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Modern Languages
MODERN LANGUAGES: FRENCH; GERMAN; SPANISH (AQA)
MR D WALKER: HEAD OF FACULTY / HEAD OF SPANISH MS N TAIBI: HEAD OF FRENCH MISS C EVANS: HEAD OF GERMAN
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
Students will learn to:
• develop understanding of the spoken and written forms of the foreign language from a variety of registers; • communicate confidently, clearly and imaginatively in the foreign language through both the spoken and the written word, using complex and varied language increasingly accurately; • increase their sensitivity to language and language learning; • develop critical insights into, and contact with, the contemporary society, cultural background and heritage of countries or communities where the target foreign language is spoken; • develop positive attitudes to language learning; • understand the importance of grammatical accuracy and apply knowledge through translation; • carry out an independently researched project linked to a target language country; • provide a suitable foundation for further study of the target language, at degree level or equivalent.
A TWO YEAR A LEVEL COURSE, EXAMINED AT THE END OF YEAR 13.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW OR BE ABLE TO DO BEFORE TAKING MODERN LANGUAGES IN THE SIXTH FORM?
• You need to have passed GCSE at grade 7 or 8/9 in the target language. However, a pupil with a grade 6 may be accepted on the course if they can demonstrate good work ethic and motivation. • You need to be interested in the culture and way of life of the countries where the target language is spoken; you should be keen to spend time there on an educational visit or exchange. There is an expectation that pupils opting for a language at
A Level will participate in an exchange at least once over the two years’ course. The exchange offers the best possible way to put the target language into practice and is an essential part of studying languages at this level. It offers not only excellent linguistic opportunities, but also the chance to experience and enjoy the culture of the host country. • You will need to take a positive interest in current affairs and in ethical issues in general and ensure that you regularly keep up to date with the news in the country of the language you study.
WHAT KIND OF STUDENT IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR?
• students who are interested in facts and opinions, and like talking about them • students who are interested in intellectual and cultural pursuits • students who have a positive concern for ethical issues
• students who are interested in travel, holidaying or working abroad
Competence in a foreign language is a useful and satisfying skill in itself and it opens up many other opportunities: academic, professional and social. A modern foreign language is the most versatile and useful subject a student could possibly choose in the sixth form. There is no combination of subjects that
is not enhanced by the addition of a modern foreign language: a language combines well with History, Politics, English, Theology, Geography and other humanities, but is equally useful as a complement to Music, Mathematics, the Sciences or Economics.
The broad topic titles of social issues and trends, political and artistic culture are identical for French, German and Spanish, but the sub-topics differ as stated in the respective lists below. Over the two year course you will have to study one target language book and one target language film from a list chosen by AQA; these are also listed below. The assessment is identical across all three languages. Your teacher will select the book and film for the class carefully.
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT
As part of your French, German or Spanish A Level, you will have to identify a subject or a key question which is of interest to you and which relates to a country or countries in which your target language of choice is spoken. You must select relevant information in the target language from a range of sources including the internet. The primary aim of the research project is to develop research skills. You will demonstrate an ability to initiate and conduct individual research by analysing and summarising your findings, in order to present and discuss them in the speaking assessment. You may choose a subject linked to one of the Board’s themes or sub-themes, or to one of the works, but it must not be linked to the set text or film which will be assessed in the writing paper. WHAT TOPICS ARE COVERED IN THE FRENCH A LEVEL COURSE?
SOCIAL ISSUES AND TRENDS
Students must study the themes and sub-themes below in relation to at least one French-speaking country.
• The changing nature of family (La famille en voie de changement) • The ‘cyber-society’ (La « cyber-société ») • The place of voluntary work (Le rôle du bénévolat)
• Positive features of a diverse society (Les aspects positifs d’une société diverse) • Life for the marginalised (Quelle vie pour les marginalisés?) • How criminals are treated (Comment on traite les criminels)
POLITICAL AND ARTISTIC CULTURE
Students must study the themes and sub-themes below in relation to at least one French-speaking country.
