Subject Intent: Why French?
The French curriculum intends to deepen a curiosity and love of languages and other cultures, as well as develop an advanced understanding of how languages work. Through a focus on both culture and communication, we aim to foster a passion for exploring a foreign language and comparing it to our own. Language learning provides an insight into others’ countries and cultures and thus widens our intellectual horizons and promotes social mobility. We aim to broaden students’ knowledge and skills beyond the subject specification, exposing them to as much authentic material as possible. We aim to challenge our students to achieve a high level of communicative competence, thus not only developing literacy skills but also strengthening students’ resilience and problem-solving skills.
Through studying French students will see the benefits of travelling the world and will be offered the opportunity to visit and have first-hand experience of family life in France, therefore ensuring they have the skills to communicate and have meaningful and life changing experience.
What will I study?
Students will study interesting and important topics from a range of political, social and cultural themes all in relation to the French speaking world following the AQA A-level course:
- The changing role of the family.
- Cyber-society.
- The voluntary sector.
- Cultural heritage.
- Contemporary French music.
- French cinema.
- The positive aspects of a diverse society.
- The marginalised society.
- Crime and punishment.
- Young people and politics.
- Strikes and protests.
French
Please note: Subject videos have been filmed from colleges across our Trust.
What are lessons like in this subject?
French is taught in a specialist language room meaning students have plenty of IT access to facilitate independently controlled listening practice (as in the A-level exam) and pair-work speaking practice. Lessons cover the four main language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing and are taught, as far as possible, in the target language. Grammar teaching is also integrated within the teaching of the A-level topics. In addition to the three lessons, students have a separate speaking session in a pair / individually to enhance fluency and confidence in this skill area. We offer students an opportunity to visit France during their course to further develop their cultural knowledge and linguistic competence. Students can participate in many enrichment opportunities relating to cultural experience, languages in Higher Education and the world of work. French A-level students can always expect lessons to be fun and relaxed yet challenging and supportive with a consistent focus on the teaching and learning needed in order to get students to where they need to be.
What our
students
The course allows you to not only learn the language but to understand how it works, all the while being immersed in French culture and learning about life in France and the French speaking world. It’s a brilliant, well-rounded course that I would strongly recommend to all those with a passion for languages and culture.
Jessica Green, Outwood Academy Carlton
