Introduction
XIC French students are encouraged from the very start to immerse themselves in the language to build their confidence and fluency. The subject is taught by a native French speaker who brings great expertise, passion for his language and an excellent range of original learning resources are tailored toward students’ needs and interests to help them explore the major themes of the course. Building on the language skills from KS3, you will learn how to develop the level of your language and become a more confident speaker and language user. You will also learn much more about the culture and history of France.
Language GCSE qualifications, like French, are incredibly valuable. Holding such a certificate demonstrates a high level of perseverance and willingness to learn a new skill to employers, as well as being a rewarding skill which you can make use of throughout your life.
Whatever stage you’re currently at in your learning of the French language whether you’re still working on building your vocabulary or have mastered the grammar rules, getting to grips with the GCSE French syllabus and finding out ways to make your learning and revision more effective will not only set you up for academic success but ensure that you are able to confidently use your new language skills in the real world.
Teaching
Regular class activities include; working with a partner or in a small group on speaking tasks; listening to a range of French, for both gist and detail; reading a range of different types of texts; discovering more about French-speaking people, how they live and about their interests and concerns, practising expressing your own ideas and opinions using French.
The two-year IGCSE course aims to build on the basic skills in French which students have acquired in Key Stage 3. The programme of study sets out to follow the National Curriculum Key Stage Four of the IGCSE course. The course book used is TRICOLORE “digital book” supported by worksheets.
Assessment comprises three single-tier papers, Paper 1 is the Listening assessment and Paper 2 is the Reading, Writing one. Paper 3 is the Speaking component each accounting for respectively 25%, 50% and 25% of the full IGCSE.
The five topic areas at IGCSE include:
- Home and Abroad
- Education and Employment
- House, Home and Daily Routine
- The Modern World and the Environment
- Social Activities, Fitness and Health
Why study French at XIC ?
French is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, spoken in over 40 countries around the world and one of the official languages of international institutions such as the UN. As such it is a key language in international relations and trade. France itself is also historically one of the most important countries in Europe, and its language, culture and society has influenced the development of other societies around the world.
Learning a language develops your communication skills, vital for success in the world of work and gives you a broader outlook on life. Having a GCSE in French is also increasingly seen as an important entry qualification for university.