MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
FRENCH AND SPANISH
Exam board: AQA
Benefits of studying a language at A-level
Cultural & Educational Value
· Broadened Horizons: Offers deep insights into other cultures, literatures, and ways of thinking, promoting global understanding.
· Well-Rounded Education: Demonstrates versatility and a global mindset, highly valued by universities.
· Critical Awareness: Helps you understand language's role in society, media, and politics.
Personal & Cognitive Growth
· Enhanced Communication: Develops articulate speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills.
· Cognitive Benefits: Improves memory, concentration, multitasking, and adaptability.
· Confidence Boost: Overcoming the challenges of language learning builds resilience and self-assurance.
Career Advantages
· High Demand: Employers value language skills across many sectors like international business, tech, finance, journalism, and diplomacy.
· Global Opportunities: Opens doors for international work, travel, and roles in organisations like the UN or major corporations.
· Versatility: Language proficiency combined with another specialization makes you a uniquely strong candidate.
Where does it lead to?
There are many paths open to students with A-level languages. They can be combined with a variety of subjects at degree level, with many courses in both Humanities and Science courses, offering the opportunity to do a year abroad in French or Spanish speaking countries.
There is a wide variety of jobs open to people with language skills, and there is a clear statical evidence that there is a low rate of unemployment among language graduates.
Course introduction
The A-level language courses combine the development of linguistic skills as well as an understanding of the culture and societies of the French and Spanish speaking countries.
Language skills covered:
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Grammar
- Translations
Topics covered:
· French/ Spanish grammar, linguistic and translations
· Social issues and trends
· Artistic culture
· Aspects of political life in France/ Spain
· Multiculturalism in modern day France/ Spain
· The study of a French/ Spanish film and book
Course Details
French/ Spanish A- level is a two-year linear course. All examinations will take place at the end of the second year of the course.
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Paper 1: Listening, reading, writing
(100 marks)
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Paper 2: Writing
(80 marks)
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Paper 3: Speaking
(60 marks)
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What's assessed
- Aspects of French/Spanish speaking society: current trends
- Aspects of French/Spanish speaking society: current issues
- Artistic culture in the French/Spanish speaking world
- Aspects of political life in the French/Spanish speaking world
- Grammar
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What's assessed
- One text and one film or two texts from the list set in the specification
- Grammar
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What's assessed
- Individual research project
- One of four themes (Aspects of French/Spanish speaking society: current trends, aspects of French/Spanish speaking society: current issues, artistic culture in the French/Spanish speaking world, aspects of political life in the French/Spanish speaking world)
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How it is assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
- 100 marks
- 50% of A-level
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How it is assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours
- 80 marks in total
- 20% of A-level
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How it is assessed
Oral exam: 21–23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time)
- 60 marks in total
- 30% of A-level
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Questions
- Listening and responding to spoken passages from a range of contexts and sources covering different registers and adapted as necessary. Material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail. Studio recordings will be used, and students will have individual control of the recording.
All questions are in French/Spanish, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in French/Spanish (30 marks)
- Reading and responding to a variety of texts written for different purposes, drawn from a range of authentic sources and adapted as necessary. Material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail.
All questions are in French/Spanish, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in French/Spanish (50 marks)
- Translation into English; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks)
- Translation into French/Spanish; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks).
No access to a dictionary during the assessment.
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Questions
- Either one question in French/Spanish on a set text from a choice of two questions and one question in French/Spanish on a set film from a choice of 2 questions or 2 questions in French/Spanish on set texts from a choice of two questions on each text.
- All questions will require a critical appreciation of the concepts and issues covered in the work and a critical and analytical response to features such as the form and the technique of presentation, as appropriate to the work studied (eg: the effect of narrative voice in a prose text or camera work in a film).
No access to texts or films during the assessment.
No access to a dictionary during the assessment.
Students are advised to write approximately 300 words per essay.
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Questions
- Discussion of a sub-theme with the discussion based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). The student studies the card for 5 minutes at the start of the test (25 marks).
- Presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9–10 minutes) of individual research project (35 marks).
No access to a dictionary during the assessment (including 5 minutes preparation).
Students may take the assessment only once before certification.
Assessments will be conducted by either the centre or a visiting examiner and marked by an AQA examiner.
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Key Contacts:
French teacher and Curriculum Leader - Mrs A. Hale aha@slougheton.com
Spanish teacher - Mrs Simoes ssi@slougheton.com
