INTRODUCTION – AND FRENCH & GERMAN GCSE

This is a very important time of your child's life. Choosing the right courses now may influence their future career path. This booklet gives details relating specifically to the GCSE courses we offer at Kingshill School.

The following general points relating to the GCSE courses on offer should be noted.

1.      1.      GCSE scale of awards for 2006 – 2008:

A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and U

Those from A* to G are passes with A* to C commonly referred to as "higher" grades. In addition a grade X implies that the candidate has failed to meet the minimum requirements of the examination either through failure to complete coursework or non­attendance at the terminal examinations. Vocational GCSE courses are graded in exactly the same way.

2.      2.      Accurate Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar in GCSE Examinations

Current guidelines state that 5% of total marks available should be allocated to spelling, punctuation and grammar. The full 5% can be earned with a high level of accuracy. This affects all GCSE examinations except Mathematics.

3.      3.      Coursework

Please take note of differing requirements between subjects with regard to coursework. The coursework component is obviously of importance and we would ask you to support your son's/daughter's work through:

·       ·       regularly asking him/her which coursework pieces he/she is presently engaged in, and/or which are coming up in the near future.

·       ·       asking for marks/grades of latest pieces.

·       ·       asking to read through completed pieces, thus checking for completion, sense,

grammar etc.

·       ·       helping them to plan their time with regard to other demands and the needs of

your family life.

·       ·       ensuring things are not left to the last minute.

·       ·       ensure he/she makes the most of opportunities available to them e.g. documentaries etc on TV or radio, using the Town Library, using the experience, knowledge and skills of people, gathering information from sources such as the Internet.

The most important aspect of success in Upper School Courses is that the pupil should be well organised. It is essential that Student Planners are maintained and that adequate time is given to completing the tasks set.

OUR CORE CURRICULUM

Kingshill wishes to offer a broad balanced curriculum for all its pupils in order to ensure that their options are left open at post 16 level, hence there is a large core curriculum which the majority of pupils follow : -

 

Subject

English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, Core P.E / Health related fitness

Citizenship / Careers, RE Short Course GCSE

 

In addition pupils choose three more courses, which account for the remaining 30% of the timetable.

 

The following pages describe the course available to your son/daughter over the next two years. The section printed on white paper contains details of the core subjects, which all pupils will study. The section printed on yellow paper contains details of the optional subjects.

 

When helping your child to decide on their subject choice for Key Stage 4 please bear in mind the following points:

 

(i)         It is our belief that pupils benefit from following a broad range of subjects and that this range should only be narrowed in exceptional circumstances.




(ii)        Pupils who choose to pursue one area at the expense of another should only do so for positive reasons, i.e. their strengths and talents in Design & Technology or Creative & Expressive should be emphasised rather than their weakness elsewhere as justification for dropping a subject.

 

(iii)     The form “Your Subject Choice” at the back of this booklet should be completed and returned to Form Tutors by Friday 24th March at the latest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

FRENCH & GERMAN GCSE

 

 

EXAM GROUP                                   AQA

 

TEACHER I/C SUBJECT                  (FRENCH)                  MISS L DALLIMORE

                                                            (GERMAN)                 MRS H BROWN

 

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT          100% final examination in the 4 skill areas (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

 

A sustained effort throughout the 2 year course, both at home and in class is essential.

High grades at GCSE will not be achieved through last minute revision

 

Course Description

During their first three years at Kingshill all pupils studied a Modern Foreign Language and will continue to do so in Years Ten and Eleven.

All pupils will be working towards the GCSE (AQA) examinations.

All courses (in French and German at Kingshill) are topic based. Pupils practise the language appropriate to a wide variety of situations in which they might find themselves when traveling in a French or German-speaking country, staying with a French or German-speaking family, corresponding with a penfriend or having a penfriend to stay in England.

The study of relevant grammar is an essential part of the course, especially for those aiming for high grades, whilst all pupils will regularly have to consolidate classwork by learning and practicing at home.

 

RANGE OF ACTIVITIES

The Department lays great emphasis on the importance of the spoken language throughout all pupils’ Modern Languages careers. It has had a long and successful history of "taster" visits and exchanges with schools in France and Germany. The courses leading to G.C.S.E. aim to give the pupils a firm basis in practical communication in the foreign language.

Much of the teaching is done in the Target Language, which develops listening skills constantly! This is supported by the use of taped recordings of a variety of native speakers. However, in the classroom all skills are given equal weighting - as they are in the final GCSE exam.

It is therefore, vital that pupils take a full and active part in pair, group and class work in order to develop their confidence and competence. Preparation of presentations is seen as unofficial course-work and is essential for all pupils

Reading is encouraged by the use of a wide variety of authentic resources and is seen as the basis for natural progression towards writing. It is recommended that pupils subscribe to a regular language magazine to develop private reading. Writing tasks are used to reinforce and consolidate other tasks, and IT is seen as a useful way of accomplishing this.

