French

AQA

AS/A-level French is an exciting and wide-ranging course which gives you the chance to develop your language skills to a higher level. It can be combined with almost any subject at Paston; both Arts and Science-based students take French each year. Studying a language beyond GCSE provides an excellent opportunity to develop your communication skills – both in speaking and writing.

Language lessons are lively and full of variety and classes quickly develop a friendly atmosphere and strong sense of identity. In every lesson you will take part in many different activities: watching or listening to news items, studying written passages, working on role plays or other speaking tasks.

During the first year, the aim is to develop your confidence and ability to communicate, particularly when speaking. But don’t be afraid! Encouragement and co-operation are our watchwords!

During the two years of an A-level course you will have the opportunity to take part in events outside lessons to widen your awareness of how languages are used. Over the past two years, students have taken part in a business languages project (linked to a local company), been on a visit to the Christmas markets in Lille, watched French films on the big screen at Cinema City in Norwich, and had a very interesting talk from a translator working for the EU.

Qualifications in languages are very well regarded by both universities and employers and an A-level language will look very good on your CV, whatever your main interests may be. As Europe is Britain’s main market, it is essential that we are able to communicate in their language with our customers outside the UK.

Past languages students have gone on to study French with other languages or with Business or Law at top universities, including Manchester, Nottingham, Exeter, UEA and Aberdeen. Two second year degree students are looking forward to studying in Toulouse next year and one first year student is starting to plan his trip to China.

AS French

At AS you will continue to develop the four skills – speaking, listening, reading and writing through the study of four main topic areas:

The Media: Television, radio, internet, the press, advertising. You will look at the importance of the media in our daily lives and consider the advantages and possible dangers of TV and the internet. You will think about how advertisements are created and their ‘hidden’ messages and look at examples from the French press.

Popular Culture: Cinema, fashion, music. You will study examples of French films and watch some trailers on YouTube, analyse what your clothes and musical tastes say about you, and listen to a selection of French music from the last 20 years.

Health and well-being: As well as discussing how to lead a healthy life through exercise and eating a wellbalanced diet, you will look at things which are bad for your health including drugs, tobacco and alcohol. You will also consider the importance of holidays and whether tourism is always a good thing for poor countries.

Family and Relationships: You will talk about how important the family is today, the alternatives to marriage, how children are affected by divorce, whether gay couples should adopt children, and the importance of your friends.

Assessment

One written examination and one oral examination.

Entry requirements

A minimum of BBCCC at GCSE including English/English Language and Mathematics or a science and at least a B in French.

A2 French

In this course you will move on to higher level language skills through the study of the following present-day issues:

The Environment: You will investigate the causes of pollution and how to improve the environment, consider the arguments for and against nuclear power, and find out about the conservation of wildlife and learn more about groups, such as Friends of the Earth, who are trying to save the planet.

The Multi-Racial Society: you will look at examples of racism and how it can be combated, consider issues relating to immigration in France and Britain and discuss the benefits of a multi-racial society.

Technological Progress: this covers areas such as GM foods, cloning, transplants, the ethics of animal experiments and wider consideration of the benefits and dangers of scientific research.

In addition you will study two Cultural Topics which give a more detailed insight into French culture. Choices for next year include Moliere’s L’Avare, a comedy about a miserly father who wants to marry off his daughter to an old man while pursuing the same girl as his son! The other choice is a contemporary French film, the brutal, controversial and brilliant La Haine about three young men caught up in riots in the Paris suburbs.

Assessment

One written examination and an oral examination.