Courses

French

Faculty:  MFL                                                                       
Level: A level

Examination Board / website: AQA
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/french-7652

Assessment Details:

Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing – 2 ½ hours, 100 marks 50% of A-level

Paper 2: Writing – 2 hours, 80 marks, 20% of A-level

Practical Examinations (Unit titles, duration, % weighting, dates):

Paper 3: Speaking – 21-23 minutes (including 5 mins preparation time), 60 marks, 30% of A-level.

The speaking exams are usually conducted in May but the exam board publishes the possible dates every year.

Coursework (Unit titles, duration, % weighting, submission dates): n/a

Course Outline:

Students study technological and social change, looking at diversity and the benefits it brings. They will study highlights of French-speaking artistic culture, including francophone music and cinema, and learn about political engagement and who wields political power in the French-speaking world.

Students also explore the influence of the past on present-day French-speaking communities. Throughout their studies, they will learn the language in the context of French-speaking countries and the issues and influences which have shaped them. Students will study texts and film and have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice.

Assessment tasks will be varied and cover listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

Skills / Aptitudes required to be successful in this course:
Organisation, secure knowledge of GCSE grammar and tenses, resilience, independence, good standard of written French, good memory, interest in francophone culture, willingness to give opinions, debate and share ideas.

Complementary Subjects:

Any other subject! Humanities, film/media studies, drama, law, English literature, other languages etc.

Pathways – Careers:

Again, languages are very helpful in any career as they enable you to communicate with a broader range of people. Lots of universities offer combined degrees or the opportunity to study abroad/do a sandwich year and languages will help you stand out as a good candidate for this kind of course.