KS4 Options Booklet 2016 to 2018

Name of Subject: French
Qualification Type: GCSE Exam Board: Edexcel QAN Number: TBC
Single or Double Award: Single
Exam sections % breakdown:
The GCSE exam tests students’ skills equally in the four areas of language learning.
  • Listening paper: 25%
Understand and respond to the spoken language.
Foundation (35 mins) - Higher (45 mins)
  • Speaking paper: 25%
Communicate and interact effectively in speech for a variety of purposes.
Foundation (7-9 mins) - Higher (10-12 mins)
  • Reading paper: 25%
Understand and extract information from written language.
Foundation (45 mins) - Higher (1 hour)
  • Writing (coursework): 25%
Communicating effectively for a variety of purposes.
Foundation (1hour) – Higher (1 hour 20 mins)
Course details:
  • The students will be tested in the four main skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing. The four skills will be tested at the end of Year 11 by examination.
  • Assessments place an emphasis on spontaneity and grammar, as well as providing plenty of opportunities for students to apply their knowledge independently, creatively and in authentic situations.
  • Students could be entered either in foundation or higher tier. However, students will not be able to mix tiers on different papers.
  • The students will be taught all the syllabus content during class time but to achieve success a lot of time have to spend on home work and revision.
  • A lot of preparation for the exam will be required for all the four skills and students will need to have good memory skills, understanding and knowledge of a language.

Entry Requirement to study this option:
Students should have studied French at KS3.
Content:
Students will be covering these main themes:
  • Identity and culture: Who am I? Daily lifeand cultural life.
  • Local area, holiday and travel: holidays, travel and tourist transactions, town, region and country.
  • School: what school is like, school activities.
  • Future aspirations, study and work: using languages beyond the classroom, ambitions, work.
  • International and global dimension: bringing the world together, environmental issues.

Guidance / Special Arrangements / Entrance requirements:
Students in MFL need 100% commitment and dedication to achieve a grade A*-C. They need to have studied French at KS3 and to have covered topics such as talking about themselves, their families and friends, their hobbies, where they live, school, holidays, food and drink.
They need to be well prepared to do the GCSE course in that language as they will need to build up on previously covered topics before moving on to the new ones.
Extra hours spent working at home will help students if they revise/learn the key vocabulary, grammar and at the same time practise work done in the class.
Students are advised to buy a French bilingual dictionary (Collins ISBN: 978-0-00-733-149-9) as they will need it for classwork, homework and revision work.
Qualification Progression Routes (qualifications this may lead to; also state grades required to access the post 16 course)
AS and A Level French.
Some top Universities require a language GCSE to take any degree course.
Possible Career paths using this subject:
These days employment opportunities in Europe and around the world are a real possibility, and your career prospects may well require knowledge and command of other European languages. Furthermore, and especially if you are thinking of continuing your studies after your GCSEs and A levels, both Colleges and Universities regard a GCSE qualification in Modern Languages very favourably. For some Universities it has even becoming a requirement.
Careers where a language may be useful:
  • Computer programmer
  • Credit controller
  • Customer support adviser
  • Executive search consultant
  • Cultural briefing consultant
  • Interpreter
  • Teacher
  • Language trainer
  • Translator
  • Engineering
  • Civil service
  • Travel and tourism
  • Secretary/PA
  • Marketing
  • Public relations
  • Pharmaceutical work
  • Journalism and media
  • Transport and distribution
  • Website localiser
  • Banking