 

 

HOW DOES THE SUBJECT HELP AS A QUALIFICATION FOR FUTURE COURSES/CAREERS AND/OR MEET OTHER NEEDS SUCH AS LEISURE/ENJOYMENT ETC?

G.C.S.E. qualifications may prepare the student for AS level courses.

Foreign languages are becoming increasingly important in the world of work and more and more they will be a necessity for jobs in the technical and commercial disciplines ­particularly since the Deregulation of the Borders between the EC countries and the opening up of the European Market place. Increasingly, knowledge of foreign languages is becoming a valuable adjunct to other professional qualifications.

The courses encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages. They also develop a sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilisations, and travel becomes a satisfying experience which can be enhanced by speaking to locals in their own language.

WHAT WILL A STUDENT LEARN BY TAKING THIS SUBJECT?

·         To gain an understanding of the French and German languages and an insight into the culture of French and German speaking countries

·         To widen horizons and become more European-conscious.

·         To further develop listening and reading skills.

·         To build on the confidence already gained in speaking French and German.

·         Most pupils will become more aware of the need for accuracy in writing French and German.

·         To enjoy the study of a foreign language for the sake of studying, as well as for a means of communication

·         To work independently as well as with others.

·        To develop creativity in French and German and to improvise and use initiative according to different scenarios.

 

 

 

 

FRENCH and / or GERMAN – as Options

 

EXAM GROUP                                    AQA

 

TEACHER I/C SUBJECT                  (FRENCH)                  MISS L DALLIMORE

 

(GERMAN)                 MRS H BROWN

 

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT          100% final examination in the 4 skill areas (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

 

A sustained effort throughout the 2 year course, both at home and in class is essential.

High grades at GCSE will not be achieved through last minute revision

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

All pupils will be working towards the GCSE (AQA) examinations.

This course is only open to pupils who have studied two Modern Foreign Languages in Years 8 and 9. Therefore, anyone who studied French as their 1st Language (i.e. from Year 7) is able to continue to study German if it was studied in Years 8 & 9 as their 2nd Language and vice versa.

All courses (in French and German at Kingshill) are topic based. Pupils practise the language appropriate to a wide variety of situations in which they might find themselves when traveling in a French or German-speaking country, staying with a French or German-speaking family, corresponding with a penfriend or having a penfriend to stay in England.

The study of relevant grammar is an essential part of the course, especially for those aiming for high grades, whilst all pupils will regularly have to consolidate classwork by learning and practicing, at home.

 

 

RANGE OF ACTIVITIES

 

The Department lays great emphasis on the importance of the spoken language throughout all pupils’ Modern Languages careers. It has had a long and successful history of "taster" visits and exchanges with schools in France and Germany. The courses leading to G.C.S.E. aim to give the pupils a firm basis in practical communication in the foreign language.

Much of the teaching is done in the Target Language, which develops listening skills constantly! This is supported by the use of taped recordings of a variety of native speakers. However, in the classroom all skills are given equal weighting - as they are in the final GCSE exam.

It is therefore, vital that pupils take a full and active part in pair, group and class work in order to develop their confidence and competence. Preparation of presentations is seen as unofficial course-work and is essential for all pupils

Reading is encouraged by the use of a wide variety of authentic resources and is seen as the basis for natural progression towards writing. It is recommended that pupils subscribe to a regular language magazine to develop private reading. Writing tasks are used to reinforce and consolidate other tasks, and IT is seen as a useful way of accomplishing this.

HOW DOES THE SUBJECT HELP AS A QUALIFICATION FOR FUTURE COURSES/CAREERS AND/OR MEET OTHER NEEDS SUCH AS LEISURE/ENJOYMENT ETC?

G.C.S.E. qualifications may prepare the student for AS level courses.

Foreign languages are becoming increasingly important in the world of work and more and more they will be a necessity for jobs in the technical and commercial disciplines ­particularly since the Deregulation of the Borders between the EC countries and the opening up of the European Market place. Increasingly, knowledge of foreign languages is becoming a valuable adjunct to other professional qualifications.

The courses encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages. They also develop a sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilisations, and travel becomes a satisfying experience, which can be enhanced by speaking to locals in their own language.

WHAT WILL A STUDENT LEARN BY TAKING THIS SUBJECT?

·         To gain an understanding of the French and German languages and an insight into the

culture of French and German speaking countries

·         To widen horizons and become more European-conscious.

·         To further develop listening and reading skills.

·         To build on the confidence already gained in speaking French and German.

·         Most pupils will become more aware of the need for accuracy in writing French and German.

·         To enjoy the study of a foreign language for the sake of studying, as well as for a means of communication

·         To work independently as well as with others.

·         To develop creativity in French and German and to improvise and use initiative according to different scenarios.