GCSE French Course
Exam Board and Specification Code:Edexcel (4FR1)
The Course
You may think that languages aren’t really relevant to today’s modern world; everyone speaks English, right? Wrong. We live in a multilingual global society and languages are all around us in London; they are used in so many situations whether at work, on holiday or just casually in day-to-day life. By learning a foreign language, you give yourself the chance to see the world in a different way. By taking a French course, students will not only appreciate the nature and diversity of different French speaking cultures and people, but also acquire knowledge, skills and understanding for practical use, further study and employment, as there is always a
demand for people who can speak more than one language across a very wide range of careers.
The IGCSE French course at David Game College allows students to develop their ability to communicate with French native speakers in both speech and writing. They will study topics relevant to their age and interests and will develop a greater awareness of French culture. Students will learn to:
• develop their ability to communicate with native speakers in speech and writing, conveying what they want to say with increasing accuracy
• express thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently
• listen to and understand clearly articulated, standard speech at near normal speed
• deepen their knowledge about how language works and enrich their vocabulary
• acquire new knowledge, skills and ways of thinking
• develop awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where French is spoken
• become better language learners, preparing themselves for further language study and use in school, higher education or employment
In this course, you will develop your knowledge of the French language and culture through studying five different areas: (i) home and abroad; (ii) education and employment; (iii) house, home and daily routines; (iv) the modern world and the environment; and (v) social activities, fitness and health.
What skills do I need?
You need an interest in languages and the culture of another country and its people, and existing knowledge and understanding of French vocabulary and grammar.
How is the course assessed?
The Edexcel IGCSE in French consists of three papers.
Paper 1: Listening and understanding in French
45 minutes (40 minutes Listening + 5 minutes reading time) 25% of the total marks.
In Paper 1 (Listening), you will be required to listen to a range of factual and non-factual material in different contexts and in different registers. You will be assessed on your ability to identify and note main points, to deduce the meaning of words from context, to extract specific details, to identify points of view, to show some understanding of unfamiliar language, and to recognise attitudes, emotions and opinions.
Paper 2: Reading and Writing
1 hour 45 minutes , 50% of the total marks.
You will be tested on your ability to understand and use information from a range of texts. In the first extended writing task you will be required to write about 50 words in French. The response will be assessed for communication, content knowledge and application of language. For the second piece of extended writing, you will select one writing task from a choice of three. You will be expected to write a continuous response of about 150 words and you will be expected to express opinions and to use a variety of structures, including a range of tenses.
Paper 3: Speaking
10 minutes; 25% of the total marks
In Unit 3 (Speaking), you have two tasks. In Section A, you will answer 5 questions about a picture you have chosen, for up to 3 minutes. In Section B, you will be required to take part in two conversations with the interviewer on two separate topic areas (7 minutes). These topic areas will be chosen by the interviewer and will be different from the topic area for Section A.
Reading
Edexcel International GCSE French Student Book Second Edition (Edexcel Student Books) Jayn Witt, Jean-Claude Gilles, Kirsty Thathapudi (Hodder Education, ISBN: 9781510403284)
Edexcel International GCSE French Grammar Workbook: by Kirsty Thathapudi and Paul Shannon
(Hodder Education: ISBN-13 978-1510467460)
