This course will help you develop your knowledge of the French language and your understanding of French culture and society through the study of authentic and current articles, modern literary texts and films. The study of French at A Level will enable you to develop excellent communication and critical thinking skills, explore a wide range of topics about French contemporary society, as well as perfect the written and spoken language at A Level.

Students studying three A Levels will be expected to have a minimum of two GCSEs at grade 6 and three GCSEs at grade 5/4, including English Language and Mathematics. Or eight GCSEs at a minimum of grade 5. You must have studied GCSE French or be a native French speaker in order to study this course.

Year 1: The two major topics you will cover as you develop your language skills are Leisure and Lifestyles (including entertainment, customs, traditions) and The Individual and Society (including relationships, gender issues, youth culture, education and careers). In parallel to this, you will revise and expand your knowledge of grammar, so that you can handle the language with confidence and adapt what you know to new situations. For example, you will learn more verb tenses and practise using them in lots of different contexts.

Year 2: As topics, we will study social and political issues (including the media, work and unemployment, wealth and poverty and racism and terrorism). In addition, you will also study French history and a French book. There will be a small amount of new grammar and lots of revision!

In lessons we use a variety of methods to promote learning and you will do individual, pair and group work, writing and reading tasks, listening activities, presentations, interviews and role-plays. IT will play a part in your learning, for listening, grammar practice and topic research.

Year 1: Formal internal assessments (past papers)

Year 2: A Level external exam

Paper 1: Oral

Paper 2: Listening, reading and translation writing

Paper 3: Writing 100% examination.

You will be tested through an oral assessment (30%), listening, reading and translation (50%) and writing (20%

There will be the opportunity to visit France to experience the language and the culture. French film club will be an enrichment opportunity for all students, as well as other dedicated language events at local universities.

French is a very useful qualification to have, whether at A Level or degree level. Having a qualification in French means that you are aware of a different country, its culture and habits, and you will probably have had some experience of life in the country. You will also be particularly good at listening and summarising. Statistics show that modern languages graduates experience the lowest rates of unemployment after university. Teaching, interpretation and translation, the foreign and commonwealth office and journalism are just a few areas where graduates of languages have worked. Finally, it’s worth mentioning that an A level in one language qualifies you to start studying a completely new language at university eg. Japanese. Just think of your future, you could be working for Peugeot in Paris or Toyota in Tokyo! Visit our website for more information.