French (A Level)
Why study French?
Studying French will give you a more international perspective on the world and help you to understand more about French-speaking cultures. It will help you to develop opinions on many current topics of global interest. On the course you will learn to:
- Write and say what you want to say, expressing yourself confidently in non-rehearsed situations.
- Express opinions on issues which concern you and the speakers of the language.
- Research and present a topic that interests you. Translate from and to French.
- Study a film and book in French.
Entry Requirements
In addition to our general entry requirements, you must have:
- GCSE English – grade 4
- GCSE French – grade 5
The Course
As far as possible teaching is done in French so that you will develop your skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. You will extend your vocabulary and be able to express complex ideas in writing or in speaking. Studying French topics, literature and film will help you to compare your experiences with others.
Course Activities
You will frequently work with others in pairs and groups to practise new language. You will play games, use language-learning websites, listen to recordings and view videos in the language laboratory to improve listening skills. You will read contemporary, historical, factual, fictional, journalistic and informal texts. You will be taught how to express your knowledge and opinions accurately in writing and speech through a detailed treatment of grammatical structures. Individual study in the language resource base will be expected. There will be weekly individual speaking practice and an opportunity to go to France and to use your language in an authentic context.
Career and Progression Opportunities
Language graduates are very employable and A Level French is highly valued by universities and employers. Many of our students go on to degree courses which combine languages with businessrelated subjects and then later work in business services, manufacturing, banking, and finance. Law, journalism and teaching, as well as translating and interpreting, are other possible career paths.
Course Structure and Assessment
The syllabus is divided into three units and will be studied over two years
| Module title and content | Assessment |
| Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Translation For both listening and reading, candidates will respond to comprehension questions based on a variety of contexts and sources, including literary and historical texts. There will also be an unseen passage to be translated from French to English. |
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| Paper 2: Written Response to Works and Translation This paper is in three sections. It draws on the study of two works in French: a literary text (L’Étranger) and a film (Entre les Murs). Students must write an essay on both. Students also have to translate an unseen passage from English into French. |
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| Paper 3: Speaking Students complete two tasks. Task 1 (6-7 minutes + 5 minutes preparation): Students discuss one theme from the specification based on a stimulus containing two different statements. Task 2 (10-11 mins): Students research a topic beforehand, then present a summary of the key findings of the written sources they have used for their research. They then have a wider discussion on the topic of their research. Students must ask questions during the conversation. |
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Additional Information
Examination Board: Pearson Edexcel (9FRO)
A Level French = 4.5 hours self-study: this can be spent writing up lesson notes, practising or revising grammar, listening to French/Spanish radio or music, reading children's books in the language, completing homework tasks and learning vocabulary.