Studying French at GCSE

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Studying French at GCSE

• Why learn a modern foreign language?
• Course content at GCSE
• Future prospects
• How do I choose my options?

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Why opt for French?
An excellent GCSE for employers universities
Youve already done most of the work, its just a
matter of perfecting what you know.
More pay
Job opportunities
Number of pupils studying a language is falling,
so linguists are extremely sought after
Its brilliant!
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• By taking a language at GCSE youll have amazing
  skills and a valuable talent thats applicable to
  almost everything you do - so, it's quite a handy
  subject really. A language GCSE builds on what
  youve already learnt in years 7, 8 and 9 and you
  probably know more than you think. Language
  classes are still fun and interactive and you
  cover things at a slightly quicker pace, but this
  is good as you'll easily notice the improvements
  that you make in your foreign language. Plus by
  taking a language GCSE you dont just learn the
  language, you get to find out about other people,
  countries and cultures so it really is an
  interesting and varied subject.

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• GCSE French is a well-respected GCSE!
• Some universities in England state that you have
  to have a GCSE in a MFL.
• Cardiff business college get hundreds of
  applicants every year and the first thing the
  principle does to cut down the numbers is checks
  the GCSEs to see if they can speak another
  language.
• Its a very academic subject.

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Universities

• University entrants have a better chance of
  getting on a languages course than in any other
  subject
• It opens doors and creates opportunities.
• It can make travel and leisure more exciting and
  interesting.

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It makes business sense

• 60 of Britains exports go to non-English
  speaking countries and 20 of UK exports are
  adversely affected by barriers in language or
  cultural ignorance
• Language graduates are more employable than
  science, business studies or ICT graduates.
• Over 20 of employers say that they need
  employees who are more competent in languages.

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Course content

• GCSE Course Outline
• In Years 10 and 11, pupils follow the GCSE course
  that covers the skills of Speaking, Listening,
  Reading and Writing.
• The final examination focuses upon 2 of these
  skill areas only Listening Reading - whilst
  pupils gain marks for the coursework components
  in Speaking and Writing, which are completed over
  two years and which are a key feature of success
  at GCSE.
• Pupils receive guidance and support when
  preparing for their coursework tasks. The course
  is assessed in the following way
• Listening 20 - Exam at end of year 11
• Speaking 30 Coursework in 2 parts
• 
  1) Structured conversation
• 2) Presentation discussion with
  teacher
• Reading 20 - Exam at end of year 11
• Writing 30 - Controlled assessment.
• 2 pieces of written work required.

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Yippee!

• There are no Written or Speaking examinations

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French department success

• 2008 - 100 A - C
• 2009 - 95.4 A - C, 100 A - G
• 2010 81 A - C, 100 A - G

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• Job opportunities
• Having an MFL GSCE shows you are hardworking
• Can increase your salary by 8 20
• Not just a French teacher! holiday rep,
  interpreter, work in a hotel/restaurant, travel
  company, business, cars, fashion, engineering,
  army, factory

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What jobs would French be useful for?

• Youll be surprised at the amount of careers that
  involve Modern foreign languages
• Industries as diverse as engineering, law,
  marketing, the media and IT need candidates with
  practical language skills, especially at a time
  when the number of students taking GCSE languages
  is declining.

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Job prospects

• Computer programmer
• Credit controller
• Customer support adviser
• Cultural briefing consultant
• Interpreter
• Teacher
• Language trainer
• Translator
• Engineering
• Banking
• Civil service
• Travel and tourism
• Secretary/PA
• Marketing
• Public relations
• Medicine
• Journalism and media
• Transport and distribution
• Website localiser

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• Improves you communication skills
• As French GCSE involves a lot of speaking,
  writing, reading and listening, it improves your
  communication skills!
• This will help with every job!

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• You are able to communicate in another language
• People will be impressed that you can communicate
  in another language.
• People abroad are more generous to you if you
  make the effort to speak their language.

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• More chance of promotion
• If you speak another language, you have more
  chance of being offered a promotion
• You may get the opportunity to travel with your
  job and get paid for it!

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What businesses are saying

• Newport-based recruitment agency Concentric
  Consulting is among those calling for more
  bilingual and trilingual candidates after seeing
  a gap in the number of linguists applying for
  posts.
• "One of our clients distributes car parts from
  Germany, France and Spain, while we also work
  with a Spanish company which distributes across
  the world. More and more languages candidates
  are needed in this area
• "There is a real shortage in trilingual
  candidates. Companies need candidates who can
  speak English, Welsh and another language."

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Welsh companies need linguists

• Companies that are language-aware are far more
  likely to be successful exporters, which could
  lead to a great economic boom for Wales," said
  Professor Hagen.
• "It is important for Wales companies to hire
  people with language skills. Any form of language
  learning is a very good thing. Language learning
  falls off in schools around the age of 14, which
  has been a disaster.
• "We have to get more people who are language
  proficient in Wales. Bilingualism is a good step
  to internationalism."

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Celebs

• Role models including sports stars and TV
  personalities have spoken of the benefits of
  languages skills. Wales rugby international
  Stephen Jones has said that continuing with
  French at school would have helped when he joined
  French team Clermont-Auvergne, while comedian
  Rhod Gilbert, who speaks French and Spanish, has
  called modern languages the "greatest asset" you
  can have.

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Do you know that these famous people speak the
following languages?
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How do I choose my options?

• Choose a balance of subjects a language, a
  humanity, a creative subject
• Choose subjects you can get a C grade or above in
• Choose subjects you like

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www.whystudylanguages.ac.uk/ks4/video
Video on why you should study a language
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Research

• Now research some universities and see what their
  entry requirements are.
• Research careers that you are interested in and
  see if French would be a useful qualification to
  have