French AS and A Level

Please make sure you have checked the entry requirements before submitting your application. Please also be aware that we use an Attainment 8 requirement for students choosing to do Science and Maths subjects. This is explained further on our website: https://www.taptonschool.co.uk/page/?title=Subjects&pid=69

We will use the message function to contact you about your application, so please keep an eye on this.

A Level French provides a continuation of the 4 language skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. A good level of linguistic ability is a marketable skill - a language is increasingly demanded in commerce, marketing, law, leisure and tourism, sales and engineering. Cultural and linguistic knowledge is extended throughout the period of study, including film and literature. Students will spend an additional hour per week with the Foreign Language Assistant and there are opportunities to take part in trips and exchanges. Students from all Sheffield schools are encouraged to apply.

A genuine love of languages, an enquiring mind, good time management, hard work and resilience is required to study this subject.

Links with other subjects

Languages combine well with any subject, but especially English, Economics, Geography, Politics, Sociology and History. They also make an excellent contrast with Mathematics and Science based subjects.

Social Issues and Trends

• Social Issues and Trends
• Aspects of Francophone Society: Current trends
• The changing nature of family
• The ‘cyber-society’
• The place of voluntary work
• Positive features of a diverse society
• Life for the marginalised
• How criminals are treated

Grammar

• Key verb tenses, moods and voices
• Nouns, articles and gender
• Adjectives and adverbs
• Prepositions
• Negation
• Conjunction and discourse markers
• Questions, quantifiers and intensifiers

Political and Artistic Culture

• A culture proud of its heritage
• Contemporary francophone music
• Cinema: the 7th art form
• Teenagers; the right to vote and political commitment
• Demonstrations and Strikes; who holds the power?
• Politics and immigration

Works: Literary texts and films

• L’étranger Albert Camus
• La Haine Mathieu Kassovitz

Extension and Enrichment Opportunities

Possible trips of a cultural and linguistic nature, opportunities to support younger students through in class support, a mentoring programme with GCSE students and access to authentic materials.

In each year there are three papers:

• Paper 1 Listening and Reading Comprehension; Translations.
• Paper 2 Essay paper
• Paper 3 Speaking

GCSE Grade 6 in French

Tapton School's minimum entry requirements for all students: Grade 5 in English Language; Grade 4 in Mathematics and three other GCSEs at grade 4 and above.

Languages are a good foundation subject for many degree courses across a wide range of subjects including Law, Business Studies, Economics, Social Policy, Philosophy, Social Sciences and Educational Studies. A languages degree is good preparation for a wide range of occupations; for example, journalism, marketing, personnel, public service, law, advertising, insurance or teaching.

Languages are essential for careers in Teaching, European Union, Translation or most businesses dealing with Europe where speaking an additional language is an advantage e.g. banking.