French

Syllabus

AQA A-Level French Specification Code: 7652 Website: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-anda-level/french-7652

Minimum Overall Entry Requirements

For an A-Level pathway a minimum of 6 GCSEs at Grade 5 or above, including English and Mathematics is required.

Minimum Subject Specific Entry Requirements

Students must have been entered for GCSE French Higher Tier and achieved a minimum of a Grade 6

Course Aims

A-Level French has been developed with teachers to aim to inspire, challenge and motivate a student, enabling them to broaden their horizons and increase cultural knowledge. A student will focus on how French-speaking society has been shaped, socially and culturally, and how it continues to change. A student will develop their knowledge and understanding of themes relating to the culture and society of countries where French is spoken and increase their language skills. They will do this by using authentic spoken and written sources in French.

Course Content

The modules that a student will study are:

Core Content:

Social Issues and Trends Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends • The changing nature of family • The ‘cyber-society’ • The place of voluntary work

Aspects of French-speaking society: current issues • Positive features of a diverse society • Life for the marginalised • How criminals are treated Political and Artistic Culture Artistic culture in the French-speaking world • A culture proud of its heritage • Contemporary francophone music • Cinema: the 7th art form

Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world • Teenagers, the right to vote and political commitment • Demonstrations, strikes – who holds the power? • Politics and immigration

Grammar A student will be expected to study the grammatical system and structures of the language during their course. Knowledge of the grammar and structures specified for GCSE is assumed. In the exam a student will be required to use, actively and accurately, grammar and structures appropriate to the tasks set.

Works – Literary Texts and Films A student must study either one text and one film or two texts from the lists published by the exam board.

Individual Research Project (this forms part of the speaking exam) A student must identify a subject or a key question which is of interest to them and which relates to a country or countries where French is spoken. They must select relevant information in French from a range of sources including the internet. The aim of the research project is to develop research skills, summarising their findings, in order to present and discuss them in the speaking assessment.

Examinations

There are three examined modules:

Paper 1 Listening, Reading and Writing 2 hours 30 minutes 50% Paper 2 Writing - 2 hours 20% Paper 3 Speaking - 21-23 minutes 30%