French
What will I learn?
- Are you aware that studying a foreign language will develop your intellect, competences and awareness?
- Did you know that although many people may speak English, they will usually negotiate in the own language? Being able to speak another language is a life skill.
This specification comprises 4 exams. Papers 1+2 will be done in Year 12 and papers 3+4 in Year 13. Students wishing to gain the AS qualification will be able to do this by completing papers 1+2.
- You will be taught as a whole class, do group work/pair work and have some one-to-one tuition.
- You will be involved in many various activities/tasks such as translating. learning vocabulary, listening exercises, giving presentations to the whole class, understanding and using grammar and of course, taking every opportunity to speak in French.
- You will cover a wide range of topics including aspects of daily life, leisure and entertainment, communication and media and education and training as AS Level and society, the environment, science and technology at A2 level.
- A wide range of media and materials will be used to assist the learning process, including newspapers, magazines, films, power points and the Internet.
- You will be given an excellent grounding in all aspects of the French language, with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability in speaking, listening, reading and writing.
What are the entry requirements?
5 A*-C in any subjects at GCSE. You will also need to have achieved at least a good grade B in French. You should have a real interest in France and be prepared to read French newspapers and magazines and watch some French TV programmes in order to improve your reading and listening skills.
How will I be assessed?
There are 2 exams at both AS and A2, an oral exam and a listening, reading and writing exam. All exams will require you to understand or to give information or opinions on a variety of the topics covered.
Future opportunities
Not everyone who studies French will be looking for a career in languages although many former students have gone on to University to study either single honours in French or have combined it with other subjects such as Spanish, Linguistics, Law, Business, Maths, Science and English. Some students have even taken up further languages such as Italian, Chinese and Catalan. Qualifications in a foreign language are valuable in a wide range of careers and make you much more employable. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, Language graduates have lower rates of unemployment than those in other disciplines.
Is there anything I need to know?
This course combines well with other AS level courses and is particularly useful in travel, tourism, leisure and international business, but it could also usefully support applied science, engineering and other courses. We have a team of three full time staff one of whom is a native speaker and all our teaching rooms have whiteboards with projectors and facilities for watching films on DVD.
