Languages

Curriculum Leader: Samantha Brenchley

Examination: IGCSE Edexcel, French 4FR1, Spanish 4SP1

Course content falls into the following five broad topic areas, which provide a framework for vocabulary acquisition and learning about related grammatical structures:
A. Everyday activities
B. Personal and social life
C. The world around us
D. The world of work
E. The international world 

Exploring these topics enables students to gain an insight into communities where Spanish, French or Arabic is spoken, while developing a wide range of foreign language skills. Candidates will learn how to read and understand a variety of written and spoken texts on familiar topics. They will also develop an ability to select and extract relevant details, and deduce the meaning of occasional unknown words from context. Students will have opportunities to write in Spanish, French or Arabic about everyday topics, and to speak the language they are learning through taking part in conversations about the same themes.

This syllabus is designed for students who are learning Spanish, French or Arabic as a foreign language, and who aim to use the language practically for effective communication. The course is based on the linked language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, which are built up as students progress through the curriculum and learn increasingly effective ways to express themselves in a foreign language. Topics studied  aim to illustrate the culture of countries where Spanish, French or Arabic is spoken, thus encouraging positive attitudes towards language learning and additional cultural awareness around people who speak other languages.

We aim to enable students to: 

• develop their language proficiency to communicate effectively in Spanish, French or Arabic at Level A2 (CEFR Basic User), with elements of Level B1 (CEFR Independent User) 

• offer insights into the culture and society of communities where Spanish, French or Arabic  is spoken 

• develop awareness of language learning, and thus encouraging positive attitudes towards speakers of other languages and a sympathetic approach to other cultures 

• provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation 

• develop transferable skills (e.g. memorising, drawing inferences) to complement other areas of the curriculum 

• form a sound base of the skills, language and attitudes required for progression to work or further study.

How will students be assessed?

All candidates are eligible for grades 1-9. All candidates take the following four examination papers: 

Paper 1 Listening 25%
30 minutes 

Candidates listen to a number of recordings and answer multiple-choice and matching questions.
Externally assessed 

Paper 2 Reading & Writing 25%
1 hour 45

Candidates read a number of texts and answer multiple-choice and matching questions as well as questions requiring short answers for the writing component. Externally assessed 

Paper 3 Speaking 25%
Approx. 10 minutes

Candidates discuss a pre-selected photo stimulus and hold conversations on two previously studied topics. Externally assessed 

Future careers

Foreign language knowledge, concepts and related soft skills open doors to a variety of future prospects and are highly valued in university applications.