Understanding Language
This is about your ability to READ AND LISTEN to written and spoken French.
Using Language
This is about your ability to TALK and WRITE in French.
Specialist Study
This is about your ability to plan and research an independent specialist study, based on literature or language in work by:
1.1 Identifying an appropriate focus and creating a study plan
1.2 Selecting and analysing evidence
You will be required to provide evidence of your planning, research and analytical skills by:
• planning and researching their specialist study
• presenting their initial findings
All of the assessments for these Units will be carried out and marked by your teacher and may also be checked by someone from outside the school. Your teacher will build up a bank of EVIDENCE to show that you have passed the units.
Course Assessment Structure
Component 1: Question Paper 1: Reading and Translation
This question paper will have 50 marks (25% of the total mark).
This question paper has 2 Sections.
Section one, titled ‘Reading’, will have 30 marks.
You will read a text in French. You will respond to questions in English by using English (30 marks).
Section two, titled ‘Translation’, will have 20 marks. You will do a translation of an underlined section (20 marks). You may use a dictionary and glossary (if appropriate).
Component 2: Question Paper 2: Listening & Writing
This question paper will have 70 marks (35% of the total mark).
This question paper has two Sections.
Section one, titled ‘Listening’, will have 30 marks.
You will listen to one monologue (10 marks) and one conversation (20 marks) in French. You will answer questions in English and respond in English.
Section two, titled ‘Discursive Writing’, will have 40 marks.
You will be given a choice of 4 statements. You will produce one discursive essay in response to one of the statements. You may use a dictionary.
Write around 250-300 words.
Component 3: Performance: Talking
The performance will have 50 marks (25% of the total mark).
You will have a discussion in French. You will take part in a natural, spontaneous conversation with a Visiting Assessor in French. The discussion will be related to at least one of the following contexts: society, learning, employability, and culture and your specialist study of literature, media or language in work.
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You will provide details of the themes and topics studied and the focus of your specialist study in advance.
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You will be allowed brief notes (bullet points/prompt words)
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The main aspects of the performance should be: content, accuracy, language resource, interaction
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The discussion will last around 20 minutes.
Component 4: Portfolio
The portfolio will have 30 marks (15% of the total mark).
Candidates will write one text in English of 1300-1500 words in length on either of the following:
• literary and/or media texts in French
or
• work-related written or media texts in French
Your portfolio must show evidence of analytic reading, wide research, and should be a critical appraisal of the texts that you have chosen. Your portfolio is NOT a piece of descriptive writing, so please take care not to treat it as an extended book review. We will work on skills to complete the portfolio that will form a good foundation for university study. Please note that class time will not be dedicated to the portfolio per se. This is an independent piece of research.
So what can you do to help yourself in this course, in addition to doing the work set by your teacher?
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Scholar – an online resource run by Heriot-Watt University to support your learning. There are Reading, Listening, Writing and Grammar exercises available for all contexts.
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Learn vocabulary related to the themes and topics on a regular basis
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Use online resources and activities – eg www.languagesonline.org.uk, BBC Languages, BBC Classclips, youtube
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Read as much in the foreign language as you can
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Persuade your parents to take a trip abroad!
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Go to a library (research)