Francés

“French GCSE is really fun and rewarding. I have learnt so much this year and have been amazed by what I have been able to achieve.”

Why study French?

France is on our doorstep; as islanders, we are culturally, politically, commercially and historically bound to France and to not deepen our understanding of the French language and culture is to deny our own heritage and miss out on a wealth of opportunities that this proximity and relationship offer.

The GCSE offers students the opportunity to build upon and exploit the knowledge of French they have developed since primary school and to gain a valuable qualification to recognise these years of learning. Employers value communication skills very highly. They find people who have learnt languages to be articulate, flexible, disciplined and adaptable.

Thanks to the transferrable skills developed through the study of a language, job applicants with modern language qualifications fare well in interview and land good jobs in industry. While any language will be useful for some jobs or for some regions, French is the only foreign language which can be useful throughout the world. French is spoken as a first language in 28 countries across 5 continents and it is an official language for international bodies such as the United Nations, NATO and the European Union. Its importance as a language for business, global economics and politics cannot be underestimated.

Added to this, France is a nation of great significance in scientific and medical research, philosophical thought, literature, music, fashion and art. It is a nation of innovation and creativity and to be able to fully explore this rich and exciting culture is a true privilege for a student of French.

Subject content:

My personal world : friends, family and relationships
Lifestyle and wellbeing : physical and mental wellbeing, equality sports, music, TV and film
My neighbourhood : places in the town
Media and technology : social media and gaming
Studying and my future: school, future opportunities and work
Travel and tourism: transport, food and drink, accommodation

How are you Assessed?

Paper 1: Listening - Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language. Short dictation.

Paper 2: Speaking – Reading aloud, role play, a discussion of a photo and a short conversation.

Paper 3: Reading - Answers in French and English + translation from French into English. Understanding and responding to different types of written language.

Paper 4: Writing - Two writing tasks + translation English into French.

Each paper/assessment is worth 25% of the total GCSE.

Students will be assessed on their linguistic knowledge and accuracy, range of constructions, the content of their work as well as their pronunciation, spontaneity and fluency of the spoken word.

Trips, Opportunities, Progression

Every other year we organise a study trip to Rouen (including a day trip to Paris), where the students attend a language school and stay with host families.

On our French study trips, we have climbed the Eiffel tower, taken a trip on the River Seine, visited renowned art galleries and museums, completed a macaron cookery workshop and sampled other authentic French culinary delights.