Specification

AQA - The specification and assessment structure can be found at the link below:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658

What will I study?

By the end of year 9, pupils will have covered a good deal of the grammar required for GCSE.  Furthermore, much work covered in years 8 and 9 will be relevant to the themes identified at GCSE. You will continue to work in the skill areas of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing, extending both vocabulary and grammar. The following themes are identified in the subject specification:

Theme 1: Identity and culture covers the following topics:

Topic 1: Me, my family and friends (Relationships with family and friends; Marriage/partnership).

Topic 2: Technology in everyday life (Social media; Mobile technology).

Topic 3: Free-time activities (Music; Cinema and TV; Food and eating out; Sport).

Topic 4: Customs and festivals in French-speaking countries/communities.

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest covers the following topics:

Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region.

Topic 2: Social issues (Charity/voluntary work; Healthy/unhealthy living).

Topic 3: Global issues (The environment; Poverty/homelessness).

Topic 4: Travel and tourism.

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment covers the following topics:

Topic 1: My studies.

Topic 2: Life at school/college.

Topic 3: Education post-16.

Topic 4: Jobs, career choices and ambitions.

What skills and qualities are required?

Comprehension, both reading and listening, requires candidates to have a good knowledge of vocabulary, an understanding of the structure of the language and the ability to deduce meaning. 

Written and spoken work require good vocabulary, the ability to understand linguistic patterns and an attention to detail. A sound understanding of verbs and tenses is needed.

Good application and consistent efforts with learning are needed, combined with the development of a feel for the language(s) studied.

The department’s aim is to produce confident and spontaneous language users.

How will I learn?

Comprehension work will be extended by addressing the demands of longer and more complex texts and by refining comprehension techniques. Written work will be developed by the inclusion of larger sequences of language. Speaking will be practised as a class, in small groups and individually. Pupils should extend their range of language and work to improve fluency, accuracy and accent.

How will I be assessed?

Listening (Paper 1) and Reading (Paper 3) are assessed in exams at the end of Year 11.  These exams are worth 25% of the final exam.  The listening paper lasts 45 minutes and the reading paper 1 hour.  There are various question types including English questions to be answered in English, French questions to be answered in French or non-verbal questions.  The Reading Paper includes a short translation from the foreign language into English.

Speaking (Paper 2) is assessed in one exam (conducted by the teacher) towards the end of Year 11.  Recordings are externally marked by the Board.  The exam is worth 25% of the whole exam and lasts for 10-12 minutes.  There are three sections which include a role-play exercise, a photo card (which has to be described) and general conversation.

Writing (Paper 4) is examined at the end of the course.  At Higher level, the exam lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and makes up the final 25% of the exam.  There are 3 questions:

Question 1 – structured writing task (student responds to four compulsory detailed bullet points, producing approximately 90 words in total) – there is a choice from two questions.

Question 2 – open-ended writing task (student responds to two compulsory detailed bullet points, producing approximately 150 words in total) – there is a choice from two questions.

Question 3 – translation from English into French (minimum 50 words).

Where could it lead?

A language is an asset that could in future be allied to any skill or discipline and has clear applications within the world of business at all levels including management and the entrepreneurial field. The same applies to, for example, the international legal system, work within the travel and tourism sector, work in national and local government, the diplomatic service, security, journalism or tourism .  Language study could clearly lead to a career in translating as well as teaching, either secondary or primary. At university, there are opportunities to study for a joint honours degree offering study of a language allied to another subject and with the possibility of studying or working abroad for one year as part of the course.  This applies not only to language study with other Arts subjects, but also Business, Law and even subjects such as Engineering and Computer Studies.  The study of French offered at King’s prepares students for future acquisition of other Latin based languages.   

The Department believes that language learning is a necessary and exciting requirement of the modern world.  A GCSE in French forms part of the English Baccalaureate, meaning that a good qualification in Languages is increasingly sought after.