French A Level

AQA A Level French

A Level French builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at GCSE. There is a focus on the language itself, as well as francophone society and culture. Students will learn about the politics, art and social features of the French speaking world. They also study a French book and a film, becoming critics in the target language. The independent research project in Year 13 allows students to focus on a particular area of interest.

Students will study: the changing nature of the family, the cyber-society, the place of voluntary work, a culture proud of its heritage, contemporary francophone music, the cinema, positive features of a diverse society, life for the marginalised, how criminals are treated, teenagers, the right to vote and political commitment, demonstrations and strikes, and politics and immigration. Over the two years, students will study one French text and one French film. Students will study: the changing nature of the family, the cyber-society, the place of voluntary work, a culture proud of its heritage, contemporary francophone music, the cinema, positive features of a diverse society, life for the marginalised, how criminals are treated, teenagers, the right to vote and political commitment, demonstrations and strikes, and politics and immigration. Over the two years, students will study one French text and one French film.

Paper 1 - 50%

- Listening, reading and writing

- Comprehension questions dealing with the spoken and written word; translations

Paper 2 - 20%

- Writing

- Essays about the book and film studied

Paper 3 - 30%

- Speaking

- Conversation for around 16 minutes about a theme from the course and the research project

A minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 9 – 4. This MUST include:

• Mathematics Grade 4 AND

• English Language Grade 5 OR

• English Literature Grade 5 AND English Language Grade 4

Plus

Grade 5 in French (from Higher Tier paper)

Language learning fosters a range of transferable skills, including communication, critical thinking and creativity. By the end of the course, students should be able to speak in French with confidence. They will be able to read magazines, newspapers, blogs and literature, drawing out key points and inferring messages.

A Level French is an excellent partner to many subjects and can often be combined with a wide range of disciplines at university. Language competence is highly regarded by employers and could make a CV stand out during a selection process. In our global world, the ability to understand and communicate with others is a vital skill in business, the service industry, journalism, research and education.