The Diploma coordinator will provide information on how the Language A literature programme works for Self-Taught (school assisted) candidates. The Language Coordinator will help to arrange a tutor in their language who can help them prepare for the DP examination. Externally taught students in Language A literature Higher level should have a DP qualified teacher before the start of the programme; teacher and student commit themselves to the minimum number of lesson hours under approval and supervision of the school.

Self-Taught (school assisted) and externally taught students in languages not offered by the school must comply with the general and subject specific deadlines mentioned in the DP deadline list; this applies specifically to deadlines for works in translation assignments and orals.

The first internally assessed oral (interactive oral) for students externally taught should take place before December in DP2, or in the same period as the second orals in other languages (February DP2) at the latest. Self-taught students have both orals in or around the week of oral exams in DP2 and are arranged by the Language Coordinator.

Self taught students should have chosen their definite full booklist at the start of DP1. Students are not permitted to undertake an extended essay in a self-taught language.
Teachers of externally taught students should have agreed on the language A literature booklist by September DP2. Using a teacher not employed by the school, will incur extra costs, which are to be met by the student. The school cannot accept responsibility for the quality or reliability of a teacher not employed by the Alberdingk Thijm Schools.