FRENCH A/S LEVEL AND A2 LEVEL

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Examination Board - AQA
 
Students can take AS level in the first year and then stop. This equals 50% of the A2-level. Or they can continue to A2 as the second half of the A2-level course.
 
A/S-Level 1651
 
Unit 1 – AS Listening, Reading, and Writing 2 hours
Unit 2 – AS Speaking 35 minutes (Including 20 minute preparation time)
 
A2-Level 2651
 
Unit 3 – A2 Listening, Reading and Writing 2 hours
Unit 4 – A2 Speaking 35 minutes (Including 20 minute preparation time)

COURSE CONTENT

Year One :
 
Media                                Television
                                         Advertising
                                         Communication Technology
 
Popular Culture                      Cinema
                                               Music
                                               Fashion/trends
 
Healthy Living/Lifestyle           Sport/Exercise
                                               Health and well-being
                                               Holidays
 
Family Relationships               Relationships within the Family
                                               Friendships
                                               Marriage/partnerships
 
Year Two :
 
Candidates must study two of the five cultural topics together with the three remaining topics, the Environment, the Multicultural Society and Contemporary Social Issues
 
Environment                           Pollution
                                               Energy
                                               Protecting the Planet
 
The Multicultural Society         Immigration
                                               Integration
                                               Racism
 
Contemporary Social Issues   Wealth and Poverty
                                               Law and Order
                                               Scientific & Technological progress
 
Cultural Topics
A target – language speaking region/country
A period of twentieth century history from a target language-speaking country/community
The work of an author from a target language-speaking country/community
The work of a dramatist or poet from a target language-speaking country/ community
The work of a director, architect, musician or painter from a target language-speaking country/community.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

• Students can either sit examinations half way through the course or at the end of the course
• Examinations are in January and June
• “Synoptic Assessment” drawing on all A2-level assessment objectives – occurring in Units 1 and 3

AGGREGATION

• Candidates may enter for A/S
• Or enter for AS, bank the result after the first year and complete A2 later
• Or enter for A2-level.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Students intending to study AS and ‘Advanced level’ French should aim to obtain at least a Grade B at GCSE French in Full Course option at GCSE.

TEACHING/LEARNING STYLES

Work in class is mainly oral with a lot of individual work with the "assistante". The normal language of the classroom is French but grammar is tackled in English and is mainly "remedial" work on basic structures, not fully mastered at GCSE. Listening tasks are all done with "live" speakers. Students are never required to work with tapes.
 
Reading materials are mainly taken from up-to-date magazines and newspapers, but students are required to read at least one book in the Target Language. Oral work includes role-playing and discussion of topical issues. Skill in using a dictionary is important.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

In Advanced level study you should expect to spend 5-8 hours a week on work outside the classroom. This will include assessments set by teachers and background reading, preparing for and writing essays.

RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS/OUT OF SCHOOL TRIPS

In Advanced level study you should expect to spend 5-8 hours a week on work outside the classroom. This will include assessments set by teachers and background reading, preparing for and writing essays.

PROGRESSION ROUTES

The students will have acquired valuable listening and speaking skills and a broadening of general knowledge in areas of current interest such as health/history/culture/art/technology/current affairs.
A qualification in a foreign language is evidence of high general linguistic ability when applying for jobs or for higher education. It is possible to continue to study French as part of vocational courses in areas such as business studies, commerce, media studies and tourism. At the end of the two-year course, students should have a good working knowledge of at least part of the English literary heritage. They will also have greatly improved their written language skills so as to be able to tackle with confidence, university or other courses which involve a good deal of essay writing.