AS and A2 level Modern Foreign Languages

AS and A2 level Modern Foreign Languages

Bonjour, Bienvenue, Guten Tag, Herzlich Willkommen, Hola!, Bienvenido, Buongiorno. Are you interested in learning about the language, culture, history and current affairs of the French, Spanish, Italian or German speaking world? If so, studying a language at Advanced level could be for you.
WHAT WILL I BE STUDYING ON THE COURSE?
The topics studied during the course cover a wide range of issues:

AS French will build on familiar GCSE work and include the media, popular culture, healthy living and family relationships.

A2 widens to include the environment, multi-cultural society and contemporary issues.

AS German, Italian, Spanish will include study of the world around us, youth culture and concerns, life style health and fitness.

A2 topics will include customs, tradition, beliefs and religions, national and international events, the arts.
You will continue to build on your listening, reading, writing and speaking as well as your knowledge of grammar.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING IN LESSONS?
·Listening
- interviews, conversations, radio broadcasts, tapes, videos, satellite TV, video clips on the Internet in our digital language laboratory

·Speaking
- role-plays, dialogues, pronunciation practice, short presentations and regular conversation classes in small groups with a native speaker

·Reading
- articles, magazines, books, newspapers, Internet sources

·Writing
- short articles, letters, reports, projects, poems, descriptions

·Grammar
- games, revision and practice in class and using the Internet

WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT OTHER COUNTRIES DURING THE COURSE?
YES! We have trips every year to continental Europe, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. There will be opportunities to stay with families in order to experience the language and culture of your chosen country.

For A2 we offer a visit to Cuba and the opportunity to complete some work experience abroad.


HOW WILL THE COURSE BE ASSESSED?
For AS in all languages there will be two units: a speaking test and a combined reading, writing and listening exam.
For A2 there are two units: for German, Italian and Spanish there will be a speaking test and a combined reading and writing test.

For A2 French there is a speaking test and a combined reading, listening and writing test.


WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS COULD I DO WITH MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES?
Virtually any. We have students taking science subjects, mathematicians, historians, those in the fields of English language or literature and business, to name but a few.

AND AFTER THE COURSE?
Many of our students go on to study languages as a major or minor part of their Higher Education course. There has been an explosion in recent years in the number of university courses where Modern Languages are combined with other subjects, such as business and management, marketing, accountancy, law, engineering, sciences, IT, arts and music. Study at this level usually involves time spent working or studying abroad.
In recent years, the ability to use languages is highly prized by employers. Modern Languages graduates are in demand with 96% of students finding employment.
Whatever you decide to do, your language skills will be an invaluable asset to you.

Requirement
We generally recommend a B grade or above at GCSE in the language you wish to study and at least a grade C in GCSE English (language). Spanish and Italian are exceptional, in that students who are very able linguists may take these languages up from scratch and achieve the full Advanced level in two years - see below. Most importantly, you need a real interest in the language/s you intend to study and also in the countries where the language is spoken.