GCSE Modern Foreign Languages
Learning a foreign language is important to YOU!
- It will enrich you life and help you understand the world beyond the UK
- It may improve your job prospects; employers like people with language skills
- It will increase your enjoyment of holidays abroad
- Some universities will not accept you without a foreign language GCSE
Don't put yourself at a disadvantage! Take French or German or both!
- Results in first modern foreign language are consistently good
- Results in the second language are also always good
The syllabus for both languages consists of a number of topic areas, all of which are relevant to the experience that our students are likely to have in a foreign country. We off students the chance to visit the country whose language they are studying.
Topics
| Personal & Social Life | Local Community | The World of Work | The Wider World |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self | Home town | Work experience | Travel & holidays |
| Family | School | Part-time jobs | Media |
| Friends | Education | Future careers | Social issues |
| Home life | Local environment | Technology | Life in the country where language is spoken |
| Shopping | Pollution | ||
| Meals | Recycling | ||
| Healthy living | Local facilities | ||
| Illness & accidents | Comparisons with other towns | ||
| Free time | Weather & seasons | ||
| Fashion | |||
| Relationships | |||
| Future plans |
There are two tiers to the GCSE exam:
- Foundation Tier: Grades G-C
- Higher Tier: Grades D-A*
The examination tests the following four skills:
- Listening (20% of the marks) Students will be expected o give evidence of understanding of French or German by: a) non-verbal response (box ticking) b) multiple choice and matching c) verbal response in English, in response to, for example the comprehension of public announcements, instructions and requests, interviews, news items, short dialogues and monologues such as weather forecasts.
- Reading (20% of the marks) Student will be expected to give evidence of understanding of French or German by a) non-verbal response (box ticking) b) multiple choice and matching c) verbal response in English, in response to, the comprehension of written public notices and signs, magazines and newspaper articles and personal information such as that found in letters, notes, e-mails and messages.
- Speaking (30% of the marks) This comprises of two tasks taken with the teacher and recorded. 1) A structured conversation (4-5 minutes). Frameworks will be provided or may be based on each students subject of interest. 2) A presentation (5-7 minutes). A free choice of topic presented by the student followed by discussion of the presentation with the teacher.
- Writing - coursework (30% of the marks) Candidate s just complete two tasks chosen from different context, 20 marks each, which are provided by the teacher. These tasks are taken under test conditions within a lesson, following preparation of that topic. Dictionaries will be allowed and candidates will have access to short notes which they have prepared prior to the session and which will be submitted with their work. These pieces are marked by WJEC.
Students may be entered for Higher or FOundation level in each skill, and this will be decided after consultation between you and you r subject teacher. Entry level may be offered to those for whom GCSE is not appropriate.
