In this A Level course you learn to speak French confidently and understand much about French-speaking culture. You will also study a film and a novel in French. With a second European language you stand out from the crowd. Universities and employers appreciate that this is a challenging course and value your commitment to it. Having an A Level in a foreign language may also provide you with the opportunity to do a placement/study year abroad while at university.
Five GCSEs at grade 4 and above, including Maths and English, with at least two at grade 6. Students will need a grade 7 in French and a grade 5 in English.
Although Modern Languages are not always a direct route into a job in the same way that study of Law might be, the skills gained are highly valued by employers in jobs such as international sales and marketing, business, journalism, teaching, the tourist industry, translation & interpreting, and the Diplomatic Service.
As part of our course, each student is given time each week to practise speaking French with our native-speaker French assistant. There may also be a day visit to a University French department.
Aspects of French society, artistic life and politics that we study include:
The family / the cyber-society / a diverse society / life for the marginalised / voluntary work / francophone music and cinema / teenagers and politics / politics and immigration. A French film (Au Revoir les Enfants) and a novel (Un Sac de Billes) are also studied in detail.
Assessment
Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing skills will all be examined. The writing sections include translation skills and essay writing.
Coursework
There is no coursework element to this course. Everything is examined in the three end-of-course exams. However, the speaking test includes examination of a culturally appropriate topic, chosen and prepared by the students during their second year.
Exam Board
AQA
