GCSE French

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GCSE French at Kimbolton

Studying French at GCSE opens up a world of opportunities, from enhancing creativity and cognitive skills to expanding career prospects in our increasingly globalised world. With France as a close neighbour and a key international player, learning French offers both practical and cultural advantages.

This course is designed to help you communicate confidently and fluently, while exploring the vibrant culture of French-speaking communities. With much of the foundation work already done in KS3, you will continue to broaden your vocabulary and grammatical knowledge throughout your GCSE years in order to achieve great things!

About the course

Our French GCSE course focuses on building practical communication skills and fostering an appreciation of French culture. Lessons take place in small sets with specialist and experienced teachers in modern, well-equipped language classrooms. Using a variety of learning methods and technology, you’ll gain confidence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing French where you will be able to use French effectively in real-life situations.

Key topics include:

  • My personal world
  • Lifestyle and wellbeing
  • My neighbourhood
  • Media and technology
  • Studying and my future
  • Travel and tourism

The syllabus emphasises contextualised learning, grammar, and authentic expression, encouraging problem-solving and reflective learning. You’ll develop the ability to use French effectively and confidently in real-life situations.

Pearson Edexcel French syllabus

Assessment

The GCSE French course is assessed through four equally important examinations: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each component allows you to demonstrate your ability to understand and communicate effectively in French.

  • Listening: You will develop the ability to comprehend spoken French, focusing on everyday conversations and real-life scenarios.
  • Speaking: Through oral assessments, you will showcase your ability to communicate fluently and accurately, covering a range of topics studied during the course.
  • Reading: You’ll analyse written French texts, from advertisements and emails to short articles, enhancing your comprehension and vocabulary.
  • Writing: You will demonstrate your written skills by crafting responses to prompts, ranging from short phrases to detailed paragraphs and essays.

Beyond the classroom

  • Attend our termly Kimbolton Cultural Club events, which explores world cultures through multilingual films, food, and fun!
  • Participate in the lunchtime French Club for games, cultural activities and competitions
  • Experience the French language and culture first-hand on the proposed GCSE trip to France
  • Take part in the UKLO (UK Linguistic Olympiad) in the Spring Term
  • Take part in other competitions throughout the school year such as the Read Aloud competition and the Poetry Declamation
  • Attend our French film nights where you can enjoy a great film in the theatre with French snacks and hot chocolate!

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” – Nelson Mandela

You will enjoy French if you…

  • Love communicating with others and discovering new cultures
  • Are stimulated by a variety of topics and practical language use
  • Appreciate the richness and diversity of French-speaking communities.

“Learning French allows me to feel informed and knowledgeable about another culture and language that isn’t my own. Understanding and speaking French is a useful skill to develop as it is spoken in various countries around the world, not just France.”

Pippa
French student

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