This is a two-year course. The course begins in Year 10, during which you will develop your skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, translation and application of grammar. You will also deepen your cultural understanding of French-speaking countries.
What the course involves
The French GCSE offers students the opportunity to develop their French language skills to there full potential, equipping them with knowledge and confidence they can use both in and outside of the classroom. We know that the culture of the wider French-Speaking world is one of the aspects of language learning which excites students and brings the subject alive. Therefore, this course will help build students cultural knowledge alongside their language skills. The specification covers three distinct themes. These themes apply to all four question papers.
Theme 1: People and Lifestyles
Theme 2: Popular Culture
Theme 3: Communication and the world around us
You will take four exams at the end of Year 11. The weightings are as follows:
We ask that you purchase a French revision guide from the college that will help support your studies. You will be set up with a free Kerboodle account, with which you can access homework and resources to practise listening and reading skills.
Career opportunities
The French GCSE is highly regarded by colleges, universities and employers. Having a GCSE in a foreign language, therefore, can provide a gateway to a wide variety of A-level and degree courses both with and without a language, such as Law, Business, Economics, Travel and Tourism, Education, Translating and Interpreting. Furthermore, employees with a language qualification are more likely to earn a higher salary than those without. A recent survey reported that the UK’s top 300 employers, such as Boots and HSBC, believe a language makes an applicant more employable, with French rated as the second most desirable language.
Post-16 opportunities
The French GCSE will help prepare you for your studies after your GCSEs, no matter what you go on to study. The top three advantages of studying a language are: better decision-making skills, increased attention span and increased ability to multitask. Furthermore, you will often experience what studying a language at A-Level involves.