French

AQA 7652 Ms Julie Desmarchelier-Arpino

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” - Nelson Mandela

Why should I study French?

French is spoken in over 43 countries in the world including two of the G8 countries. French is a major language of high-tech and business in the world. (Second language on the internet.) In terms of number of words, French is the largest language after English. English is not enough! The world has become a much smaller place; it’s really important that you learn to speak and understand other people no matter where they are from.

•Languages are the perfect way to meet new people, immerse yourself in new cultures and • make a difference to who you are. Speaking another language really makes you stand out from the crowd and you’ll be able to • work anywhere in the world. Learning a foreign language can help you • understand your own language. They’re good for you! Speaking more than one language increases your brain capacity and you • have better memory too. You can travel all over the world and feel like a • true local. It’s an impressive achievement to speak a foreign language - one your friends and family will envy and employers will love!

What do I need to know or be able to do

before taking French in the Sixth Form? • You need to have passed GCSE (or an equivalent • examination) at B grade or better in French. You need to be interested in the culture and way of life of the target language country, and be prepared to spend some time there during the course (exchange; work experience; stay with • family). You need to take some interest in current affairs and world issues in general. What will I learn? • To develop your general communication skills such as presenting information, organising your • arguments, presenting and defending opinions. To analyse ideas, sustain a conversation, to • • communicate at a higher level in French. To speak French with greater fluency. To read, listen to and understand more complex • material from a variety of sources. To write in French with greater accuracy and • sophistication. About a wide range of aspects of French society.

Who is this course suitable for?

Pupils who: • like to communicate. • are interested in and enjoy other cultures. • take an interest in a broad range of issues. • may want to travel, live or work abroad. • want to use their language for work, or further • • study. want to pick up a satisfying skill. want to open up many other opportunities: • personal, social, academic and professional. wish to complement their other courses: a language combines particularly well with History, English, Geography and the other Humanities as well as Music, Maths, the Sciences or the Social • Sciences. wish to work in the STEM or space industry (some employers will demand two languages).

How is the course assessed?

Paper 1: Listening, Reading, Writing (translation) 2 hours 30 minute examination (50% of A level) Paper 2: Writing (essays) 2 hour examination (20% of A level) Paper 3: Speaking 21-23 minute oral exam (30% of A level)

French (Continued)

What could I go on and do at the end of my course?

There will be a range of opportunities open to you, where you can continue to use and further your language skills and knowledge of contemporary society. Some pupils choose to do degree courses in languages; often there is an opportunity to learn a new language from scratch. Others choose to pursue a higher education course which combines study of a language with another subject such as law, politics or business. There are also many courses on offer in European Studies, which include language study among a number of other disciplines.

Having a language at A level will certainly improve your employability, in particular with companies which have international branches. Whether you are interested in continuing your studies or working at home or abroad, a language course at A level is an excellent step towards achieving your goals.