6th Form Curriculum Guide
A Level French
Edexcel 9FR01
What better place to study French at AS or A Level than The British School of Paris? In class we place much emphasis on the development of excellence in all four language skills and our teaching is supported at all stages by the vast amount of authentic material readily available.
We use magazines, newspapers, radio, television, cinema and theatre productions on a regular basis. We also introduce the study of literature, with the aim of providing a strong basis for the development of language skills and an in depth appreciation of French culture. Students are encouraged to make full use of resources available locally and in Paris in the choice of their own topic work and in the research needed for those topics. The wealth of opportunities for any student learning French at The British School of Paris is beyond question. The challenge is for each student to benefit to the utmost from this unique situation.
What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?
Students will normally have achieved at least the equivalent of GCSE Grade B in French before taking this course. You will need to feel confident at this level in the four language skills of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. You must also have some knowledge and understanding of the culture and way of life of the target-language country. You need to be interested in developing this understanding and in exploring in much more depth the topic areas that you will have covered at GCSE.
What will I learn on this AS/A Level course?
The course will help you to develop your general study skills, but most of all you will learn to communicate at a higher level in the language that you have chosen. You will also learn much more about a wide range of aspects of the society or societies in which the language is spoken.
Reading
You will be able to read, understand and extract information from written passages in the target language that are taken from authentic sources, such as magazines and newspapers, reports or books.
Speaking and Writing
You will learn how to write essays or longer pieces and to hold conversations and discussions in the target language. You will learn all the appropriate grammar, words and phrases that will help you to: • Present information in the target language • Organise your arguments • Provide opinions • Analyse your ideas.
What examinations will I have to take to get my qualification?
AS Unit 1: Spoken Expression and Response in French
This unit rewards you for your ability to converse in French on a general topic area which you have chosen in advance. You will need to demonstrate that you can engage in a discussion in French that relates to a chosen general topic area and allied subtopics. The first part of the assessment will focus on an Edexcel provided stimulus that links to the chosen general topic area but the conversation will then move away from the stimulus to consider other aspects of the chosen topic area. You will be expected to give relevant and appropriate information, convey opinions, interact and respond to a range of questions. You must choose one of the following general topic areas: • Youth culture and concerns • Lifestyle: Health and fitness • The world around us: travel, tourism, environmental issues and the French speaking world • Education and employment.
Listening
You will be able to listen to, and understand contemporary spoken language and answer questions on what you have heard. The passages that you will learn to listen to will be taken from a range of sources such as news reports on the radio or TV, weather forecasts, announcements, interviews and discussions.
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