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Higham Lane
Sixth Form

French

Context:

Languages are all around us; they are used in so many situations whether at work, on holiday or just casually in day-to-day life - we live in a multilingual global society. Choosing an A-level language is a really smart move! They are fascinating subjects which give you both a range of career possibilities alongside having fun whilst you learn!

A-level language courses are interesting and varied subjects to study and give you a broad range of knowledge and skills. Learning a language is a never-ending process; languages are constantly changing, bringing in new words and getting rid of old ones.

The skills and qualifications that you gain from studying a language at A-level are incredibly important tools to have under your belt. For example, learning a foreign language can build your communication, interpersonal, intercultural, and public speaking skills. Some studies have also shown that learning another language can
improve your ability to multi-task and block out distractions. Languages are great for a wide variety of careers especially those involving translation or communication with people from non-English speaking countries. This can include careers in tourism, government, politics, media, publishing, and journalism. You can also work in education, fashion or law!

Exam Board:

WJEC Eduqas (603/0064/4; 603/0071/1)

Assessment:

3 papers covering:

A-Level paper 1: Listening, reading and translation (50% of A-Level)
A-Level paper 2: Written response to work, grammar and translation (20% of A-Level)
A-Level paper 3: Speaking (30% of A-Level)

Course Details:

A-Level papers will be based on content from the following themes:
Being a young person in French-speaking society
Understanding the French-speaking world
Diversity and difference
France 1940-1950: the occupation and post-war years

One book and one film will be studied for A-Level paper 2.

One Independent Research Project (IRP) will be completed for A-Level paper 3.

Other Learning Opportunities:

Foreign Language Assistant (FLA) work with KS3/4 classes.

Where next with this course?

Languages are an invaluable skill to have. Having a language can increase your salary from 8 to 20% and can give you a head start on other potential employees. By speaking another language you are vital to any company that operates with other international businesses (and there are a lot of them!). Furthermore, a language is also a pre-requisite for many university courses so it is something to consider if you are thinking about university in the future.

Incorporating a language into your degree can set yourself ahead of the rest when applying for jobs once university is over. Studying languages shows a high level of communication skills, the ability to work independently and that you are mature, confident and can easily adapt to different situations and cultures. These skills are essential in the multicultural, global society that we live in.

One thing to bear in mind when considering a language degree is the third year. A language degree is 4 years long, as you spend the third year abroad in a foreign country. You can study, work or be a teaching assistant. The great thing about the year abroad is the chance for you to use your language in your daily life and you can also meet new people and travel to new places. You will have many new cultural experiences, such as eating local food, visiting places you'd never heard of and celebrating local traditions.

For further details on this subject, please fill in Course Enquiry form