French
French makes you think. It encourages you to question your own ideas and express your point of view. It is a challenging, but highly rewarding subject.
French A Level
This course aims to develop high levels of competence in understanding, speaking and writing French and a deeper knowledge of French culture, civilisation and other French speaking countries.
Learning French develops your communication and problem solving skills. It also helps to improve your social skills, confidence and European awareness.
What does the course involve?
Learning languages helps develop communication and problem solving skills and gain independence, flexibility and organisational skills – all qualities that employers value. There are many areas of work in which languages can be a real asset.
French will also help to develop your confidence, your social skills and your European awareness.
Over the two years you will study:
- Social Issues and Trends.
- Political and Artistic Culture.
- Literary Texts and Film.
- Grammar.
The work is presented in context through newspaper and magazine articles, radio and television programmes, film, video and the internet.
You are expected to go over material covered in class every day to build your knowledge of the language and vocabulary. It is essential to maintain detailed vocabulary and grammar notes and you will write short essays on the topics you study.
There are weekly tests, comprehension and grammar exercises, translations and the preparation of texts for classroom study or oral presentation.
Resources and facilities
It is important to read widely and the Library has an excellent range of magazines and books, many with accompanying CDs, in French. There is also an extensive collection of French films available for you to borrow.
Assessment
Qualification
A Level
Awarding Body
AQA
Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing (50% of A level).
Paper 2: One text and one film essay (20% of A level).
Paper 3: Oral (30% of A level).
Entry Requirements
As a minimum you will need
- Grade 6 or B in GCSE French.
- Grade 6 or B in GCSE English Language.
- Grade 6 or B in GCSE English Literature.
You will also have an interest in:
- French language and culture.
- How language works.
Trips
You are encouraged to attend a trip to Nice; which includes 20 hours of lessons taught by native speakers.
Career path
The knowledge of a European language increases your career prospects, whatever you choose to specialise in. Recent data from Oxford University shows that 93% of modern language graduates go straight into employment or further study.
French can help you gain access to top jobs in business, banking, finance, journalism, law, public relations and the civil service. There are opportunities in tourism, the media, the diplomatic service, translation and interpreting.
French is the first or second language in over 43 countries.
Hereford Sixth Form College has great provisions for Languages and I felt that my teacher truly wanted me to do as well as possible throughout the course. I found it really enjoyable and helpful talking to the language assistant once a week to develop my speaking skills and I was able to tailor my learning to my personal interests through my IRP. I would recommend French at Hereford Sixth Form College to anyone interested in languages.
Gwen
