The CourseWe offer French, Spanish and German at AS and A2. Not only do the courses improve and extend your knowledge of the target language: you examine the contemporary culture of the country, as well as its literature and compare it our own here in the UK. Whether you choose French, German or Spanish, the AS*/A2 AQA specification follows the same pattern across the units. There are two units and, with these units, four main topic areas for both AS and A2.
AS
Unit 1* Listening, Reading and Writing (2 hours)
This is a mixed skill paper. Topics covered are: Media, Popular Culture, Healthy Living, Family and Relationships. Candidates will answer a range of questions based on approximately five minutes of heard material and on a selection of written stimulus texts. They will also respond in writing to a question based on one of the AS topics.
Unit 2* Speaking (35 minutes, including 20 minutes preparation time)
Candidates will discuss a target-language stimulus card based on one of the AS topics and take part in a conversation covering three further AS topics.
A2
Unit 3 Listening, Reading and Writing (2½ hours)
This mixed skills paper is based on four main topics. You will be encouraged to keep up to date with the news and other current events. Candidates will answer a range of questions based on approximately six minutes of heard material and on a selection of written texts. They will also respond in writing to a question based on one of the four A2 cultural topic areas.
The A2 course will cover:
v Environment: pollution, energy and protecting the planet
v The multi-cultural society: immigration, integration and racism
v Contemporary social issues: wealth and poverty, law and order and the impact of scientific and technological progress
v Cultural topic: the study of a target language-speaking region/community or period of 20th century history from a target language-speaking country/community or the study of a novelist/dramatist/poet from a target language-speaking country/community or the study of a director/architect/musician/painter from a target language-speaking country/community
Unit 4 Speaking (35 minutes, including 20 minutes preparation time)
Candidates will present a point of view based on a target language stimulus card from one of the A2 topic areas and take part in a conversation covering three further A2 topics.
What do I need for this course?
A minimum grade B at GCSE is required in the relevant language. Sept 07
Modern Languages (2)
Why Chose a modern language?
The benefits of studying a language are wide-ranging: from learning to communicate in fresh ways to having a window onto the culture of another country, from learning to express your views and listen to the views of others through the language that you are learning to studying its culture through a variety of modern media.
By learning to manipulate a language to generate your own ideas and responses, you will broaden your own horizons and appreciate the variety that other languages offer. Delivering presentations and being able to summarise your reading skills that go well beyond the classroom.
German is an important language for communication in Europe, in particular for business. Certainly the ability to read German publications is a huge advantage for scientists: 40% of scientists in the USA recommend their students to learn German! Germany is the third largest publisher of books in the world; its literature is diverse and challenging and an ability in the language will open up the cultural worlds of Goethe, Nietzsche, Kafka, Mozart, Freud, Einstein and Beethoven! There is a biannual study visit to Berlin and a biannual exchange with Cologne. There is also the opportunity to visit a German Christmas Market.
French is the language of literature, philosophy and culture. It is spoken widely throughout the world (North America, Africa and Asia) and opens up huge possibilities in business and finance. The language has strong influences upon our own and thus we are able to trace English and French cultural heritage. We have an active Modern Languages Society run by teachers and by students. On top of all this, the Sixth Form has a study trip to Montpellier, in the South of France, during the February half-term, and a work experience visit to France after AS exams.
Spanish is widely spoken throughout the world. The course offers the opportunity to study cultural differences between Spain and the UK. Recent social and cultural revolutions and evolution within Spain mean that this is a constantly changing and challenging country to study. Spanish is spoken widely in South America, and the Spanish speaking countries are exciting and culturally diverse. There are many opportunities on offer at Solihull School. Among other things, we have had ‘tapas’ and Spanish film nights to enhance the course and broaden students’ appreciation of the country and its culture. We also enjoy a wonderful study trip to Jerez at Easter.