French A Level

Course Highlights
The Individual Research Project in which students get the opportunity to choose an area of focus based on their own personal interests. For example, the history and role of rugby in France, the emancipation of women or the contribution of Francis Cabrel to modern French popular music.

Other subjects that work well with this course are:

• Spanish
• English Literature
• History
• Geography
• Sociology
• Psychology

Why study French A Level?
Spoken by more than 220 million people around the world, French is a key language for both travel and business. French A level offers avid linguists the opportunity to develop their interest and enthusiasm for language learning. You will learn using a variety of methods including group work, role-plays, debates, interactive listening activities and independent work. Students will also be able to access virtual learning resources and the Internet both at home and in our language laboratory to extend and support their learning.

Course overview

• Students will learn how to express themselves clearly, confidently and accurately in French for a range of different purposes and on numerous different topics relating to French speaking countries.
• All topics covered centre on the French-speaking world, from contemporary francophone music and cinema, the positive features of a diverse society and immigration to the changing nature of family and cyber-society.
• One aspect of the course students most enjoy is watching French films to deepen their knowledge of French social issues. The opportunity to study French literature is also popular with many students.
• Across the 2 years students will refine their abilities in listening, reading, speaking and writing in French.

Year 12 & 13 French 

• Aspects of French-speaking society: Current trends
• Artistic culture in the French-speaking world
• Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world
• Aspects of French-speaking society: Current issues
• Individual research project.

Students studying French will:

• Have a chance to discover more about France and its culture; including history and politics enabling students to understand the impact of events on today’s society.
• Explore current issues highlighted in the media and national and regional cultural heritage.
• Investigate different aspects of multiculturalism in the French-speaking world and develop your own identity as a global citizen.
• Apply knowledge to communicate with some of the many overseas students that we have at Ferndown Upper School.

Progression routes and future careers

• French students will develop excellent communication skills which will serve them well in the world of work and when travelling for pleasure.
• Studying French may open doors to careers in business, law, education and politics.
• Many of our students have gone on to read French at University or to study joint honours degrees with Law, Business and other languages.

Facilities and equipment

The department boasts a computer room where students can access a wide range of online programmes and resources to develop their linguistic skills and listen independently to sound files and watch video clips.

A level students have access to Kerboodle (for Spanish) and Dynamic Learning (for French) which is an interactive research with a wealth of material to practise all skill areas.

We have an extensive library of films in Spanish and French for students to borrow to enrich their learning.