Options Booklet 2013 - Wentworth High School

GCSEIt is proven statistically that unemployment rates amongstModern Language Graduates are lower than amongst othergraduates. Also, after recent research, it has been found thatpeople who use languages in their jobs—even at a basic level—earn on average 8 % more.There are many different jobs that need languages,eg ccomputer game designers, accountants, journalists, lawyersand engineers.Learning languages also brings many other benefits includingimproved communication skills, improved listening skills,improved social skills, you become more employable and youare likely to get quicker promotion.Students in high schools are being encouraged to take alanguage for all the reasons above and because many of the redbrick, more prestigious universities are looking to offer places toyoung people who can demonstrate they have studied a broadrange of subjects including a language at GCSE.How does the course work?The GCSE course builds on the work done in Years 7-9 but at abroader and higher level. The language skills of Listening andReading are worth 20% each in the final exam and Writing andSpeaking are worth 30% each. The skill of Writing is assessedthrough written assessments during Years 10 and 11. The skill ofSpeaking is assessed through a number of Speaking assessmentsthroughout the course.All pupils will cover a series of core topics: personal information,future plans education and work, tourist information andcustomer services and transactions. The nicest thing about thecourse is that only 40% is tested formally at the end of year 11and tasks that are taken during the two year course can beretaken and improved upon.