KS4

GCSE Course Followed: French

Specification: AQA Syllabus Code 8658

Why Choose GCSE French?

If you enjoy learning about different countries and cultures, communicating with other people, finding out how language works, then studying GCSE French is an excellent choice for you! You will choose an MFL GCSE from the two languages you are currently studying – why not consider choosing two?

There are many reasons for taking this GCSE:

You will be able to share your interests, ideas and opinions with other people who speak French.
You will learn about France and get a lot more out of a trip there.

You will add an international dimension to your choice of GCSE subjects, which is something many future employers and higher education providers look for. French is one of the most sought-after foreign language for businesses in the UK and an official language of the UN, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the international Olympic committee , the International Red Cross and International courts.
You will learn many skills which are useful in a wide range of future careers, such as the ability to communicate clearly, being confident about speaking in public, critical thinking, using problem-solving strategies, etc.
If you continue with languages beyond GCSE to A Level, you will be able to combine French with many different subjects at University, e.g. Medicine, Law, Business and many more.
You will create greater opportunities for yourself to work abroad, or for companies in the UK with international links. The UK imports a lot of goods from France

What do I need to know?

You have started your GCSE course in Year 9 so you already know a lot of the vocabulary and grammar you’ll need for GCSE. You know how to talk about yourself, your family and friends, your hobbies, where you live, school, holidays, food and drink. You will build on these topics over the next two years, as well as moving on to new topics.

You are already part way there!

Four skills are tested in a formal exam at the end of Year 11. Each skill is worth 25% of your total GCSE. You will be entered for either Foundation or Higher tier. The exams are set out below:

Listening:
You will answer questions on recorded material from different topic areas. Some material will be formal (for example a telephone message) and some informal (for example a telephone conversation between friends).

Reading:
You will answer questions about short texts on different topics in various forms such as text messages, adverts, emails, blogs and letters. You will also translate a paragraph from French into English.

Speaking:
This exam will be conducted by your teacher. You will have range of activities to complete. You will take part in a role play with your teacher, you will answer questions about a photo and the related sub-topic and then have a general conversation on a topic you have previously studied.

Writing:
There are three main tasks to complete. First you will write a short response to bullet points on a certain topic. You will then show off all of your language skills in a more detailed response to bullet points and finally you will translate a short passage from English into French.

What can I do after I have completed the course?

People with language skills and knowledge are highly thought of in the modern world. They stand out as talented, confident and successful people, with broad and exciting horizons. Being able to speak more than one language has been scientifically proven to give people higher cognitive ability. Taking GCSE language(s) means you will have much more fun when travelling and be able to continue your language learning to A Level. You will add an extra dimension to your personal skills profile which will impress anyone who reads your CV and you will be in a stronger position to get a job in companies with international links or to work abroad. You will also be able to choose between many careers that you may not have previously thought of such as working as a calls interceptor for MI5, being responsible for international links in global companies or even opening new franchises in foreign countries. The options are endless!

Key Stage Four Curriculum Overview

Year 10

	NAME OF TOPIC	KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC	ASSESSMENT POINTS
Term 1	My home and local area	*Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Describing your home, your ideal home, compass points, describing the surrounding area (town and region). *Students will learn the following grammar points:* Revision of the position and agreement of adjectives, revise plural of nouns, negative phrases followed by de, partitive articles, habiter and vivre, demonstrative adjectives, prepositions, possessive pronouns, revision of comparatives and superlatives. The conditional mood. (Si + imperfect + conditional) *Students will learn the following culture:* Popular towns in France and some other key French speaking areas.	End of Unit assessments. vocabulary tests. Speaking preparation assessments
HT3	Social issues 1	*Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Describing charity work, understanding the importance of charities. *Students will learn the following grammar points:* Further use of the conditional mood, En + present past participle, vouloir que + subjunctive or full introduction to the subjunctive, using ce que.. *Students will learn the following culture:* Voluntary / charity work in France / Francophone countries	End of Unit tests vocabulary tests
HT4	Social issues 2	*Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Comparing old and new health habits. Describing health resolutions *Students will learn the following grammar points:* The imperfect tense, expressions of quantity, recognising the pluperfect tense. Il vaut, il vaudrait mieux, revision of negative constructions *Students will learn the following culture:* Attitudes toward health in France	End of Unit tests Vocabulary tests
Term 3	Environment and poverty and homelessness	*Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Environmental problems and solutions, Discussing inequality, poverty across the world. *Students will learn the following grammar points:* Si + present tense, si+ present + future, recognizing and using the imperfect tense, revision of en and y. verbs of possibility, permettre de + inifinitive. The subjunctive *Students will learn the following culture:* Attitudes in France and French speaking countries towards these issues.	Trial Exam

