Living French offers professional language tuition and classes with a native French speaker. Based in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom.
Living French offers professional language tuition and classes with a native French speaker. Based in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom.
GCSE French covers the four disciplines of listening, reading, writing and speaking. You need to show proficiency in each area to do well. Within that framework, there are two tiers - the Foundation Tier (grades 1–5) and the Higher Tier (grades 4–9). Once you’ve decided on the tier you’re going to follow, you must take all four question papers at the same level, in the same series.
Each of the different exam boards can vary slightly and I have worked with AQA and Eduqas.
The listening exam assesses how well you understand and respond to spoken French in different situations. It’s worth 25% of your overall grade.
The reading paper is a written exam designed to test your ability to understand and respond to different types of language.
The GCSE French written exam assesses how well you can communicate in writing for different purposes.
The speaking exam usually takes place with your French teacher rather than in an examination hall.
During the preparation exam, I will focuse on the four skills you need for the test but adapting the lessons according to your needs. Students usually find speaking the hardest as they haven't got enough time in class to practice. On a one to one lesson, they will have the chance to speak and build up their confidence in communicating.
I normally follow the topics the students are covering in class to reinforce what their teacher has been doing so there's a continuity in the curriculum. I will also "fill the gaps" in their knowledge, extend their vocabulary and reinforce grammar points they're unsure of.
Throughout the lessons, I will use past papers so the students familiarise themselves with the different tasks of the exam.
The A-level specification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at GCSE. It focuses on language, culture and society. The content is suitable for students who wish to progress to employment or further study, including a modern languages degree.
Having taught A Level student for a long time, I am familiar with the exam content and requirements. The book and film studied in class can vary from one exam board to another but over the years I got to know them well.
Students seeking help for the preparation of French A level have a different range of needs. Some might want to focus specifically on the speaking tasks others would like to improve their translation techniques or boost their understanding of a variety of reading comprehension texts. I will adapt according to the student.
First I will assess their requests and tailor the lessons accordingly. I use a wide range of resources like the AQA revision books and the most current past papers.
Some students like to reinforce what they have been doing in class so for example I could use the school booklet given by their teacher for the speaking task.
1. Social issues and trends
2. Political and artistic culture
3. Grammar
4. Works: Literary texts and films
Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing
Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends
Aspects of French-speaking society: current issues
Artistic culture in the French-speaking world
Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world
Grammar
Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
100 marks
50% of A-level
Listening and responding to spoken passages from a range of contexts and sources covering different registers and adapted as necessary. Material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail. Studio recordings will be used and students will have individual control of the recording.
All questions are in French, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in French (30 marks)
Reading and responding to a variety of texts written for different purposes, drawn from a range of authentic sources and adapted as necessary. Material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail.
All questions are in French, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in French (50 marks)
Translation into English; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks)
Translation into French; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks).
No access to a dictionary during the assessment.
Paper 2: Writing
One text and one film or two texts from the list set in the specification
Grammar
Written exam: 2 hours
80 marks in total
20% of A-level
Either one question in French on a set text from a choice of two questions and one question in French on a set film from a choice of two questions or two questions in French on set texts from a choice of two questions on each text.
All questions will require a critical appreciation of the concepts and issues covered in the work and a critical and analytical response to features such as the form and the technique of presentation, as appropriate to the work studied (eg the effect of narrative voice in a prose text or camera work in a film).
No access to texts or films during the assessment.
No access to a dictionary during the assessment.
Students are advised to write approximately 300 words per essay.
Paper 3: Speaking
Individual research project
One of four themes (Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends, Aspects of French-speaking society: current issues, Artistic culture in the French-speaking world, Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world)
Oral exam: 21–23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time)
60 marks in total
30% of A-level
Discussion of a sub-theme with the discussion based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). The student studies the card for 5 minutes at the start of the test (25 marks).
Presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9–10 minutes) of individual research project (35 marks).
No access to a dictionary during the assessment (including 5 minutes preparation).
Students may take the assessment only once before certification.
Assessments will be conducted by either the centre or a visiting examiner and marked by an AQA examiner.
Exam boards can vary slightly and I have worked with AQA and Eduqas.