Modern Foreign Languages

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Greek, Russian, Spanish, Urdu

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?
Most students should normally have achieved at least the equivalent of GCSE Grade C in the relevant language before taking this course. You will need to feel confident at this level in the four skills of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. You must also have some knowledge and understanding of the culture and way of life of the target-language country. You need to be interested in developing this understanding and in exploring in much more depth the topic areas that you will have covered at GCSE.

Reading
You will be able to read, understand and extract information from written passages in the target language taken from authentic sources, such as magazines and newspapers, reports or books.

Listening
You will be able to listen to, and understand contemporary spoken language and answer questions on what you have heard. The passages that you will learn to listen to will be taken from a range of sources such as news reports on the radio or TV, weather forecasts, announcements, interviews and discussions.

Speaking and Writing
You will learn how to write essays or longer pieces and to hold conversations and discussions in the target language. You will learn all the appropriate grammar, words and phrases that will help you to:

• present information in the target language
• organise your arguments
• provide opinions
• analyse your ideas

What kind of student is this course suitable for?
If you are interested in languages and communication, and you enjoy learning about other cultures and ways of life, then this modern foreign languages course could be suitable for you. Similarly, if you are interested in the business world, ion travel or tourism, in literature, or in journalism and the media, then you are also likely to find the course appropriate. There are a number of options in the course where you can choose your topic or question to suit your interests. Whether you want to use language for work, for further study, training, or for leisure, this course will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge.

What examinations will I have to take to get my qualification?
AS - AS is short for Advanced Subsidiary. This is the first half of the Advanced GCE course. It is a stepping stone to the Advanced GCE qualification. You can take just the AS on its own, if you and your teacher agree this is best for you. You can even decide at the end of the AS course whether to continue to take the full Advanced GCE qualification. The AS consists of the three units described below.

Unit 1 Listening and Writing (1 hour)
You will listen to 5-6 minutes of recorded material. The material will relate to the contemporary society or culture of the target-language country or communities. You will have individual control of the recording and may stop, rewind and replay the recording as you wish, and take notes or write answers at any point. You will answer questions in the target language and in English.

Unit 2 Reading and Writing (2 hours)
Here you will be expected to read about five passages in the target language. The passages will relate again to the contemporary society or culture of the target-language country or communities. You will answer questions in the target language, and in English. One of the passages will be a 'stimulus' for a task in which you will have to write 140-160 words in the form of a letter, report or article in the target language.

Unit 3 Prepared Oral Topic (1-2 minutes +)
You will be expected during the course to prepare a topic of your choice, which deals with an aspect of culture or society in the target-language country. You may also study a literary text for this unit. You will present the topic for 1-2 minutes and than hold a conversation with the examiner about it. You can take into the examination a list of 5-10 headings, which you can use as a prompt to remind you which key aspect of the topic you want to talk about.

Exam Preparation
French and Spanish native speakers are offered guidance on previous examination papers, correction of these and guidance on exam techniques. This takes place by appointment on Friday afternoons. Students of Arabic, Chinese and Urdu are offered some guidance and given past examination papers. Any translations into English will be corrected.

What could I do at the end of my course?
There will be a range of opportunities open to you, where you can continue to use and further develop your language skills and knowledge of contemporary society. Some students choose to do degree courses in languages, others choose to pursue a higher education course in another subject, but choose a language option alongside it. Having a language at AS or Advanced GCE will improve your employability, in particular with companies which have international branches. Whether you are interested in continuing your studies or working at home or abroad, a language course at AS or Advanced GCE is an excellent step towards achieving your goals.