Why study French?

Here are just a few reasons why:
• To improve your employment potential – business is global
• Learning a language actually improves your ability in English
• To improve cognitive ability – social skills, communication, confidence etc
• To improve your chances of entry into college or university
• To expand study abroad options
• To get more out of foreign travel
• To increase awareness of the world around you and to make you more open-minded to other people and their culture
• Languages are FUN
• To increase understanding of your own culture
• To help appreciate French culture – literature, music and film

Did you know...?

• People who can speak another language earn on average 20% more than people who do not
• 86% of the UK’s richest under 30s speak a foreign language
• There are currently 67.8 million people with French as their first language, and it is spoken in 60 countries around the world
• French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. French and English are the only two global languages.
• France is the world's largest manufacturer of television sets (HDTV was invented in France).
• The French are leaders in medical genetics
• France is the fourth largest producer of cars in the world
• More tourists visit France than any other country in the world
• French, along with English, is the official working language of:-
• The United Nations
• The International Olympic Committee
• The International Red Cross
• The Council of Europe
• The European Court of Justice

French in Saint Brigid’s

French is taught by Mr Niall McParland (Head of Languages) in Room 10. In KS 3 pupils will have three periods a week of French. Pupils will engage in numerous activities including listening, reading, writing and speaking activities. Here are some of the key topics studied in Key Stage 3:

Year 8

1. Language Awareness and phonics
2. French Alphabet
3. Numbers
4. Personal Details
5. Family
6. School

Year 9

1. Hobbies and Pastimes
2. Healthy Living
3. Food and drink
4. Weather
5. House and home

Year 10

1. Personal Details
2. Clothes/Fashion
3. Parts of the body
4. Health and fitness
5. Television
6. Trip to Paris

KS 4 French

Pupils are given the opportunity to study GCSE French; it is currently in an option group alongside Art and PE. The school follow the AQA Syllabus which is unitised.

Course structures and assessments

Assessments will take place throughout years 11 and 12 with only 40% of the exam taken at the end of the course.
Full course

Unit 1: Listening
• External exam, 20% of total mark
• Range of question types based on pre-recorded spoken material in French
• Student may enter either:
• Foundation Tier (C–G) 30 min (+ 5 min reading time) 35 marks
• Higher Tier (A*–D) 40 min (+ 5 min reading time) 40 marks
• Available – January and June

Unit 2: Reading
• External exam, 20% of total mark
• Range of question types based on written material in French
• Student may enter either:
• Foundation Tier (C–G) 30 min, 35 marks
• Higher Tier (A*–D) 50 min, 45 marks
• Available – January and June

Unit 3: Speaking
• Controlled assessment
• 60 marks: 30% of total mark
• Marks for two tasks submitted for moderation (recording for one task submitted for moderation)
• Last stage of each task lasts 4–6 min
• Available – June only

Unit 4: Writing
• Controlled assessment
• 60 marks: 30% of total mark
• Two tasks submitted for marking
• Last stage of each task occurs in one single session of no longer than 1 hour
• Word guidance: 200–350 words (D–G) or 400–600 words (A*–C) across both tasks
• Available – June only

Recommended Sites for further learning

  www.activiscope.com                            (Username and password can be obtained from Mr McParland)
  www.languagesonline.org.uk
  www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french
  http://www.mflgames.co.uk/
  http://www.french-linguistics.co.uk/grammar/
  http://www.ccea.org.uk/french/