Modern Foreign Languages (French, Spanish, German)
Course Title Advanced GCE in French / Spanish / German
Examination Board AQA
Course Content
Candidates study the following topic areas:
1 Aspects of Spanish/French/German society
Modern and traditional values
Cyberspace
Equal rights / voluntary work / youth culture
2 Artistic culture
Music / Modern day idols
Regional identity
Cultural heritage / Cinema / Art and Architecture
3 Aspects of Spanish/French/German society
Immigration / Ethnicity
Racism
Integration / Diversity
4 Aspects of political life
Young people and politics
Monarchies and dictatorships / Re-unification
Popular movements / Demonstrations
The topics above are covered using a variety of resources, including authentic material and articles.
Literary texts and films
Additionally, at least one literary text and one film in the target language will be studied in detail, and linked where appropriate to the themes.
Literary texts used include:
Maupassant – Boule de Suif et autres contes de la guerre (French)
Friedrich Dürrenmatt Der Besuch der alten Dame (German)
Lorca La Casa de Bernarda Alba (Spanish)
Films used include:
Au revoir les enfants (French)
El laberinto del fauno (Spanish)
Good bye, Lenin! (German)
Grammar
A Level students will be expected to have studied the grammatical system and structures of the language during their course. Knowledge of the grammar and structures specified for GCSE is assumed.
Assessment
| Paper | Time | Maximum
Scaled Mark |
Weighting | Skills |
| 1 | 2 hours 30 minutes | 200 | 50% | Listening, Reading, Writing (summary and translation into target language) |
| 2 | 2 hours | 80 | 20% | Writing (2 essays on works studied) |
| 3 | 16-18 minutes
(plus 5 minutes preparation time |
120 | 30% | Speaking (Presentation and discussion of an individual research project of choice + discussion based on stimulus
card) |
Future Progression
Languages are offered at all the leading universities. Students who study MFL can do so as part of a traditional Modern Languages degree, or you can take a language combined with subjects as diverse as Chemistry, Computer Science, Law or Marketing.
Each university will have very specific entry requirements and it is worth checking these before choices are made. Career progression for Modern Languages graduates include professions such as finance, marketing, advertising, banking, teaching, translating and other industries requiring language skills and cultural awareness. A degree in Modern Languages can open up a variety of career opportunities:
‘MFL opens so many doors; you aren’t restricted to any area of work, plus it gives you the freedom to travel and live in different countries’. (Cambridge University graduate)
To succeed in MFL
You will:
- Have a genuine desire to develop your foreign language skills
- Be willing to read extensively around the subject from a variety of sources
- Have a genuine interest in the culture, literature, society and history of your chosen language
- Be comfortable with all aspects of the assessment. You must also be prepared to carry out independent, monitored self-study in order to reinforce knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.