A-Level French

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The French curriculum intends to deepen a curiosity and love of languages and other cultures, as well as develop an advanced understanding of how languages work. Through a focus on both culture and communication, we aim to foster a passion for exploring a foreign language and comparing it to our own. Language learning provides an insight into others� countries and cultures and thus widens our intellectual horizons and promotes social mobility. We aim to broaden students� knowledge and skills beyond the subject specification, exposing them to as much authentic material as possible. We aim to challenge our students to achieve a high level of communicative competence, thus not only developing literacy skills but also strengthening students� resilience and problem-solving skills. Through studying French students will see the benefits of travelling the world and will be offered the opportunity to visit and have first-hand experience of family life in France, therefore ensuring they have the skills to communicate and have meaningful and life changing experience.

Students will study topics from a range of political, social and cultural themes all in relation to the French-speaking world following the AQA A-Level course: The changing role of the family Cyber-society The voluntary sector Cultural heritage Contemporary French music French cinema The positive aspects of a diverse society The marginalised society Crime and punishment Young people and politics Strikes and protests Immigration In addition, students study a film and a book, and carry out an independent research project which forms a major part of their final A-Level oral exam.

French is taught in a well-equipped specialist language laboratory meaning students have plenty of IT access to facilitate independently controlled listening practice (as in the A-Level exam) and pair-work speaking practice. Lessons cover the four main language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing and are taught, as far as possible, in the target language. Grammar teaching is also integrated within the teaching of the A-Level topics. In addition to the three lessons, students have a separate speaking session in a pair / individually to enhance fluency and confidence in this skill area. We offer students an opportunity to visit France during their course to further develop their cultural knowledge and linguistic competence. In addition, when French theatre shows or films are available locally, we also offer students the chance to see these opportunities too.