French

The Edexcel A-Level French course is based on developing the communicative skills gained a GCSE level, and continuing some of the topics begun at KS4.

COURSE CONTENT

During the course students will practise their written, listening, reading and oral skills through a variety of topics including social and environmental issues using a wide variety of contemporary source materials including magazines, newspapers, videos and television programmes.

At AS level, Students are assessed in a final examination, which is composed of written, listening and reading comprehension papers. There is also an oral examination with a presentation and a discussion. All skill areas are equally weighted.

At A2 level, students are required to produce two pieces of coursework. They also have an oral examination, and a final listening, reading and written examination. Recent subjects chosen by students for their coursework and orals have been: the Euro, Christian Dior, the works of Marcel Pagnol, tourism in Brittany, nuclear power in France, the history of the French football and Le “Paradoxe Francais” – healthy eating in France.

Students considering taking this course should be prepared to speak the language and to express their ideas. Knowledge of the structure of the language and an ability to manipulate it is essential. Students will be required to do much work on their own, including listening to recorded materials as well as reading around the work covered in lessons. Students will be invited to go to French films at the Cornerhouse cinema in Manchester. Arrangements are also made for students to attend the Update courses arranged at Manchester, Salford and Liverpool universities.

Exchanges for individuals, work experience abroad and study visits can all be arranged through College, and many of our students have been placed successfully for work experience in a Youth Hostel in St Brieuc, Brittany.

CAREER PROSPECTS

The course will be appropriate for a wide range of future careers, for those intending to embark on the many different kinds of degree courses now available which include a language component, and also those who wish to use their French in other areas, for example in tourism, international travel, the Civil Service, business management, librarianship and the export trade. Extra coaching is available for students wishing to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, and many of our students are now going on to read law plus a language, in order to work in Europe.