French
French Exchange: 2008
Key Stage 3
There is a variety of courses followed for French in Year 9: the new Clic!3 Star and Plus for the top groups, Equipe 3 for the middle ability and French Plus for the lower ability groups. We also make extensive use of ICT resources such as Task Magic, Fun with Texts, and Boardworks, as well as the course-based computer material that accompanies the Clic! Course. Students have at least one lesson in the computer language lab every fortnight.
Key Stage 4
There are both higher and foundation sets for GCSE; the course is based on Equipe 4 and the new Equipe Dynamique. There is again extensive ICT support, with the course-based software as well as Boardworks, Fun with Texts and the excellent GCSE websites such as languagesonline and linguastars. All students have at least one lesson per fortnight in the computer languages lab, which is particularly helpful for listening and speaking practice, with the capacity to record and re-record their own work and compare it with the authentic model.
Key Stage 5
Students follow the WJEC GCE course, with its emphasis on language and youth-related topics. They are expected to have a thorough and in-depth knowledge of the French grammar rules and to apply them to practical skills such as spoken presentations, written summaries and short dictations. The course we follow is based on élan but is substantially supported by current and authentic material from, for example, the internet, French media and original films and literature. At A2 there is a choice of film and literature for students to personalise their studies to suit their interests. Our results are consistently above average and many of our A Level linguists continue to university, including Oxbridge, to study languages alone or combined with other subjects; there is a wide variety of courses available offering almost any combination of subjects.
The French Exchange has been going for many years: we have a link with the Collège Saint Stanislas in Saint Renan for years 8 - 10 and have recently started a Sixth Form exchange, involving work experience placements, with the Lycée Charles Foucauld in Brest. The Brittany countryside is very similar to our own region and students enjoy living with a host family, as well as visiting towns, theme parks and pancake factories, amongst other things!