French at A-Level
Students are allocated 5 lessons per week and in addition they have 1 lesson per week with the French assistant. Students follow the WJEC syllabus.
Which topics are studied at A-Level?
Students will study a number of topics with reference to French speaking countries as well as in a wider global context.
At AS:
Leisure and lifestyles:
Travel and tourism, sport, hobbies, entertainment, customs, traditions, healthy living - health and nutrition, diet and exercise; unhealthy living - drugs, aids, smoking, alcohol etc.
The individual and society:
Relationships and responsibilities, gender issues, youth culture (values, peer groups, fashions and trends etc.), education, vocational training and future careers.
At A2:
Environmental issues:
Pollution, global warming, transport, energy, nuclear energy.
Social and political issues:
EU, multi-culturalism, racism, immigration, social exclusion and integration, terrorism, world of work, (employment, commerce, globalisation, minimum wage, single European market, Euro etc).
The Guided Studies option:
In addition, part of the A2 course will involve studying one film and one book from a prescribed list. This year we are studying Les Choristes and L'Etranger by Albert Camus.
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The film forms the basis of a presentation and discussion in the oral examination (FN3) and the book is examined through an essay in French on the FN4 paper.
How is A-Level assessed?
At AS there are 2 units:
FN1 - Oral (Conducted by an external examiner) (20%)
FN2 - Listening, Reading and Writing (30%)
These units are assessed in the Summer term of Year 12.
- It is possible to re-sit the FN2 paper in the January of Yar 13 and again in the Summer of Year 13.
- It is possible to re-sit the FN1 paper in the Summer term of Year 13.
At A2 there are 2 units:
FN3 - Oral (Conducted by an external examiner) (20%)
FN4 - Listening, Reading and Writing (30%)
These units are assessed in the Summer term of Y13.
So why study French at A level?
There are endless reasons to study French at A Level, the main one being that it is enjoyable and interesting. Here are just a selection of reasons given for opting to study French in the Sixth Form:
- France is the nearest country to the UK on mainland Europe, and whether you travel for business or pleasure, speaking the language is an indispensible tool for a trip abroad.
- Employability rates amongst French graduates are high, very close behind subjects like medicine and law, and much higher than for arts, humanities and media-related graduates.
- Speaking French will enhance your job prospects as many employers cite the ability to speak a foreign language as a deciding factor when choosing between candidates.
- One of the main reasons for companies losing business abroad is the inability to communicate in the client's language.
- Speaking French will allow you to take advantage of your EU citizenship and travel and work within the European Union in countries such as Switzerland and Belgium, as well as France.
- Speaking French gives you a deeper understanding of France's rich culture and heritage, as well as its fascinating history.
- The ability to communicate in another language allows you to build new relationships, as well as the functionality of practical day-to-day transactions
- Speaking French is a real asset and a useful adjunct to undergraduate study in other disciplines such as the sciences, law, business studies or politics. Combined degrees with French frequently offer the opportunity to spend a year abroad, studying in universities in France, Belgium or even Canada.
Wider Cultural Events
Year 12 pupils attend a "Wales in Europe" event in City Hall in February, where they are able to sample new languages, attend grammar workshops and even learn Salsa dancing!
Year 12 also visit Chapter Arts Centre each year for a showing and workshop of a current French film.
