Are you passionate about learning French and French culture? Do you want to be able to speak fluently and write accurately by the end of your course? A Level French is a fascinating mix of culture, society and language of France and countries where French is spoken.
You will learn more about the French Speaking world looking at artistic culture such as music and its impact on pop culture, cinema and tourism. You will also cover the recent changes in family structure, cyber-society as well as the place of voluntary work in the French Speaking world. Added to this you will have the opportunity to study a French film.
In your second year you will develop ‘un œil critique’ on some more complex issues including multiculturalism, immigration and the prison system in the ‘Francophonie’. This combination of being able to acquire sophisticated linguistic skills while at the same time studying a book by the recently successful Delphine de Vigan makes French A level stimulating and challenging, both on a personal and academic level.
A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including a grade 6 in GCSE French.
Throughout the course you will be given regular assessed written, reading, speaking and listening tasks to help you develop the skills necessary for exam success.
You will develop knowledge and understanding of aspects of the French society, culture and history of France and countries where French is spoken. You will learn to respond critically and analyse these aspects of culture and society.
You will apply your knowledge of pronunciation, vocabulary and be assessed on grammar to communicate accurately and coherently, using a range of expressions. You will learn to translate unseen sentences and passages from French into English and from English into French, to write essays and you will be asked to investigate a particular area of interest (independent research project) which will be assessed in the Speaking component of the second year.
A Level Linear (2 years)
| Topic | Duration | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Listening, Reading & Translation | 2h 30 min | 50% |
| Paper 2 | Essays | 2h | 20% |
| Paper 3 | Speaking | 5 min prep / 21-23 min exam | 30% |
Throw yourself into the course and enjoy it! Your knowledge of French will shape your future and benefit you for years to come.
We are a well-resourced department and the staff are linguists and French native speakers. Each week you will improve your spoken French with an extra 30 minute session in a small group. There are typically around 60 students across the two year groups and the vast majority of them achieve a good pass grade.
We offer the opportunity to take part in one week of language immersion in Rouen in the first year and a week of work experience for the second year.
You will engage in a wide range of activities in lessons, ensuring a suitable balance between the different skills, including translating in both languages and responding critically to the different aspects of culture and society studied.
You will benefit greatly from these if you are prepared to take part and even make mistakes. Involvement builds confidence, which is one of the most important ingredients for success in a foreign language.
This course will build on your existing GCSE knowledge of French – all the skills, vocabulary and structures you have already learned.
We know that you will come to us with different levels of knowledge of French therefore there is no need to worry as the course will be differentiated.
We are a well-resourced department and the staff are linguists and French native speakers. Each week you will improve your spoken French with an extra 30 minute session in a small group. There are typically around 60 students across the two year groups and the vast majority of them achieve a good pass grade.
Please be aware there is a one off cost of roughly £10 (including a 25% discount) for language students to purchase a Grammar and Translation workbook to help with their studies.
Knowing a language puts you in a strong position in the job market. Language study contributes to a broad general education and gives you invaluable practical and transferable skills for the future. You may choose to specialise in French at university or combine your language with other subjects such as Engineering, History, Media and Journalism, Management and Business Studies, Teaching, Fashion Design, Travel and Hospitality Management, Accountancy, European Studies, or International or European Law or even Medicine.
A qualification in A Level French is very highly regarded by universities due to the huge range of study skills that students acquire during their course; for example it develops critical and analytical thinking, good communication skills and improves grammatical awareness. Such meticulousness strongly enhances students’ future work be it at University or in a professional capacity