FRENCH KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM INFO
What is the qualification?
One full GCSE awarded at grades 9 – 1.
What will I be doing on the course? How will it be structured?
Throughout this two year course you will complete a variety of listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation activities. The course is split up into the following five themes:
Assessment
You will sit the following four examinations at the end of Year 11:
Paper 1: Listening and understanding in French (25% of final grade)
Foundation tier: 35 minutes including 5 minutes reading time.
Higher tier: 45 minutes including 5 minutes reading time.
Paper 2:Speaking in French (25% of final grade)
Foundation tier: 7–9 minutes plus 12 minutes preparation time.
Higher tier: 10–12 minutes plus 12 minutes preparation time.
Paper 3:Reading and understanding in French (25% of final grade)
Foundation tier: 45 minutes.
Higher tier: 1 hour.
Paper 4: Writing in French (25% of final grade)
Foundation tier: 1 hour 10 minutes.
Higher tier: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Year 10
Summer Term: Mock examinations
Year 11
Autumn Term: Mock examinations
Summer Term:
April/May:
Paper 3 Speaking in French
May/June:
Paper 1 Listening and understanding in French examination;
Paper 3 Reading and understanding in French examination
Paper 4 Writing in French examination
What skills do I need to develop to be successful at this course?
In order to be successful in this course you will need to develop your level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation.
In addition, you will need to develop the following transferable skills:
Cognitive skills:
Systems thinking – decision making and reasoning.
Critical thinking – analysing, synthesising and reasoning skills.
Interpersonal skills:
Communication – active listening, oral communication, written communication, assertive communication and non-verbal communication.
Adaptability – ability and willingness to cope with the uncertain and communication styles and cultures.
Self-management and self-development – ability to work autonomously, be self-motivating and self-monitoring, willing and able to acquire new information and skills.
What could I use this qualification for?
In recent years, higher education institutions and employers have consistently flagged the need for students to develop a range of transferable skills to enable them to respond with confidence to the demands of undergraduate study and the world of work.
Entrance to many further education institutions is often dependent on students possessing a GCSE in a MFL. There are a wide range range of careers on offer to those who have studied languages; from teaching, journalism and business to politics, accounting and law.