The course aims to develop the skills you will have learned in earlier years. These correspond to the four sections of the examination: listening to French, speaking, reading and writing French. In Years 10 and 11 you will continue your progress in the language but you will need greater accuracy and depth of knowledge to obtain a top grade. You will be encouraged to work creatively and to use French actively as much as possible in class. The emphasis, as in your earlier years at school, will continue to be on listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students aiming for the higher levels at GCSE will need to show that they have a broad knowledge of French grammar and vocabulary. They must be able to apply this knowledge to the oral examination and writing assessment tasks. The GCSE aims in particular at giving students a firm grounding in all skill areas that will give scope for further development of the language and provide each student with the language skills necessary for a visit to France or a French-speaking country.
Students aiming for the higher levels at GCSE will need to show their commitment to learning grammar and vocabulary. You must be able to apply this knowledge to the oral examination in Year 11 and also the written assessment.
Health: Healthy and unhealthy lifestyles and their consequences.
Relationships and Choices: Relationships with family and friends; Future plans regarding marriage/partnership; Social issues and equality.
Free Time and the Media: Free time activities; shopping, money, fashion and friends; advantages and disadvantages of new technology.
Holidays: Plans, preferences, experiences; What to see and getting around.
Home and Local Area: Special occasions celebrated in the home; Home, town, neighbourhood and region, where it is and what it is like.
Environment: Current problems facing the planet; being environmentally friendly within the home and local area.
School/College and Future Plans: What school/college is like; Pressures and problems.
Current and Future Jobs: Looking for and getting a job; advantages and disadvantages of different jobs.
Speaking 30% Assessed during two year course; prepare two tasks under controlled conditions, marked by the teacher.
Writing 30% Assessed during two year course; prepare two tasks and then write under controlled conditions, externally marked.
As there are fewer students now studying languages across the country there will inevitably be a shortage of linguists entering the job market. Languages can open up horizons and a CV that offers French will be worth having.