ARTISTIC CULTURE IN THE FRENCH-SPEAKING WORLD
• A culture proud of its heritage (Une culture fière de son patrimoine) • Contemporary francophone music (La musique francophone contemporaine) • Cinema: the 7th art form (Cinéma: le septième art)
• Teenagers, the right to vote and political commitment (Les ados, le droit de vote et l’engagement politique) • Demonstrations, strikes – who holds the power? (Manifestations, grèves – à qui le pouvoir?) • Politics and immigration (La politique et l’immigration)
FRENCH LITERARY TEXTS AND FILMS
Students must study EITHER one text and one film OR two texts from the lists below:
Texts
Molière Le Tartuffe
Voltaire Candide
Maupassant Boule de suif et autres contes de la guerre Camus L’étranger Françoise Sagan Bonjour tristesse
Claire Etcherelli Elise ou la vraie vie
Joseph Joffo Un sac de billes Faïza Guène Kiffe kiffe demain Delphine de Vigan No et moi
Films
Au revoir les enfants
La Haine
L’auberge espagnole Un long dimanche de fiançailles Entre les murs
Les 400 coups WHAT TOPICS ARE COVERED IN THE GERMAN A LEVEL COURSE?
SOCIAL ISSUES AND TRENDS
Students must study the themes and sub-themes below in relation to at least one German speaking country.
ASPECTS OF GERMAN-SPEAKING SOCIETY
• The changing state of the family (Familie im Wandel) • The digital world (Die digitale Welt) • Youth culture: fashion and trends, music, television (Jugendkultur: Mode, Musik und Fernsehen)
MULTICULTURALISM IN GERMAN-SPEAKING SOCIETY
• Immigration (Einwanderung) • Integration (Integration) • Racism (Rassismus)
POLITICAL AND ARTISTIC CULTURE
Students must study the themes and sub-themes below in relation to at least one German speaking country:
ARTISTIC CULTURE IN THE GERMAN-SPEAKING WORLD
• Festivals and traditions (Feste und Traditionen) • Art and architecture (Kunst und Architektur) • Cultural life in Berlin, past and present (Das
Berliner Kulturleben damals und heute)
• German and the European Union (Deutschland und die Europaïsche Union) • Politics and youth (Die Politik und die Jugend) • German re-unification and its consequences (Die Wiedervereinigung und ihre Folgen)
GERMAN LITERARY TEXTS AND FILMS
Students must study EITHER one text and one film OR two texts from the lists below:
Texts
Böll Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum
Brecht Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder
Dürrenmatt Der Besuch der alten Dame
Frisch Andorra
Heine Gedichte – Buch der Lieder
Hensel Zonenkinder Kafka Die Verwandlung Kaminer Russendisko Lenz Fundbüro Schlink Der Vorleser
Films
Goodbye, Lenin!
Das Leben der Anderen
Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei
Almanya – Willkommen Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage Lola rennt
SOCIAL ISSUES AND TRENDS
Students must study the themes and sub-themes below in relation to at least one Spanish speaking country:
ASPECTS OF HISPANIC SOCIETY
• Modern and traditional values (Los valores tradicionales y modernos) • Cyberspace (El ciberespacio) • Equal rights (La igualdad de los sexos)
MULTICULTURALISM IN HISPANIC SOCIETY
• Immigration (La Inmigración) • Racism (El Racismo) • Integration (La Convivencia)
POLITICAL AND ARTISTIC CULTURE
Students must study the themes and sub-themes below in relation to at least one Spanish speaking country:
ARTISTIC CULTURE IN THE HISPANIC WORLD
• Modern day idols (La influencia de los ídolos) • Spanish regional identity (La identidad regional en España) • Cultural heritage or cultural landscape (El patrimonio cultural)
ASPECTS OF POLITICAL LIFE IN THE HISPANIC WORLD
• Today’s youth, tomorrow’s citizens (Jóvenes de hoy, ciudadanos de mañana) • Monarchies, republics and dictatorships (Monarquías, repúblicas y dictaduras) • Popular movements (Movimientos populares)
SPANISH LITERARY TEXTS AND FILMS
Students must study EITHER one text and one film OR two texts from the lists below:
Texts
Gabriel García Márquez Crónica de una muerte anunciada
Esquivel Como agua para chocolate Lorca La Casa de Bernarda Alba Zafón La sombra del viento Isabel Allende La casa de los espíritus Sender Réquiem por un campesino español Bécquer Rimas y leyendas Fernando Fernán-Gómez Las bicicletas son para el verano Manuel Rivas El lápiz del carpintero Gabriel García Márquez El coronel no tiene a quien le escriba
Films
Volver
El laberinto del fauno
Ocho apellidos vascos
María, llena eres de gracia El bola
Las 13 rosas
WHAT EXAMINATIONS WILL I HAVE TO TAKE TO GAIN MY QUALIFICATION?
