FRENCH (EDX)

AS COURSE OUTLINE

What is Edexcel AS Level French?

The new Edexcel AS Level in French has been developed to inspire all students who have an appreciation of the language, literature, film and culture of the French-speaking world. Edexcel has designed a motivating course of study that will enable students to develop an advanced level knowledge and understanding of the French language, the culture of France and other francophone countries, as well as practical and valuable language and transferable study skills. This specification will help to prepare students for higher education and enhance their employability profile.

Inspiring and engaging Themes: This qualification features familiar and popular Themes as well as some new content that provides clear links to some of the most fundamental and interesting aspects of the culture of the target language country and communities.

Popular literary texts and films: A rich choice of literary texts and films are offered, including contemporary and more classical titles, together with authentic source materials from France and the wider French-speaking world.

Rewarding creativity: The assessments place an emphasis on spontaneity and grammar, as well as providing plenty of opportunities for students to apply their knowledge independently and creatively. Clear mark schemes encourage students to develop ideas and use language to persuade and analyse and give critical responses in their writing and speaking.

Clear and coherent structure: The qualification has a straightforward structure with two engaging Themes - Social Changes in French Society and Political and Artistic Culture in Francophone Countries to be studied alongside either one literary texts or one film and assessed through two externally-examined papers and one Non-exam assessment (oral).

Manageable content: The content is manageable and appropriate, so that teachers and students can be confident that they have enough time to cover what they need to at the appropriate depth.

Continuous progression: The content builds on the understanding developed at Key Stage 4 and gives students the opportunity to learn and apply important transferable skills in critical thinking and analysis, enabling them to make a smooth transition to the next level of study.

FRENCH AS Course Specification
Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation (Paper code: 8FR0/01) Written examination: 1 hour and 50 minutes 40% of the qualification 64 mark This paper draws on vocabulary and structures across all Themes. Themes are based on the society and culture of the language being studied. Students are not permitted access to a dictionary during the examination.	Section A: Listening (24 marks) A listening assessment based on a recording, featuring male and female French speakers. Students will respond to comprehension questions based on a variety of contexts and Sources Section B: Reading (28 marks) A reading assessment based on a variety of text-types and genres where students will have to respond to comprehension questions Section C: Translation into English (12 marks) An unseen passage to be translated from French to English.
Paper 2: Written response to work, grammar and translation (Paper code: 8FR0/02) Written examination:1 hour and 40 minutes 30% of the qualification 48 marks This paper requires students to translate a previously unseen passage and complete a grammar exercise based on one of the two themes. This paper also draws on the study of one discrete French works: either one literary text or one film. The literary texts listed include a range of classic and contemporary novels and one play. All of the films are feature length. This paper includes a translation exercise, a grammar exercise, and an extended response on either one of the literary texts or one film. Students are not permitted access to a dictionary or any documentation relating to the works during the examination.	Section A: Translation and grammar (16 marks - 12 marks for translation and 4 marks for grammar) Students translate an unseen passage from English into French, followed by a grammar exercise. Section B: Written response to works (literary texts) (32 marks) Students select one question from a choice of two for their chosen literary text. If a student answers a question in this section then they do not complete section C. Section C: Written response to works (films) (32 marks) Students select one question from a choice of two for their chosen film. If a student answers a question in this section then they do not complete section B. Students complete Section A and one question from either Section B or C.
Paper 3: Speaking (*Paper code: 8FR0/03) Internally conducted and externally assessed Total assessment time: between 27 and 30 minutes, which includes a single period of 15 minutes formal preparation time 30% of the qualification 48 marks	Task 1 requires students to read and respond to two short texts based on the Theme Changes in French Society and then hold a discussion. Task 2 is based on a discussion from the Theme Political and Artistic Culture in Francophone Countries. Students will be assessed on their ability to communicate and interact effectively, summarise and understand written sources in speech, manipulate language accurately and show knowledge and understanding about the culture and society where the language is spoken.

Course Textbook
Edexcel A Level French Includes AS - Hodder Education - ISBN 978-1-4718-5816-1

Introductory Reading: Le Monde, Le Figaro newspapers.

Further Reading: Annie Ernaux: Le Gone du chaaba by Azouz Begag