French

Overview
This is a post-GCSE course. As well as coursebook texts, you will work on video and audio materials in our multi-media language labs, and a number of Internet/Intranet sources. All language work is firmly linked to contemporary issues and life in France and other French-speaking countries. There are plenty of chances to develop authentic French – you will have small group conversation sessions with our French assistant, and are also encouraged to take part in the exchange with our French partner schools in Cholet and Mâcon, and/or to take up the opportunity of a week’s work experience placement in France. By the end of year 12 you will be able to study short off-air news items in French recorded from our satellite TV, and make brief summaries of them to report to others. You will also watch and analyse one or two French feature films .

Course Outline
AS Level
Unit 1: Speaking: Topic-based conversation on AS topics (leisure and lifestyles, the individual and society) followed by general conversation on personal interests, studies, plans for the future.
Unit 2: Listening, Reading and Writing: Comprehension recordings and texts based on authentic material on the same topics as above.

A2 Level
Unit 3: Speaking: A presentation and discussion of either a film, a book or a region of France/the French-speaking world.
Unit 4: Listening, Reading and Writing: Comprehension recordings and texts on A2 topics (environmental issues, social and political issues); the paper includes a short translation from English, and an essay on another book, film or region.

Assessment
No Coursework
Examination (100%)
Examining Board – WJEC.

Special Entry Requirements
You need to have at least Grade C in GCSE French (the great majority of entrants have Grade B or better) 

Prohibited Options
Students do not normally study more than two languages to AS Level.

Career and Progression Opportunities
Students progress to a wide variety of destinations. Typically 30% take a degree involving languages, often combining French with another subject such as a second language, or Law, English, Business, Tourism. Students going on to employment or training progress into areas such as retail and leisure and tourism.

Teaching Methods
You will develop language skills in a wide variety of ways, making full use of our two Multi-Media Language Labs and drawing on a range of sources from course books to Internet and satellite TV. In class you will carry out a lot of pair and group work designed to build up your communicative skills. Our VLE also has a range of interactive exercises including vocabulary learning and listening work. Each week, in addition to mainstream lessons, you will have contact with a native speaker through small group conversation sessions. We ‘bridge the gap’ from GCSE to AS level with considerable study skills support, and by Year 13 students are able, for example, to write confident summaries of off-air news items in lunchtime workshop sessions.
 
Course Activities
We run regular exchanges with the Lycée Renaudeau in Cholet (Solihull’s twin town). Students can also undertake a work experience placement in France via Halsbury Work Experience.

Cost Implications
Approximately £12 for a good bilingual dictionary. Our exchange trip costs approximately £250 and a work experience placement starts from about £500.

Complementary Subjects or Enrichment Courses
We run beginners’ language short courses in Spanish and Italian.

Other Information
None.

This information is correct for September 2012 entry.