FRENCH AND GERMAN

EXAMINATION BOARD:      EDEXCEL

French Advanced Subsidiary(AS) (8190) French Advanced Level(A Level)(9190) German Advanced Subsidiary(AS) (8230) German Advanced Level(A Level)(9230) 

A Level in French and German is an extension of the work followed at GCSE and students should be confident and competent in the four language skills of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.  You will gain knowledge and understanding of the culture and way of life of the target-language country and explore topic areas in much more depth than at GCSE.

The Advanced Subsidiary which is the first half of the A level course, may be taken on its own and consists of the three units described below:

Unit 1              Listening and Writing           1 hour       AS 30% AL 15%

You will answer questions in the target-language and English on passages and quotes taken from a range of sources, such as news reports, television, announcements and interviews.

Unit 2              Reading and Writing            2 hours     AS 30% AL 15%

You will answer questions in the target-language and English on passages taken from magazines, newspapers and reports.

Unit 3              Prepared Oral Topic       10-12 minutes    AS 40% AL20%

You will prepare a topic of your choice dealing with the target-language country and present this for 1-2 minutes.  A conversation with an examiner developing this topic will then follow.

A LEVEL is made up of the three AS units above plus three more units described below:

Unit 4       (i)     Oral discussion of Issues             15 minutes         15%

You will prepare an issue of your choice, not necessarily relating to the target-language country and take a definite stance towards it, defending and arguing your point of view.  Two further unpredictable issues will then be initiated by the examiner.

OR:    (ii)           Interpreting                           15 minutes         15%

Students are required to carry out an interpreting tack of a purposeful and practical nature.  Situations will be related to school, the world of work, business, leisure or travel.  Students need to give effective and correct communication in French or German and English to two interlocutors. 

Unit 5              Coursework                                                 20%

You will study and research two topics of your choice related to the target-language country and write two pieces of work, one of 450-500 words and one of 900-1000 words.

Unit 6       Section A - Listening

       Section B - Reading and Writing                                15%

       Section C - Writing in Registers

A       Listening - You will listen to passages, answer questions in the target-language and write a summary in English of 80-100 words.

B        Reading and Writing - You will answer questions in the target-language on a passage and do a short translation exercise from English into the target-language.

C        Writing in Registers - You will choose one of three different types of essay writing; creative, discursive or task-based and write an essay or response of between 200-250 words.

Opportunities

With increasing contact between countries and the growth of the European Union the value of language studies to Higher Education and employment is evident in ever widening career areas. Having a language at AS or A level will certainly improve your employability.  At Higher Education level there has been a proliferation of new degree courses combining Language with Business Studies, Economics, I.T., Engineering and Sciences.

We encourage students to spend some time abroad, either as part of a work experience programme or as part of an exchange programme with our contacts in France and Germany.