Modern Foreign Languages GCSE

All students should study one of the Modern Foreign languages, either French or German, to GCSE. We recommend that students choose the language they have been studying since year 7. Students may choose to study both languages if they wish and any student considering a career in languages would be well advised to do this. Spanish will also be offered from year 10 this year but students wishing to take this subject must take it in addition to French or German.

All departments follow the AQA examination board GCSE course. All skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing) will be assessed.

The listening and reading skills will be assessed in a final examination in year 11. Each skill is 20% of the final mark. There is an option of Foundation and Higher tier. In order to gain grades A* to C, students will need to take the Higher tier for those skills.

The speaking skill will be assessed in school and marked by the modern language teacher. This skill is 30% of the final examination mark. A minimum of two speaking tests will be done over the two years. There are no Higher or Foundation tiers for this skill.

The writing skill will be assessed in school under supervision. This skill is 30% of the final examination mark. Two pieces of writing must be submitted. Again there are no Foundation or Higher tiers for this skill.

Students opting for Spanish, or French or German (their second foreign language which they started in Yr 9) will be expected to work hard to reach GCSE standard in two or three years and should be aware of the intensive nature of the course when opting for this subject.

All languages will provide opportunity for revision work of work covered in Key Stage 3, as well as introducing new grammar, new vocabulary and topics.

Topics

Lifestyle Health Healthy and unhealthy lifestyles and their consequences Relationships and Choices Relationships with family and friends Future plans regarding: marriage/partnership Social issues and equality

Leisure Free Time and the Media Free time activities Shopping, money, fashion and trends Advantages and disadvantages of new technology Holidays Plans, preferences, experiences What to see and getting around

Home and Environment Home and Local Area Special occasions celebrated in the home Home, town, neighbourhood and region, where it is and what it is like Environment Current problems facing the planet Being environmentally friendly within the home and local area

Work and Education School/College and Future Plans What school/college is like Pressures and problems Current and Future Jobs Looking for and getting a job Advantages and disadvantages of different jobs