GCSE French and GCSE Spanish

Acting Subject Leader - Miss Parkinson

Why study a language?

The knowledge of another modern language develops our ability to communicate with others with confidence and provides us with an understanding of other people and cultures. Languages play an essential role in our globalised future. A modern language is a compulsory subject in Year 10, with students continuing with the language they have studied since Year 7.

Learning a foreign language can expand the horizons of young people and a foreign language skills provides a competitive advantage both for businesses and job seekers—if they form part of a broader set of useful skills. 61% of hiring managers say that knowing at least two languages is increasingly important in today's working world. In fact around one fifth to a quarter of jobs require an advanced level of foreign language skills and one third of employers have had difficulties filling positions as a result of applicants with insufficient foreign language competences. 

What does a GCSE in French or Spanish involve?

We follow the AQA GCSE specification in French and Spanish. The two-year course concentrates on developing the four skills involved in the learning of a language: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.

Which exams will I have to sit?

The MFL GCSE is now linear and will be assessed through exams taken at the end of Year 11 . It will be graded 9-1.

• Listening – 25%

• Speaking – 25%

• Reading – 25%

• Writing – 25%     

Which topics will I study?

The course is divided into three themes:

1. Identity and culture

2. Local, national, international and global areas of interest

3. Current and future study and employment

Which future careers are open to me?

Success in a language is viewed with great respect by universities and future employers as it demonstrates higher-order skills. Speaking another language has been proven to increase the number of synapses in your brain and improve your memory, as has been in the media recently.

A language GCSE prepares you to take your place as a citizen of the multicultural and global society that we now live in. There are many future careers in which a language is essential. Indeed, most big companies nowadays have either clients or offices abroad. Speaking another language can therefore increase your earning potential as well as your opportunities to travel for work.