In a changing world, studying a foreign language opens many doors, both culturally and in the world of work. Employers are desperate for students with language qualifications. Britain has been renowned for not being a nation of linguists - you can change that by studying French, Spanish or German to AS level.

AS-Level

In French, Spanish or German you will study different sources - films, short stories, newspaper articles, plays, poetry - on a range of different topics including the following:

1 Day to day matters

• food, diet, health

• travel and tourism

• current affairs and the media

2 Society

• relationships, family, different generations, youth concerns

3 The Working World

• education business and industry information technology

The aim of AS level in French, Spanish or German is to enable you to communicate confidently, clearly, effectively and accurately. Lessons will be orally based and lively! You will gain an insight into the contemporary society, as well as learning about the cultural background of the community whose language is being studied. You will have the opportunity to take part in an exchange or a work experience visit to France, Spain or Germany.

You will also have the opportunity to work with a native speaker of the language you are studying by attending conversation classes with our foreign language assistants.

AS Units are as follows:

Unit 1  Listening and Writing
Unit 2  Reading and Writing
Unit 3  Oral Topic

You will build on all work completed in Year 12 and will study two additional topics:

4 The Environment and Citizenship

• energy, pollution and the environment

• politics and citizenship

• campaigning organisations and charities

5 The International Context

• customs, traditions, beliefs, religions

• the European Union

• worldwide problems.

You will undertake an intensive study of a French, German or Spanish author or filmmaker and a topic area in order to complete two pieces of coursework.
Films and texts studied include:

Les 400 Coups, Le Dernier Metro - Francois Truffaut, Les mains Sales, Huis Clos - Jean-Paul Sartre, Lola rennt - Tom Tykwer, Mutter Courage, Dreigroschenoper - Bertold Brecht, Como agua para chocolate - Laura Esquivel, El cine de Carlos Saura.

Your language skills will be developed further and you will learn to operate on a variety of different registers.

A-Level

In addition to the three AS modules you will study for

Unit 4  Oral discussion of  a controversial topic with reference to the target language country. E.g. euthanasia, abortion
Unit 5 Topics and texts - films/books/coursework

Unit 6 Listening and Writing Reading and Writing Writing in registers

Specification

Edexcel