PAPER 1: LISTENING, READING AND WRITING / TRANSLATION Written exam: 2 ½ hours 160 marks; 40% of A Level
You will demonstrate your comprehension skills of audio material and written texts based on all the various topics of the course. All questions are in target-language, and are to be answered with non-verbal responses or in the target-language.
All this material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail.
You will also be required to translate a passage of minimum of 100 words into English and another translation task will be into the target language based on a 100 word text in English. You will have no access to a dictionary during the assessment
PAPER 2: WRITING 2 hours 90 marks; 30% of A Level
You will write one essay from a choice of two on a set text AND one essay from a choice of two on a set film. Both essays (300 words per essay) will be written in the target language.
The questions 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. You will have no access to the texts or films during the assessment, nor will you have access to a dictionary during the assessment.
PAPER 3: SPEAKING 21-23 minutes (including 5 minutes prep. time) 60 marks; 30% of A Level
You will show your spoken knowledge of your individual research project through a presentation and discussion. You will also demonstrate your knowledge of a sub-topic related to social issues and trends, political aspects and artistic cultures in the target language.
There will be a discussion of a sub-theme based on a stimulus card. Again, you will have no access to a dictionary during the assessment.
During your two years in the sixth form, you will have the opportunity to have weekly lessons with a native speaker.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON SPECIFICATIONS
If you follow the links below you will find more information about the course and links to specimen examination papers and listening material for the moment, which we recommend you investigate.
For French go to http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/ languages/as-and-a-level/french-7652 For German go to http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/ languages/as-and-a-level/german-7662 For Spanish go to http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/ languages/as-and-a-level/spanish-7692
Approved material can also be accessed on the main AQA A Level languages page:
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-alevel
WHAT COULD I GO ON TO DO AT THE END OF MY COURSE?
You could rest on your laurels: an A Level is a qualification in its own right and will, in any event, enhance your prospects of employment even if you do not pursue your study of the language after leaving school. Whether you choose to work in Britain or abroad, the additional qualification of a language could be significant in any occupation.
The skills you learn in a language are transferable regardless of the job you do. In a language you are learning to communicate, to analyse language, to translate, to listen and summarise, to read and summarise. In fact, Language graduates have a very high rate of employability post-degree.
You could choose to make a language part of your degree course. You might wish to continue one which you have studied to A Level, or to start one or more from scratch. You can combine two or more languages in a degree course, or a language (or languages) with almost any other subject, with a view to being qualified in, for example, law or business studies, or marketing or engineering and being capable of working in that field in a foreign country, or for a foreign company. Alternatively, you could choose to specialise in a language or languages, and follow one of the several distinct types of language degree courses. These range from mainly literary courses, to courses where the emphasis is on the practical use of the language. Students of modern foreign languages are well placed to qualify for sponsorship at university. There has never been a better time to get ahead in the jobs market than by learning a language or two at A Level.
Amongst the potential jobs you could do are: diplomat, journalist, translator, interpreter, teacher, international aid / development worker, logistics and distribution manager, marketing executive, sales executive, tour manager, broadcast journalist, detective.
