French OR GERMAN
Have a look through the Google slides on the right about why you should study French or German and watch the short videos underneath about the benefits of studying languages. If you have any questions about GCSE French or German, please speak to your teacher or see Mrs Bell.
Official Course Title: GCSE French or GCSE German
Exam Board: Edexcel or AQA
Further details can be obtained from: Mrs Z Bell; zoe.bell@hdhs.school
Aims and Content of the Course
GCSE French or German
Exam board: AQA or Edexcel
Aims and content of the course
GCSE French or German provide academic qualifications intended to develop your ability to communicate with native speakers in both speech and writing. Studying French or German broadens your horizons, encourages you to step beyond familiar situations and develop new ways of seeing the world. It also broadens cultural knowledge of France or Germany and French/German speaking countries and communities. You will learn skills for immediate use and also skills to prepare you for further language study in higher education or employment.
There is a new GCSE course being introduced from 2024. Year 8 will be the first year to study this new course in French or German (dependent on current language of study), with the first GCSE exams taking place in 2026.
This is what we know about the Edexcel course so far:
It reflects and represents diverse student experiences with relatable, real-world content
It assesses all students in a clear, straightforward and accessible way, focusing on their learned language skills
It provides a qualification structure that teachers have helped develop and prefer to use
It includes thematic context that brings language learning to life.
What topics will I study?
You will study both familiar and new topics, known as Thematic contexts:
My personal world
Lifestyle and wellbeing
My neighbourhood
Media and technology
Studying and my future
Travel and tourism
Assessment and Examinations
How will I be assessed?
All assessments will take place at the end of year 11 and you will be graded between 9 and 1.
AO1 Understand and respond to spoken language in speaking and in writing 35% (Listening and Speaking)
AO2 Understand and respond to written language in speaking and in writing 45% (Read aloud conversation, Reading and Writing)
AO3 Demonstrate knowledge and accurate application of the grammar and vocabulary prescribed in the specification 20% (Read aloud, Dictation, Speaking and Writing)
Qualification at a glance
Speaking: 50 marks, 25%, 15 minutes prep time
FT: 7-9 mins HT: 10-12 mins
Read aloud, Role play, Picture task and conversation
Listening: 50 marks, 25%
FT: 45 mins
HT: 60 mins
5 mins reading time included, Listening, Dictation
Reading: 50 marks, 25%
FT: 45 mins HT: 60 mins
Reading
Translation into English
Writing: 50 marks, 25%
FT: 1 hour 15 mins
HT: 1 hour 20 mins
Picture task (FT), Two writing responses (FT and HT)
Translation into French
Further Progression
There are many key skills that employers look for and these are all skills that can be developed through learning French or German! Examples of these are: communication skills, team working skills, interpersonal skills, presentation skills, problem solving skills, organisational skills and good learning strategies, amongst others. Many employers look for school leavers with language skills and some university places require a language GCSE.
French or German GCSE could open many career paths for you. Here are some examples of jobs and industries in which you could use your language skills:
Game translator
Technology
Travel and tourism
Banking
Fashion
Charity administration
HR
Journalism
Teaching
Marketing
Sales
IT
Administrative roles.
An article about what happens to the brain when you learn a language.