SUBJECT: MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES YEAR 10/11

Course Content/Skills

We are using the GCSE NEAB syllabus for French and German, which consists of the study of 5 areas of experience.

A. Everyday

Activities

B. Personal and

Social Life

C. The world

around us

D. The world of

work

E. International

World

School

Self, family

Home town

Further education

Tourism

Home Life

Relationships

Environment

Careers

Life in other

Food

Free time

People, places

Language in the

countries

Health and Fitness

Holidays

Customs

workplace

World events

By the end of the course students should be able to extract information from spoken and written material about each area and to communicate information in spoken and written language. The topics are studied through practice in the four language skills of listening (ATI), speaking (AT2), reading (AT3) and writing (AT4). The final examination consists of 4 papers, one in each of the skill areas. Coursework may be done instead of taking the Writing paper.

The course includes the development of vocabulary and grammatical structures. To achieve a grade C a student must be able to communicate using the past, present and future tenses. A Higher level candidate should also be able to use the imperfect and pluperfect tenses. A solid understanding of the use of adjectives, adverbs, pronouns and prepositions is also required, especially at the Higher level.

Assessment Procedures

Regular testing takes place. On an informal level this may include a short vocabulary test, a speech about a particular topic or a written test. Following the completion of a particular topic, a test may be given on all or a selection of the different Attainment Targets (Ats).

Homework

Learning a Modem Foreign Language successfully requires disciplined self-study skills. Set homework may include a reading or writing exercise, or the preparation of a piece of spoken language. The thorough learning of vocabulary and grammatical structures is essential on a regular basis for progress to be made. The students are encouraged to make notes on the questions, phrases or grammatical structures that they will need in a variety of situations. The notes should be made in French or German with the English equivalent. These should then be thoroughly leamt and committed to memory. Even if you have no previous knowledge of the language, you can help by asking your child what they have recently been learning, taking their classbook or textbook and reading out to them the English phrases while the child supplies the equivalent in French or German. You can also help them to practise by getting them to write from memory.

Marking Policy

The marking policy is in accordance with the whole school policy.

Text Books

We use the following:

* French - Avantage Rouge (Higher) or Vert (Higher/Foundation)

* German - Lempunkt Deutsch 3

All pupils must have their own bilingual dictionary; as it is now a requirement for the examination. We use the Collins Pocket Dictionary, which you can order through us for £5.99 (discount price). We also recommend the Malvern Language Guides series, £2.50 each, order forms available through us. The "Speaking Test Guide for GCSE" in French or German is particularly valuable.

CD Roms can often be expensive and are of variable quality. The following are some, which represent better value for money:

* Learning Languages with Asterix £29.95 - £40.00 approx.

* Talk Now Learn French/German £29.95

* En Route £39.95

* French/German Pronunciation Tutor £9.99 approx.

* Global French/German £50.00 approx.

The Internet is an invaluable tool for Languages learning. A variety of sites can be found through Lingu@net at http://www.ncet.org.uk/linguanet/