French
A desire to open the world to our students, to foster the skills of tolerance and inquiry as well as to embed an eagerness to be the best that they can be both linguistically and socially, underpins the intent of the Modern Foreign Language curriculum here at St. Barts.
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher
Speaking more than one language helps build a sense of global citizenship as well as opening up future employment opportunities. Research has shown that by studying a foreign language, students will enhance their grammar skills and improve their analytic and interpretive capacities in English too!
In Year 7, students at St Bart’s spend a period of eight weeks learning each of the languages we offer – French, German, and Spanish. Following this “taster” period, students select one language to study for the remainder of Year 7, and they will continue learning this chosen language into Years 8 and 9. The majority of students at St Bart’s continue studying a language up to GCSE-level. There is also the opportunity for students to study a second language at GCSE, by selecting this option in Year 9.
The MFL department offers a range of co-curricular activities, from clubs, to competitions such as our Cultural Poster Competition and the annual MFL Karaoke competition! We also run trips to France, Spain, and Germany. You can also read more about our international links here.
Examination Board: AQA
Course Description
A Level French allows students to develop both their mastery of the language and their understanding of the history and culture of the French-speaking world. Using a range of sources, lessons will consider current trends and issues in French-speaking society, looking at the changing nature of family, ‘cybersociety’, diversity, the marginalised, the place of voluntary work and the criminal system.
Students will have the opportunity to delve into Francophone artistic culture and heritage, including literature, music and cinema, and explore aspects of political life, from voting to demonstrations and strikes, and political decision-making on current topics as immigration.
Building on GCSE knowledge, students study French grammatical structures, forms and functions in greater complexity. During lessons, alongside written work, they will take part in debate, discussion and presentations to build confidence. To complement the classroom lessons and to help develop fluency, students in the Sixth Form have weekly lessons with our French assistant on a two-to-one or one-to-one basis.
Assessment
This is a linear course. This means that students opting for this subject will be committing to a two-year linear course, with all units examined at the end of year 13.
Entry Requirements
A grade 6 or higher in GCSE French is required.
Where might it lead?
A Level Modern Foreign Languages can help open doors to careers in/as:
- Academic Researcher
- Archeologist
- Art Historian
- Cabin Crew
- Diplomatic Service Officer
- English as a Foreign Language Teacher
- Intelligence Analyst
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Interpreter
- Journalist
- Logistics and Distribution Manager
- Political Risk Analyst
- Publishing Rights Manager
- Teacher
- Translator/Tutor
- Travel Consultant
- Tour Manager
- Writer
