GCSE Modern Languages is a highly important and useful academic subject that will help you to understand how languages work and appreciate different aspects of French and Spanish speaking cultures. You will develop the ability to use languages effectively using a variety of skills. The languages available for study are French and Spanish.

AQA The four skills of Speaking , Writing, Reading and Listening all account for 25% of the final grade. This course is linear, meaning all exams will be taken at the end of the course, there are no Controlled Assessments. Pupils can take either the Foundation or the Higher tier.

The themes studied at GCSE are: family, technology, free time, festivals, home life, social and global issues, travel and tourism, school and work. Pupils who choose to do Modern Languages will have enjoyed their language learning at KS3 and will have achieved their full potential in Year 9. They will have fully developed their reading and listening comprehension skills and will be enthusiastic and willing to participate fully in the lessons. Pupils will have developed their writing skills, knowledge of grammar, accuracy and overall literacy. They will also have developed their confidence through oral and group work and will be willing to participate in class. Pupils who study languages should have a thirst for learning a challenging subject, possibly with an interest in travelling, working or studying abroad in the future.

Groups are small so there is a huge emphasis on interactive learning and personalised study. We study the AQA syllabus and have a 100% pass rate at A level. Our pupils have the chance to take part in trips and university study days. Pupils who have an A level in Modern Languages can then study at degree level which involves a year studying or working abroad. Our pupils who have studied Modern Languages, have found a wide variety of jobs in areas such as travel and tourism, teaching, translating and interpreting, hospitality and catering, international commerce, secretarial work, journalism and international law. The careers this subject could lead you to is :

• Academic Researcher
• Broadcast Journalist
• Detective
• Diplomatic Service Officer
• English as a Foreign Language Teacher
• International Aid/Development Worker
• Political Risk Analyst
• Private Tutor
• Sales Executive

From a Student Perspective It is really good to learn a language and the general experience you get out of it. It’s beneficial because there are a wide variety of jobs you can do. Also, you may be able to get into a better university with a bilingual skill. The lessons are fun. The teacher gives you lots of feedback so you know how to improve. The teachers help you a lot because you are in a small group and you get a lot of attention. It’s really good to learn a language and about France. Also, we prepare well for the tests, the resources are really helpful and the website is very accessible. I like going to the French Assistant because she helps with our pronunciation and we get the feel of a French person’s way of life. - Year 11 Student