Examination Board: Edexcel
Watch the video to the right to find out about GCSE French & Spanish!
The ability to communicate in a foreign language is a hugely desirable skill.
1. When students learn a foreign language, they learn about people. Cultural knowledge and sensitivity is vital for building personal and professional relationships.
2. Learning foreign languages is challenging! Students will use learning techniques useful for other subjects. They will use their brain power, their memory and they will need to think creatively. It will make them analyse their own language – English is much trickier than you think! They will have a wonderful sense of achievement on results day. Potential employers will be impressed at their intellectual rigour – not everyone has a GCSE in Languages.
3. MFL is a practical subject students can actually use in real context. They could try using their foreign language skills next time they have a go reading L’Equipe online (universally acknowledged – by British journalists – as the best sports newspaper in the world). Have a YouTube karaoke – did you know you could sing along to Ariana Grande in Spanish?
A desire to learn new vocabulary and a willingness to develop their communication skills in their chosen language.
GCSE Languages help students develop their language skills in a variety of contexts and a broad understanding of the culture of countries and communities where the languages are spoken. The GCSE Languages option encourages the enjoyment of language learning and the recognition that language skills enable students to take their place in a multilingual global society – the society of the future.
Students will build on the learning they have done in Key Stage 3 and further their knowledge across five themes: Identity and culture; local area, holiday and travel; school; future aspirations, study and work; international and global dimension.
Students are assessed in the four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. They will be entered for Higher or Foundation across all skills. There is no mixed modern Foreign Languages tiered entry.
Listening exam 25%: students sit the Listening paper at the end of the course.
Reading exam 25%: students sit the Reading paper at the end of the course.
Speaking exam 25%: students sit the Speaking exam at the end of the course.
Writing exam 25%: students sit a Writing exam at the end of the course.
Students can continue their studies in any of the languages at A-level (colleges usually require at least a GCSE Grade 6 in the subject). A qualification in Modern Languages is hugely beneficial for any career choice. The practical skill of communicating in a foreign language is just one of the assets. Cultural awareness of how a society operates and does business is hugely valuable in the work environment. Knowledge of foreign languages will open doors for you and can lead you to experiences and career paths that otherwise wouldn’t be available to you. The adventure starts here.