientos y reflexiones sobre su propio proceso de aprendizaje lingüístico.