Languages

Head of Department: Mrs A. Coates

Content:

The course content covers the five "contexts" of the National Curriculum. They are:

•  Everyday activities
•  Personal and Social Life
• The World around us
• The World of Work
• The International World

During the course pupils develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Homework activities / revision advice:

Two homeworks a week are set. These may cover any of the skill areas and will include vocabulary learning.

Constant re-reading of vocabulary lists and grammar rules is essential. It cannot be left until the last minute. Candidates have general oral questions and a topic to prepare for the speaking exam. This all needs time set aside on a regular basis. "Little and often" is the key phrase.

Assessed coursework:

The writing exam has been replaced by coursework. Three pieces of work must be sent to the exam board. One of these must be done under controlled conditions. Each piece must be on a different area of experience.

Examination entry requirements:

Candidates are entered for speaking, reading and listening examinations at foundation or higher level. It is not necessary to enter all skills at the same level: i.e. foundation and higher can be mixed. Coursework must be handed in at the end of the Spring Term of Year 11. First drafts need to be seen before this for teacher comments.

Teacher expectations:

We expect commitment to learning and an acceptance of the pupil's responsibility in this regard. Pupils must try hard to understand instructions and questions in the French/German language, using common sense and previous knowledge to work out meanings. They must not expect to be "spoon-fed" all the time. It is school policy that every pupil should leave with a qualification in French or German.

Parental contribution:

Candidates make extensive use of dictionaries throughout the course. It is very beneficial for them to have their own, as they are then familiar with the layout and can find words more easily. Parents could help by providing a dictionary – if possible a fairly large one, with lots of examples of usage.

Useful resources and equipment:

Any materials in French/German are useful, e.g. magazines, newspapers, TV programmes, audiocassettes. Pupils should keep their eyes and ears open for anything produced in the foreign language. It all helps build knowledge and confidence.