GCSE Options -Subjects - Modern Foreign Languages

2008

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Will I enjoy the course?
What about exams?
What do I do next with a GCSE in Modern Languages?
Topic Areas
Did You Know?

What are Modern Foreign Languages GCSEs all about?

● Thanks to new technology and improved travel and communications, the world has become a much smaller place. It is crucial, therefore, that we learn to speak and understand each other. This can only be done effectively by learning other languages and appreciating other cultures.

● A GCSE in another language rewards practical communication skills and adds a

European and international dimension to your studies.

● Learning another language can enhance your employment and mobility prospects whether you want a career in business, engineering, fashion or world class football!

● It encourages you to express yourself and develops self confidence.

● This is a multi-skilled GCSE (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and each skill represents 25% of the total marks. It is not just writing.

Will I enjoy the course?

You will enjoy this course if you want to study a subject that offers:

● A range of skills and variety of activities with topics that include youth culture, education, health and entertainment.

● A personalised, student-centred approach to study. In consultations with your teacher, you will choose one of the assessed speaking topics and, for the written coursework, you can choose assignments that reflect your interests.

● Linking work to ICT (surfing the net, sending e-mails, using multi-media) and other applications is encouraged.

It will appeal to all types of students including those who are interested in travel, culture and people from different countries, as well as those who always have something to say!

You have developed important language skills in KS3 and the GCSE course will build on these and introduce you to a wider range of language structures and vocabulary. You will learn to apply your new knowledge to different contexts.

What about exams?

You will take papers in each skill. This includes a speaking test that your teacher will carry out with you.

The written coursework will involve undertaking 3 units which feature different topic areas. It offers you the opportunity to submit your best and most interesting pieces of work and rewards you for your progress made throughout KS4.

What do I do next with a GCSE in Modern Languages?

This GCSE offers a progression route to further study of a modern language at AS and A2 levels, as an option within Vocational A Levels, BTEC first or National Awards. A GCSE confirms your ability to learn a foreign language and helps with the learning of other languages.

Employers are always asking for candidates with language skills and a GCSE in a Modern Foreign Language will place you in a strong position for an interesting job with plenty of career opportunities. Examples of employment where language skills are particularly valued include journalism and media, law, engineering, business and marketing, ICT, sport and leisure, travel and tourism, customer service, civil service (immigration, customs and excise) and teaching (UK and abroad).

GCSE Options -Subjects

2008

Topic Areas

● At Home and Abroad
● Education, training and employment
● House, home and daily routine
● Media, entertainment and youth culture
● Social activities, fitness and health

The four skills cover all the topic areas.

The course work consists of 3 pieces, each about 200 words long, in which you demonstrate your knowledge of structure and vocabulary across a wide range.

A lot of time in class will be dedicated to speaking, improving your confidence and pronunciation. You will also be given time in very small groups with our MFL assistants throughout Years 10 and 11.

The reading and listening skills will be developed in class but also at home through the use of a variety of resources: i.e. self study CD, internet sites and other authentic material.

Did You Know?

94% of the world's population does not speak English as their mother tongue.
75% of the world's population does not speak English at all.72% of UK international trade is with non-English speaking countries

French is spoken by more than 77 million people as a mother tongue, and by over 128 million including second language speakers. It is an official administrative language in various communities and organisations (such as the European Union, the IOC and the United Nations) French is also an official language in many parts of Africa, as well as Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

German is the language with the most native speakers in the European Union. It is primarily spoken in Germany, Austria, Lichtenstein, the major part of Switzerland, Luxembourg, the East Cantons of Belgium, parts of Romania, Alsace and Lorraine in France. Additionally, several former colonial possessions of these countries such as Namibia, have sizeable German speaking populations, and there are German-speaking minorities in several eastern European countries including Russia, Hungary and Slovenia.

Be a citizen of the world and open your mind to other languages and cultures!