French

Why Should You Take This Course?

Not only is French is a global language with over 300 million French speakers world-wide; it is also an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, and the International Olympic Committee. French is also the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual and performing arts, and architecture. For these reasons, studying French at A-level will offer many exciting career pathways as you will gain a range of transferable skills including communication, critical thinking, research skills and creativity. The A Level course is also designed with cross-curricular elements which will fit with many different combinations of subject.

Course content
The course gives a fascinating insight into francophone society and culture. It is designed to build on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at GCSE, whilst enriching your understanding of the society and culture of countries where French is spoken. During your studies, you will examine the changing and diverse nature of French speaking society and artistic culture, along with aspects of social and political life. The course also involves the in-depth study of a French film and novel as well as giving you the opportunity to research an individual project of your choosing - perfect preparation for Higher Education. Emphasis is placed on practical communication using topical and authentic material. Translation, which entails thorough knowledge and accurate application of grammar, will form an integral part of your learning. Lessons are conducted mainly in the target language where you will present viewpoints, develop arguments, as well as learning to analyse and evaluate a wide variety of spoken and written material.

How will I be assessed?
You will sit three exams, consisting of two written papers and a speaking exam.

Are there any special expenses?
We would recommend buying a good bilingual dictionary and a copy of the novel and film studied.

What could I do next?
Knowledge of a foreign language is highly valued by Higher Education institutions and employers. In addition, French can be studied in combination with any other course in Higher Education. Many courses including those in the sciences offer students with good language skills the opportunity to do part of their degree course abroad. Graduates in modern languages are increasingly in demand as employers are keen to recruit people with language skills in order to be competitive in today’s global marketplace.

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How to apply for this course

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