A Level French

This is a two year linear course.

The course is divided into the 2 main topic areas and a choice of works:

· Social issues and trends

· Political and artistic culture

· Works (Literary texts and films)

The A-level specification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at GCSE. It constitutes an integrated study with a focus on language, culture and society. It fosters a range of transferable skills including communication, critical thinking, research skills and creativity, which are valuable to the individual and society.

Extra-Curricular opportunities:

Opportunities Students will have the opportunity to achieve fluency in French by exposure to a wide range of reading, listening and video material and everyday conversations in French with their class teachers. Students can also take part in enrichment activities where they support youngsters in Year 10 and 11 who are studying French. This will be especially useful for those students who are thinking of

teaching in either the Primary or Secondary sector. Students can attend or run lunchtime clubs or sessions on topics linked to cultural aspects of French speaking countries that correspond to their personal interests.

As this is a linear course students will sit all their examinations at the end of year 2. The examinations include a 20 minute speaking conversation based on the 2 main topics outlined above and a presentation and discussion of an individual research project. This accounts for 30% of the A level qualification. Listening, Reading and Writing skills are assessed in a two hour and a half paper in June and this paper accounts for 40% of the A level qualification. In addition there is a two-hour writing paper on one text and one film or two texts from the list set in the specification. This paper accounts for 30% of the A level qualification.

General entry requirements for level 3 study and a minimum of grade 6 in GCSE French and a grade 6 in English Literature or Language.

Students can progress to university with A Level French. The Russell Group Universities which represent the top 24 research universities in the UK particularly favour an A Level in a modern foreign language as it is a ‘facilitating’ subject. Students typically progress onto teaching and translating, business services, central government, financial services, marketing, journalism and media, technology, travel and tourism and the voluntary and charitable sector.