Exam Board – AQA

Qualification – A Level 7652

Entry requirements – Five GCSEs at grades 9-4, including grade 6 in French and 5 in English

Course specification

During your two years studying A Level French, you will cover a variety of themes, including:

“I chose to study a language because of the opportunities they offer and the ability to explore other cultures. I am considering a job in the media; the potential to report from abroad is appealing and I can use my language skills. I also love the idea of being able to make friends with people from all over the world because of my language skills.”

– Student

  • the changing nature of family
  • positive features of diverse society
  • the ‘cyber society’
  • life for the marginalised
  • the place of voluntary work
  • how criminals are treated
  • a culture proud of its heritage
  • teenagers
  • the right to vote and political commitment
  • contemporary French music
  • demonstrations and strikes
  • cinema
  • politics and immigration
  • book and film studies
  • grammar

You will usually be taught by two members of the modern languages faculty. The courses have a lot of online lessons supported by a text book. Topics are investigated in new ways using various technologies focusing on communication and using a variety of sources such as the internet, DVDs, newspapers and magazines. You will develop your listening, reading, writing and speaking skills and you will have the opportunity to work with the French foreign language assistant.

What doors will this open up for me?

Careers most often associated with languages include those in the travel industry, bi-lingual secretaries, translators, interpreters, marketing and retail. However, for many careers a language qualification, although perhaps not essential, can be seen as a desirable asset by employers. This is why many universities combine a variety of subjects with language study such as law, business and management studies, and indeed an increasing number prefer a language qualification on entry. Much of our trade is with Europe and French is an international language on a par with English, being used as an official language by the United Nations.

Learning journey

Our learning journeys can be used to understand each subject in more detail.

French