GCSE
GCSE Specification and Curriculum Overview
The Modern Languages department offers GCSE courses in French, German and Spanish, and students may opt to study one or more languages. We would like to encourage all students achieving good results at KS3 to consider how beneficial it will be for them to continue with two languages. The department has a history of very good GCSE results: 65-70% of grades are consistently at 7-9.
The MFL GCSE is based around familiar, culturally relevant and engaging topics linked to the following contexts:
identity and culture - including family, relationships, technology, leisure activities and important cultural traditions in countries speaking the target language
local, national, international and global areas of interest - including local area, social issues, charity work, healthy living, environment, poverty and homelessness, travel and tourism
current and future study and employment - including one’s own studies, life and school and college, education post-16, and jobs, career choices and ambitions.
Students are externally assessed at the end of the course in examinations in all four skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing. Each skill carries 25% of the marks. Translation to and from the target language is also assessed in the new qualification, and short (suitably adapted) literary passages from authentic target language texts are included in reading comprehension.
In Year 9 our pupils will develop and consolidate core competences in grammatical knowledge, translation to and from the target language, given the increased focus on this skill in the new GCSE. They will also develop their speaking skills so that they can respond spontaneously in everyday situations - a highly relevant skill for their future as well as for the requirements of the new oral examinations. Year 9 also gives a valuable opportunity to develop the required extensive cultural component to embrace geography, history, customs and traditions. A very good GCSE language qualification is highly regarded by many universities and employers. There are many opportunities for studying a language at university, either on its own or as a complement to virtually any other subject. Universities recognise that communication skills in a foreign language are a huge asset for a large number of careers, including journalism, politics, law, science, engineering, business and the tourism industry.
Time, Equipment and Expenses
Students will find it extremely rewarding to take part in the highly recommended exchanges which the department organises to France, Germany and Spain. They will become more confident speakers of the language and will significantly improve their comprehension skills and their awareness of another culture.
These trips take place for one week during school time, include residence with a host family, activities in the foreign school as well as visits to places of cultural interest. The cost of these exchanges ranges from £500-£550.
All pupils will be set 2 homework tasks per week. Each will be up to 45 minutes, comprising a range of activities from core vocabulary learning, grammar consolidation, reading and listening comprehension, cultural research and speaking and writing tasks.
For more information please speak to Mrs Colville, Head of MFL