Modern Languages - French

This course is for students who want to continue studying French after GCSE. It will suit you if you enjoy languages and want to develop your understanding of French culture and society. It takes time and dedication to become confident in a language so you'll need to be hard working and willing to persevere.

French at A Level is unique in its combined study of language, sociology, history, culture, literature and film. This course will stimulate your cultural understanding of the countries across the world where French is spoken through lessons which will involve the study of current and authentic spoken and written sources. You will also gain invaluable research skills as you undertake your own
personal study of a topic of interest which will provide an excellent foundation for further independent study at university.

You will build on the four skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking that you began at GCSE, growing your confidence in written and spoken French. You'll develop more sophisticated knowledge of the grammatical system and structure of the language and increase your repertoire of vocabulary, phrases and expressions. You'll get an understanding of how French-speaking society has been shaped, socially and culturally and how it continues to change through exploring topics such as social change including family structure, education and work, immigration, artistic culture, politics and the history of the occupation of France. You will have the opportunity to study 2 French literary texts or a text and a film in depth on which you will conduct independent research in preparation for discussing the research process and your personal response in your final speaking exam.

There will be 3 exams at the end of the second year. Listening, reading and translation will be a 2-hour written exam including comprehension and unseen translation tasks. Written response to works and translation is assessed through a written exam of 2 hours 40 minutes duration which consists of a translation exercise and two essays and speaking skills through an oral exam lasting 23 minutes.

Minimum of five grade 4 GCSE passes; these must include at least Grade 4 in Maths and English Language. Additionally, this course requires Grade 6 in French.

Studying French opens up many career choices and gives you transferable skills including communication, critical thinking and cultural awareness. You could go on to a language degree, a degree combined with languages or continue your learning through short language courses outside of your main subject of study. There are jobs and apprenticeships across a range of industries requiring language skills such as in travel and tourism, international trade and logistics, legal and advice services.