Some interesting facts relating to language learning:
- Speaking another language helps keep your brain fit and active and avoid dementia.
- According to a recent survey being able to speak another language can help to raise your salary by between 8-20% (Keith Marshall University of Wales Bangor)
- People who speak another language are likely to earn £3000 more than those who don’t – that’s the equivalent of £145,000 over the course of a lifetime – more if you are a higher rate tax payer.
With this in mind all students have the opportunity to study both French and Spanish to A Level.
KS5 |
L 6 |
French and Spanish available |
8 lessons a week |
MODERN LANGUAGES – FRENCH AND SPANISH (Exam Board AQA)
Courses are offered in French and Spanish leading to the AS and A2 examinations of the AQA.
Experience suggests that in order to succeed a student should have achieved at least a B grade (performing equally well across the four skills), and preferably higher, at GCSE, and have an interest in the relevant cultures and ways of life.
The pattern of the courses in the two languages is very similar, since the pattern of assessment is the same – four units make up the examination. Two in Listening, Reading and Writing of the Language and two in the Speaking of the Language.
What follows relates to the courses in both French and Spanish.
What will I learn on these Advanced GCE courses?- how to communicate at a higher level
- to extend your knowledge and understanding of grammar
- to build up a much larger vocabulary
- how to present information, organise arguments, provide opinions and analyse ideas
- more about the French or Spanish way of life and that of other French or Spanish-speaking countries
What kind of student are these courses suitable for?
This course will appeal to those students who:-
- are interested in language and communication
- enjoy learning about other countries and their way of life
- enjoy travel
- enjoy reading
- enjoy doing their own research
- want to keep their further study and job options open
How can I develop my full range of skills by doing this course? Listening and Speaking: you will participate in:-
- group and class discussions
- role-plays and pair work.
- one to one sessions with the Language Assistant(e).
- language laboratory exercises and ICT support
- audio CDs and DVDs
- trips (possibly work experience abroad)
Reading and Writing: you will have opportunities to:-
- use the Internet, send e-mails and faxes
- read from a variety of authentic source materials
- write dialogues, letters, accounts, essays and other pieces
What examinations will I have to take to get my qualification?
AS - The AS course consists of TWO examinations.
Unit 1: is a 2 hour written examination testing the Listening, Reading and Writing skills of the language. It is worth 140 marks.
Unit 2: is a 35 minutes Speaking Test (20 minutes of which are preparation). It is worth 60 marks.
At AS all of the topics set out in the specification must be studied. There is no requirement that the topics have to be studied in the context of the target language-speaking country or community.
A2 – The format of the two units is the same as for AS level with the same mark allocation, but for A2 the candidates study two of the five Cultural Topics listed together with the compulsory topics – Environment, the Multi-cultural Society and Contemporary Social Issues.
The five Cultural Topics are: (at least two must be studied)
1. A target language-speaking region/community
2. A period of 20th Century history from a target language-speaking country/community
3. The work of an author from a target language-speaking country/community
4. The work of a director, architect, musician or painter from a target language-speaking country/community
5. The work of a dramatist or poet from a target language-speaking country/community
The compulsory topics are:
*As Speaking is worth 30% of the total marks at both AS and A level in Units 2 and 4, pupils
should be committed to spending some time in the country of their chosen language.
What could I go on to do at the end of my course?
A Modern Language combines well with any other AS or Advanced GCE subject. Taken alongside any of the science subjects it will add real breadth to your portfolio when applying for university. Furthermore it will give students the opportunity to take full advantage of exchange programmes abroad whilst at university, irrespective of the course chosen.
Students with AS or Advanced GCE in one or more Modern Languages will have access to a wide range of higher education and career opportunities. People with good communication skills are in great demand and research has shown that linguists are frequently able to command a higher salary when leaving university. A command of a foreign language will often be very useful in business, commerce and the professions.
Having studied French and/or Spanish you would find it much easier to learn other languages in the future, and would make travel and working abroad much easier, and more enjoyable.