AS/A LEVEL FRENCH

WHAT IS THE COURSE ABOUT?

• Families and Relationships – what is important for young French People?
• Environmental Issues – what do the French do as regards to pollution initiatives?
• Drugs, Smoking and Health Issues – are they important issues in France?
• Sport and Leisure – Learn about the benefits for France of hosting the Rugby World Cup, find out about young people’s leisure activities and the kinds of sports they do
• Is France a multi-cultural society? Where do the migrants living in France come from and are they well integrated?

This is a stimulating and challenging course, highly respected by all universities and useful preparation for a wide variety of careers.  The AS course will take you well beyond GCSE, giving you a thorough grounding in the French language, grammar and structures so as to enable you to research and discuss a wealth of topics such as those above.

A Level then takes you on to debating all sorts of contemporary issues from Crime and Punishment, Abortion and Cloning to the importance of the European Union and environmental policies in the French-speaking world. All that and much more in a course that combines linguistic skills with analytical thinking. Self-reliance skills and adaptability are developed by those who participate in exchanges with a French school. A Level French is a highly rewarding and enjoyable course.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY THE COURSE?

• You have enjoyed learning French for GCSE
• You are keen to develop your skills in French and to learn how to use the language in a wider range of situations
• You are interested in finding out more about how the language works and are keen to learn new words and structures
• You are interested in the life and culture of France and other French speaking countries 

USEFUL SKILLS & INTERESTS

• You are interested in learning a language
• You find other countries and the lives of their people fascinating
• You have a good memory for words and phrases and have a curiosity about how the language works

COURSE STRUCTURE & CONTENT

You develop your language skills throughout the course and build up your ability to use grammatical structures and a wider vocabulary. This language work is based on certain topics.

Year 1

• Leisure and Lifestyles, including healthy living, travel and tourism, entertainment and traditions
• The Individual and Society, including gender issues, relationships and youth culture

Year 2

You will also study two topics from the world of cinema, literature or region

• Environmental issues including pollution and global warning
• Social and political issues including the role of the media, racism, immigration and terrorism

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

The AS and A Level courses are each assessed by two Units, one of which on each occasion is an oral unit, whilst the other tests listening, reading and writing skills. In A Level this includes assessment of your research into the social and cultural background.

COURSE COMMITMENT

You will have approximately 4 hours 30 minutes of classroom time. We expect you to work outside of your timetabled lessons for at least an extra four hours per week plus during two identified private studies periods within your college timetable. All students will also have the benefit of a weekly conversation class with a native French assistant. Constant revision of vocabulary and verb tenses is an essential part of private study time in addition to set homework assignments.

EXCHANGE VISITS

Here at Prior Pursglove we regularly have exchange visits to France, Germany, Spain and Italy and we have links to schools in Aix-en-Provence in France, Troisdorf in Germany, Valladolid in Spain and Ischia in Italy and as a student of languages you will have the opportunity to visit the country of the language(s) you are studying. During your visit you will stay with a host family, attend college and you may also have the opportunity to do work experience there, too. There will be places of interest in the region and joint activities with your host families. Students find that these exchanges improve their language skills and extend their knowledge of the country in which they are staying. In addition, many of them make new friends with whom they keep in touch after the exchange through email links or by talking to them over the Internet. Exchanges are also useful in preparing for oral units or coursework. Costs are generally around £180 – £220, but support funding may be available to help students who have financial difficulty.

COURSE COSTS

You will receive the main course books on loan from the college, but you are invited to buy yourself a Grammar Workbook, currently £6, for use in class and at home. You may also buy a French language magazine to expand on your skills.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

To enrol on this course you will need to have met the standard college entry requirements, including a Grade C in French and Grade C in English Language at GCSE.

PROGRESSION ROUTES

You can progress from AS to A Level in French.  You could then progress to university where French can be studied as a main subject or in combination with a wide range of other subjects such as Business, Spanish, European Management, or Physics. We currently have ex students at a variety of universities studying French along with another language or with Business, Mathematics and a wide variety of other subjects.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you require further information please contact Alison Dodds, the Department Manager.