Year 11

	NAME OF TOPIC	KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC	ASSESSMENT POINTS
Term 1	Holidays and travel, regions of France.	*Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Talking about holiday preferences, describing a holiday in detail, talking about visiting different places in France, visiting French towns and cities. *Students will learn the following grammar points:* Sequencing words and phrases, Depuis +present tense, the pronoun y, using the perfect and imperfect tenses together, après avoir / être + past participle, venir de + infinitive, revision of the imperfect tense, using three time frames, past present and future *Students will learn the following culture:* Holiday habits of the French, holiday destinations in France and the French speaking world.	Weekly vocabulary tests End of Unit tests Speaking preparation assessments Past paper practice Trial Exams (including speaking exams)
Term 2	Post 16 choices	*Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Describing a school day, school life in different countries, talking about school life in France and different countries. School rules and the ideal school *Students will learn the following grammar points:* All revision nothing new – the perfect tense, emphatic pronouns, adverbs of time and place . The verbs pouvoir, vouloir, devoir, il faut + infinitive or subjunctive. Time phrases, the conditional mood	Weekly vocabulary tests End of Unit tests Speaking preparation assessments Past paper practice
HT 4-5		Students prepare for their GCSE French exams in the following ways: Revise every module- especially key voabulary Revisit each grammar point Past papers in class Preparation for the speaking exam Increased practice of 90 word and 150 writing tasks. Practise lots of translations into French and English	GCSE Exams

NAME OF TOPIC

KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC

ASSESSMENT POINTS

Term 1

Holidays and travel, regions of France.

Students will learn the following vocabulary:
Talking about holiday preferences, describing a holiday in detail, talking about visiting different places in France, visiting French towns and cities.

Students will learn the following grammar points:
Sequencing words and phrases, Depuis +present tense, the pronoun y, using the perfect and imperfect tenses together, après avoir / être + past participle, venir de + infinitive, revision of the imperfect tense, using three time frames, past present and future

Students will learn the following culture:
Holiday habits of the French, holiday destinations in France and the French speaking world.

Weekly vocabulary tests

End of Unit tests

Speaking preparation assessments

Past paper practice

Trial Exams (including speaking exams)

Term 2

Post 16 choices

Students will learn the following vocabulary:
Describing a school day, school life in different countries, talking about school life in France and different countries. School rules and the ideal school

Students will learn the following grammar points:
All revision nothing new – the perfect tense, emphatic pronouns, adverbs of time and place . The verbs pouvoir, vouloir, devoir, il faut + infinitive or subjunctive. Time phrases, the conditional mood

Weekly vocabulary tests

End of Unit tests

Speaking preparation assessments

Past paper practice

HT
4-5

Students prepare for their GCSE French exams in the following ways:

Revise every module- especially key voabulary
Revisit each grammar point
Past papers in class
Preparation for the speaking exam
Increased practice of 90 word and 150 writing tasks.

Practise lots of translations into French and English

GCSE Exams

Recommended Revision Guides for GCSE

Students have a published GCSE vocabulary book, which they should be using regularly to learn vocabulary.

They should also purchase “CGP: Complete Guide to GCSE AQA French For the Grade 9-1 Course” . If possible the supplementary resources such as translation practice, grammar workbooks, translation workbooks, flashcard for vocabulary and grammar / Translation and the knowledge organiser bundle. ** We will issue a letter to parents in Year 10 providing the opportunity to offer these at heavily discounted prices only available to schools.

Students have access to various websites to help with their vocabulary, reading, listening and grammar revision. All pupils have a list of useful websites and they should refer to this.

Kerboodle allows students to access the core GCSE textbook and interactive activities.

Support available for GCSE Students

For Year 11 students there are extra listening, and speaking sessions every week to enable the students to practise the skills that they need more help with. Subject teachers may also offer one-to-one sessions for GCSE students to have very focused practice with feedback.