French at Nendrum College

Time allocation per week at KS3: 3 lessons - 1 hour 45 minutes per week

Key Stage 3

Topics include:

Year 8: 
                   School life
                   Greetings
                   Self, family and pets
                   House and home
                  

Year 9:
                   Going places
                   My town
                   Leisure activities
                   Daily Routine
                   Countries, languages and nationalities

Year 10:
                  Weather and Seasons
                  Transport
                  Food and Drink
                  Holidays
            

Assessment

All pupils at Nendrum College study French to KS3 after which they have the option to continue their studies to GCSE.  We believe that through language learning our pupils are given the chance not only to improve their communication skills but also increase their self-confidence, while at the same time building an appreciation of other countries and cultures.

Key Stage 4

GCSE French is a two year course - the main aim of the course is to develop the ability to use French effectively for the purposes of practical communication. This includes both written and spoken French.

Pupils will develop considerable skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing – building on the knowledge and understanding gained at Key Stage 3. The course is designed to provide enjoyment – offering pupils a variety of language resources and learning experiences.

The course provides an insight into the culture and civilisation of France and French speaking countries, aiming to provide a better understanding of the target language country.

The benefits of learning a foreign language are very much evident; it increases mobility within Europe and the wider world making travel easier and it also helps to make friends and connections in other countries. Learning a language will equip pupils with communication, listening and thinking skills needed to enter the job market, thus enhancing job prospects and earning potential.

The exam itself consists of 4 components; Writing 25%, Speaking 25%, Listening 25% and Reading 25%. The Listening, Writing and Reading components will be examined at the end of the course in Year 12. For these exams pupils can be entered at Foundation or Higher Level depending on ability and progress made over the two years of study. The Speaking component has one tier of entry.

The following topics will be covered throughout the two years. The content will revise units studied during Years 8 - 10.

Context for Learning 1: Identity, Lifestyle and Culture

• Myself, my family, relationships and choices
• Social media and new technology
• Free times, leisure and daily routine
• Culture, customs, festivals and celebrations.

Context for Learning 2: Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest

• My Local area and the wider environment
• Community involvement
• Social and global issues
• Travel and tourism

Context for Learning 3: School Life, Studies and the World of Work

• My studies and school life
• Extra-curricular activities
• Part-time jobs and money management.
• Future plans and career

4 components (Assessment Objectives)

• AO1 - Understand spoken Language LISTENING 25%
• A02 - Communicate in Speech SPEAKING 25%
• A03 - Understand Written Language READING 25%
• A04 - Communicate in Writing WRITING 25%

Why choose French as a GCSE?

If you enjoy communicating with other people, finding out how language works and learning about different countries and cultures, GCSE French is an excellent choice for you. You will learn many skills which are useful in a wide range of career paths. Many employers and higher education providers seek people who speak a foreign language. GCSE French builds on what you have already learnt at KS3, classes are still enjoyable and interactive but topics are covered in more detail.

Studying a language clearly makes you a good communicator both orally and in writing. Additional skills gained through learning a language include the ability to:

• gather information, assess and interpret it
• lead and participate in discussions and groups
• organise your work load and work to deadlines
• develop opinions and propose ideas
• read pages of text and pick out essential points

4 components (Assessment Objectives)

AO1 - Understand spoken Language LISTENING 25%

• Gap-filling
• Answering questions in English
• Answering questions in French

A02 - Communicate in Speech SPEAKING 25%

• Two role plays
• A general conversation on two topics

A03 - Understand Written Language READING 25%

• Answering questions in English
• Answering questions in French
• Translating short sentences from French into English
• Gap-filling

A04 - Communicate in Writing WRITING 25%

• A listing and short phrase task in French
• Short phrase / sentence responses in French
• Translation of short sentences from English into French
• One structured extended writing task from a choice of three

French speakers are in demand in:

• Banking and finance
• International market analysis
• Diplomacy
• Hotel management
• International trade
• Journalism and media
• Aviation
• Education
• Translation and interpretation
• Health care
• Customer services
• Tourism
• Law enforcement
• Public administration
• Transport and logistics
• Engineering

Benefits of studying French

• Enjoyment
• Challenge
• Communication
• Diversity
• Cultural understanding and Identity
• Listening skills
• Language awareness
• Reading skills
• Writing skills
• Key skills: ICT, creativity, critical thinking, working with others/teamwork, problem-solving
• Speaking skills
• Employability and career potential
• Related subjects –English Literature, history, geography, politics, art, music, religion
• International dimension
• Translation skills
• Personal and social development
• Globalisation
• Proofreading skills
• Linguistics (use of grammar)
• Bloom’s taxonomy: knowledge, comprehension/understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
• Travelling and work opportunities abroad