Subjects Advanced French
This is a two-year course for students already taking the Fast-track GCSE, who wish to continue the study of French to a more advanced level. A recommendation from your teacher will be required to take this course.
See also: Modern Foreign Languages | Spanish NVQ
Course description:
The Advanced course provides a natural progression from a GCSE in French. You will continue to develop the four main language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. You will also learn more about how the language works, so that you can manipulate the language to express your own ideas.
The course will cover the following topics:
- Media: TV, advertising and communication technology,
- Popular culture: cinema, music and fashion trends,
- Healthy Lifestyle: sport/exercise, health, well-being & holidays,
- Family & relationships: relationships within the family, friendship and marriage/partnerships.
These topics are very similar to topics studied at GCSE. However, students will extend their linguistic knowledge and will study these topics in a more adult context. For this reason, a mature approach to study will be required. It will also be necessary to feel confident about extending grammatical knowledge – this will require a solid effort by students to learn core grammatical material, such as verbs and tenses.
Course Structure:
Year 10: 5 lessons per fortnight. Year 11: 5 lessons per fortnight.
Homework:
Homework will be set weekly. A variety of tasks are set for homework & examples include:
• Reading texts in French on topical subjects. • Research on the internet: you will complete a reading diary.
• Learning vocabulary and grammar. • Written work on the topics.
• Listening to recordings in French to develop comprehension and fluency: you will complete a listening diary
Assessment, weighting and timings of assessments:
There will be ongoing internal assessment. Students who are achieving the level required to gain a good grade at AS French will be entered for one or more units of the AS qualification. Students can then complete the remaining units at Blatch 6.
Opportunities for study beyond Key Stage 4:
The main aims of the course are to improve your linguistic skills and to allow you to gain a good insight into the culture of France. The course will allow you to develop:
- Practical linguistic skills that you can exploit later in life, either in a career or for leisure purposes;
- An awareness and understanding of the cultural, social and political background of France;
- Enjoyment and intellectual challenge.
If you complete one or more units of the AS qualification in Key Stage 4 you can complete the remaining units in our Sixth Form.
Career opportunities supported by this subject:
An ability to communicate in a foreign language to an advanced level is a very useful skill in life and for your future career. It is useful in all these fields:
Sales & Marketing, Travel & Tourism, International Banking, Accountancy, Secretarial & Administrative work, The Foreign Office & Diplomatic Service, Management Consultancy, Translating & Interpreting & IT.
Many universities now offer opportunities to study languages either on their own or as joint or combined degree programmes, for example with Business Studies, Economics, Law, Politics, International Relations.
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