FRENCH -40-
Why choose French? French is spoken in 33 countries by an estimated 200 million people around the world. Our geographical proximity to France makes it our number one trading partner and the rich cultural diversity of the culture makes it a fascinating country to study. Moreover, French is an academic subject that enjoys considerable prestige on applications to universities and is also highly regarded by employers. By the end of the course you should be well prepared to use the language for practical communication and continue your studies in Higher Education. Course Requirements Developing language skills to A Level is an enjoyable experience and anyone with a 7 or above at GCSE together, with the commitment to work hard, is particularly welcome. Related Subjects French will combine well with a number of subjects, whether your passion lies in History, English, Geography, Maths, the sciences, Music or Media. You will find much to explore and broaden your horizons when studying one of the many Frenchspeaking countries. Further Important Information Students are required to study a literary work at A Level, as well as read a range of materials on a topic of interest and current affairs. Enjoyment of reading is, therefore, highly desirable. As oral skills are important to the course, students must be prepared to leave their comfort zone and be prepared to regularly contribute in class. Course Details The course aims to develop understanding of the spoken and written forms of French from a variety of registers, develop critical insights into, and contact with, the contemporary society, cultural background and heritage of the Frenchspeaking world, as well as develop positive attitudes to foreign languagelearning. As there is an emphasis on the practical application of language skills, a communicative approach is adopted; thus, French is the main medium for teaching and learning the language. You will use grammar and textbooks. You will also study a literary text and a film. Higher Education and Careers Options French is classed as a facilitating subject, meaning that it is more frequently required for university entry than other subjects. It will give you a wide range of degree courses to choose from and allow you to keep your options open, particularly if you are unsure what you want to study. <strong>Form</strong>er students have gone on to become teachers, doctors, vets and lawyers. You will develop your language skills through the study of 4 main themes following the Eduqas specification: • Travel and Exploration • Contemporary Youth Culture (entertainment, music, media) • Diversity and Difference (migration, integration, discrimination) • France 1940-1950: The Occupation and post-war years Examination Oral: - 21-23 Minutes - 30% Task 1: Presentation and discussion of independent project (11-12 minutes) Task 2: Discussion of a stimulus card comprising an image, a short text and points for consideration. 5 minutes’ preparation followed by 5-6 minutes’ discussion Extra-curricular Time spent in the target language country is essential to improving student performance at A level. For this reason, we take it for granted that all students will take part in the homestay to Nice/Montpellier. Students are encouraged to become language prefects and to represent the department on Open Morning/sixth form information evenings, to share their enthusiasm for language learning. Listening, Reading and Translating: 2.5 Hours writing - 50% Section A: Listening true/false, multiple choice, comprehension questions and answers in the target language. Section B: Reading questions based on texts, true/false statements, gap-fill, comprehension questions and answers in the target language. Section C: Translation – passages from, and into, the target language. Written Examination 2 Hours - 20% 2 essays, 300 words each, one on a literary work, one on additional literary work or film. FRENCH -41-