French
EDEXCEL 4FR0
Learning French is an active process which involves engaging with other people and understanding how to communicate with them. France is our closest European neighbour and our languages and cultures are closely intertwined, but there are differences between us which make a visit there intriguing. At work, our contacts with Europe are increasing. The study of French will broaden students’ horizons and will equip them to make the most of the opportunities open to them at home and in Europe today.
Lessons are taught largely in French. The French Language Assistant is an invaluable resource and she is available to help students with oral work in L5 and U5. Although our main focus is on the ability to communicate, grammar work is of great importance as it is essential to have a clear understanding of the way the language works in order to make progress.
We use the GCSE Studio course, and the learning platform Pearson ActiveLearn. We study the following themes in the context of both the students’ home country and that of countries and communities where French is spoken:
- Identity and culture
- Local area, holiday ad travel
- International global dimension
- Future aspirations, study and work
- School
Examination
The scheme of assessment consists of three single tier examinations (papers 1, 2 and 3), each targeted at grades 9-1. The examination papers assess the full range of achievement. Students are required to take all three components at the end of the two year course.
- Paper 1 – Listening and understanding in French.
35 minutes including 5 minutes’ reading time. Students are assessed on their understanding of standard spoken French by one or more speakers in a range of public and social settings.
- Paper 2 – Speaking in French.
10-12 minutes plus 12 minutes’ preparation time. Students are assessed on their ability to communicate and interact effectively through speaking in French for different purposes and in different settings.
- Paper 3 – Reading and understanding French.
1 hour. Students are assessed on their understanding of written French across a range of different types of texts, including advertisements, emails, letters, articles and literary texts. Students are required to respond to multiple-response and short-answer questions based on these texts.
- Paper 4 - Written examination.
1 hour 20 minutes. Students are assessed on their ability to communicate effectively through writing French for different purposes and audiences. Students are required to produce responses of varying length and types to express ideas and opinions in French. The instructions to students are in French - two open responses questions and one translation into French.
Mandarin
EDEXCEL 9CN01
Mandarin is thriving at Queen Anne’s. The language is introduced in Lower Four and those students who wish to take GCSE level will be entered for the Cambridge IGCSE examination. The study of Mandarin at GCSE level is practically based and develops the skills necessary to understand and to communicate in the language studied. Students will study topics which relate to their own experience and needs, such as the family, school, travel and the world of work.
They will learn about China and will continue to practice reading, listening comprehension, speaking and character writing in Mandarin. Lessons are taught largely in Mandarin. Although our main focus is on the ability to communicate, grammar work is of great importance as it is essential to have a clear understanding of the way the language works in order to make progress.
Examination
All candidates take 4 papers in the 4 different skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing).
- Paper 1 – Listening
Candidates listen to a number of recordings and answer questions testing comprehension. - Paper 2 – Reading
Candidates read a number of texts and answer questions testing comprehension in the target language. - Paper 3 – Speaking
Candidates complete two role plays, a topic presentation/ conversation and a general conversation. - Paper 4 – Writing
Candidates respond in the target language to three tasks.
Spanish
EDEXCEL IGCSE 4SP0
Spanish is a language which gives the learner much personal pleasure. Highly accessible in the early stages, it gives a real sense of achievement while making good academic grades possible. After English and Chinese, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world. Letters are received regularly from former students travelling throughout the world.
Throughout the course, in addition to the study of the language, time is given to DVDs, books and talks on Spanish geography, history, literature, art and way of life. Theatre and other visits take place wherever possible. A study visit to Spain is offered on a two year cycle. Visits are typically to Madrid, Toledo and Segovia and provide a valuable opportunity to put language skills to work and increase the potential for success.
Students are well equipped to understand Spanish culture and to make an informed choice for A Levels. The Spanish Department has a wealth of learning materials: readers, grammar books and dictionaries, background reading on Spain and Latin America, listening materials, DVDs and Spanish newspapers.
We use the GCSE Viva course, and the learning platform Pearson ActiveLearn. We study the following themes in the context of both the students’ home country and that of countries and communities where Spanish is spoken:
- Identity and culture
- Local area, holiday and travel
- International and global dimension
- Future aspirations, study and work
- School
Examination
The scheme of assessment consists of three single tier examinations (papers 1, 2 and 3), each targeted at grades 9-1. The examination papers assess the full range of achievement. Students are required to take all three components at the end of the two year course.
- Paper 1 – Listening assesses students’ ability to understand and respond to spoken Spanish.
- Paper 2 – Reading and Writing assesses students’ abilities in understanding and using information from a range of texts of increasing length through a series of reading comprehension tasks. Students then complete two extended writing tasks. Their response is evaluated for communication and content as well as knowledge and application of Spanish. There is also a grammar task which is worth ten marks which covers a range of structures and tenses from throughout the course.
- Paper 3 – Speaking: students are assessed on their ability to communicate in speech, showing a knowledge of a range of vocabulary and of the grammar and structures taught as part of the GCSE specification.