MODERN LANGUAGES

Contact : Mrs N Scott-Somers Email : scottsomersn @ pocklingtonschool . com Course : AS and A2 Level French , German , Spanish

Exam Board : AQA

We live in a multilingual , global society and having an A level in a Modern Language sets you apart from those who don ’ t in a highly competitive job market . You may need languages for all sorts of career destinations ; doctors and physiotherapists need language skills to communicate with patients whether they work in the UK or overseas ; businessmen , bankers and entrepreneurs all need language skills to make deals and sell products on the global market . Politicians , historians and geographers all need language skills to get to know the people and area that they are passionate about . A level language courses are interesting and varied and give you a broad range of knowledge and skills . The skills that you gain from studying a language at A level are incredibly important tools to have under your belt .

CONTENT OF COURSE

Pupils follow AQA courses leading to AS ( 1 year ) and A2 ( 2 year ) qualifications in French , German and Spanish .

Throughout the course , pupils cover interesting themes such as “ Cultural Heritage ”, “ Cyberspace ”, “ Modern Day Idols ” and “ Equal Rights ”.

Pupils study a film in the Lower Sixth and a literary text in the Upper Sixth .

At A2 level , pupils carry out an Independent Research Project ( IRP ). For this , pupils prepare a presentation for the speaking exam about a topic they are passionate about or that sparks their interest . Some examples of previous IRP topics include :

“ The fight for independence in Catalonia ”.

“ Bull-fighting in Spain : its origins , historical development and current debates ”.

“ The history and role of rugby in France . How can it compete with other nations ?”

“ May 1968 : an analysis of its causes and consequences ”. “ The role of Angela Merkel in modern Germany ”.

“ The Bauhaus movement in German arts and architecture . What were its origins and legacy ?”

All pupils have regular one-to-one sessions with our nativespeaker Language Assistants during which they can practise their speaking skills and develop their cultural awareness .

COURSE ENTRY AND QUALIFICATIONS :

Academic qualifications for the AS and A2 course are the same as the school Sixth Form requirements . Pupils who embark on the study of a Modern Language at A level should be willing to revise vocabulary and grammar regularly and work independently on tasks outside the classroom with a high level of self-motivation . Pupils should make the most of the opportunity to work with our native-speaker Language Assistants and make full use of the departmental and digital resources available to enhance their language learning experience .

BEYOND A LEVEL :

There is so much choice and flexibility when studying a language at university . You have the choice to study the language on its own , with another language or with other subjects . The degree combinations are extreme – how about a language degree with Anthropology , Accounting , Drama , Physics , Marine Biology , Forensic Science or Music ? An A level language opens doors and is very highly regarded by universities and employers .

COURSE OUTLINE

A level ( examining all components of the 2 year course )

“ The limits of my language are the limits of my world ”

Ludwig Wittgenstein

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