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French

Course Description

The Advanced Level course in French assesses your knowledge of the language and your ability to communicate, but it is also about engaging in discussion, interacting effectively, defending views and taking a stance, independent research and extended writing. There are lots of opportunities to engage in areas of personal interest, such as films, plays or social or cultural issues. You will never be short of intellectual challenge and stimulation!

Contact: Ms H Meakin Exam Board: AQA
QAN: 6018727X Subject Code: Fr
The Course at A Level

There are four themes which are studied in the course. Part 1 of the first two themes is studied in Year 12 and part 2 in Year 13.

Theme 1: Social Issues and Trends

Part I - Aspects of French-speaking society – current trends

Part II - Aspects of French-speaking society – current issues

Theme 2: Political and Artistic Culture

Part I – Artistic culture in the French-speaking world

Part II – Political culture in the French-speaking world

Theme 3: Grammar

This is not studied as a separate module; it runs throughout the other three themes.

Theme 4: Literary Texts and Films

Students will study one film in Year 12, and one literary text in Year 13.

Possible Subject Combintions 

Languages are in themselves multidisciplinary subjects, and as such combine particularly well with Humanities, English, Media Studies and Business Studies; perhaps surprisingly, languages are very well perceived by universities when combined with Sciences.

What do the students say?

Being able to speak another language is an important life skill and I would encourage others to continue with languages into A-Level.

Where can Languages take me? 

A Level in French would enable you to progress to a degree in French or to one of many degrees that combine languages with another discipline, e.g. Business Studies, Law, Chemistry.

French would also be a very useful subject for Primary school teaching as languages are now compulsory in Key Stage 2.

Increasing career opportunities exist which require the ability to travel and communicate in Europe and around the world.

Assessment
  Assessment % A Level

Paper 1:
Listening, Reading & Writing

Comprehension exercises from a range of contexts and sources, and translation

50%

Paper 2:
Writing

A critical and analytical response in an essay form for both film and literary text

20%

Paper 3:
Speaking

Discussion of one sub-theme and presentation/discussion of student’s individual research project

30%