GCSE MFL (AQA)
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WHY STUDY SECOND MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES?
Students will continue to study the language they commenced in Year 7 (French / German / Spanish) to GCSE level as a key component of the EBacc route recommended by the Department for Education. In addition, the MFL Department are pleased to be able to offer students the option to study a second foreign language. For example, a student who started with French in Year 7 will continue with French to GCSE but may also decide to start Spanish or German at beginners’ level in Year 10 and complete a GCSE in this language in Year 11. As students will study the language for 2 (rather than 5) years before taking the GCSE, this option is particularly suitable for keen linguists.
Why study another language?
75% of the world’s population do not speak English, and over 60% of British trade is with non-English speaking countries.
Why French?
French is the official language of many of the world’s organisations, such as the United Nations, NATO, UNESCO, the International Red Cross Association and numerous other international committees.
Apart from English, French is the only language spoken on every continent.
Why German?
200 million people speak German worldwide, and it is the most widely spoken language in Europe. Germany is an important trading partner because it is the world’s second-largest exporter, and a key economy within Europe.
Why Spanish?
Spanish is a global language spoken by at least 350 million people worldwide. Spanish culture has made major contributions to the arts, architecture and literature.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE
The course in a second foreign language will provide students with the following:
- An understanding of the language in a variety of contexts.
- The ability to communicate effectively in the language.
- Knowledge of important vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- An insight into the culture of the target language-speaking countries.
HOW WILL STUDENTS BE ASSESSED
This is a linear course and students are assessed at the end of Year 11 through examinations. Students will sit four papers (listening, speaking, reading and writing), all of which have an equal weighting of 25% in the final GCSE grade.
Career Links
CAREERS LINKS
Students who study one or more modern foreign languages possess a unique skill highly regarded by universities and businesses. A GCSE in French, German or Spanish can lead to careers in a wide variety of sectors, including international relations, teaching, law, interpreting, journalism, commerce and science.
Further information on this specification is available from the qualification website:
French: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/french/gcse/french-8652/specification
German: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/german/gcse/german-8662/specification
Spanish: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/spanish/gcse/spanish-8692/specification