Faculty of Humanities

French

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Guide to GCSE French (AQA)

All students will need to choose at least one Modern Foreign Language, e.g. French, Spanish or German. You may pick either of the Modern Foreign Languages which you are already studying; choose whichever you feel more confident about.

If you enjoy learning languages and find it not too difficult, you ought seriously to consider the possibility of taking two at GCSE. This is particularly advisable if you think you may want to carry on with languages in the Sixth Form. This way you will not restrict your choices too early and will leave open the possibility of studying two languages at AS/A2 Level, therefore being in line with your European counterparts who all study at least two foreign languages.

This course will follow the AQA French/German/Spanish Syllabuses and will lead to the final examination in May/June 2004. There will be no coursework, and generally candidates at this school will be entered for the Higher tier of the examination, aimed at the grades A-C. No bilingual dictionaries will be allowed in the examination.

The following tests form the final examination under the old syllabus and it is likely that there will be some changes in the present format:

1. Listening and Responding (40 minutes)

2. Speaking (10 - 12 minutes) conducted by your own teacher and tape-recorded. This consists of 3 parts:

2 role-play situations
Presentation and discussion (prepared beforehand by you)
General conversation

Conversation topics are on the following themes:

My world
Holiday time and travel
Work and lifestyle
The young person in society

3. Reading and Responding (50 minutes)

4. Writing (60 minutes)

a letter (formal or informal)
a text, e.g. an article, letter or publicity material

The syllabus aims to:

develop the ability to understand and use the target language effectively for practical communication, as well as creatively
develop an understanding of the grammar and of language learning
offer insights into the culture and civilisation of countries and communities speaking the target language
encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages
develop students’ understanding of themselves and their own culture
provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation
form a sound base of the skills, language and attitude required for further study, work and leisure.

At the end of the course, you should be able to cope with language tasks within the areas of experience which follow: