Higher French/ Spanish in a nutshell! All your questions answered .... hopefully!

What topics will I cover for Higher French/ Spanish? The 4 contexts are the same as for Nat 5 but go into more details and depth: Society: becoming an adult, new family structure, marriage, social pressures and influences, bullying, gang culture. Employability: getting a summer job, planning for future jobs, gap year, higher education, career path, equality, CV, preparing for a job interview, the importance of languages in global contexts.

the next two contexts: Learning: understanding yourself as a learner, learning styles, the importance of language learning. Culture: taking a gap year, working abroad, prejudice and racism, living in a multicultural society, the importance of traditions, customs and beliefs in another country, social influences.

What skills will I use? The 4 usual skills you have been using since S1, so nothing new nor different: Reading: texts, blogs, emails, newspapers’ articles, poems. Listening: to conversations, monologues, songs, TV news. Writing: will be related to any of the 4 contexts.

and last but not least! Can you guess? TALKING! This is one of the most important, valuable and useful skill to have, to allow communication to take place.

How do we get assessed in school and how often? You will be completing one Assignment, worth 20 marks scaled to 15 – 200-250 words. Similar conditions and support as National 5 assignment.

What will I be assessed on in the May SQA exam? Your 4 skills will be assessed: Paper 1 is a Reading (1 text) and a translation (worth 20 + 10 marks), followed by a Directed Writing with 6 bullet points, 150-180 words (worth 20 marks scaled to 15) This paper lasts 2 hours.

and what else? Paper 2 is a Listening (monologue & conversation), worth 20 marks and scaled up to 30 representing 25% of total marks. This paper lasts 30 minutes. Talking: this will take place in March. The Performance will be recorded for SQA. It will be a discussion only on 2 contexts and last 10 minutes. 5x8 words allowed.

What are the marks for the SQA exam? Reading & Translation: 30 marks Directed Writing: 20 marks scaled to 15 Listening: 20 marks scaled to 30 (25%) Assignment: 20 marks scaled to 15 The Performance* (Talking): 30 marks (same as Nat5) Presentation worth 10 marks Conversation worth 15 marks AND 5 marks for “ natural flowing” conversation. Total: 120 marks

What about homework? You will get homework on a weekly basis. e.g. vocabulary and grammar study, Reading & Writing practice, listening practice via Scholar, preparation for Speaking or other.

What do I need? A good dictionary. A ring binder and dividers. Some poly pockets. Some highlighters. Lined paper. A vocabulary/ grammar jotter.

Any questions?