Following on from what students have learnt in previous years, the IGCSE French Course is designed to further develop the four skills of modern foreign language learning to an internationally recognized standard. This qualification would allow students to continue the subject at ‘AS/‘A’ Level or to take it up again at a later stage, perhaps at university, to suit their careers.
There are six main areas of study that cover a variety of activities. Topics include Local area, media, entertainment & youth culture, education, training & employment, health and fitness and social activities. The course will appeal to all types of students including those interested in travel, culture and people from different countries.
Assessment
Students taking the IGCSE examination in French are assessed in the four skill areas of study; listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students are entered for the summer exam where they will be able to gain access to Grades A*, A and B as well as the other grades.
There are four papers for the examination and they are equally weighted (25% each); Listening, Speaking, Reading and Continuous Writing. Besides developing their knowledge of the language they are studying, students will be able to develop key skills in Communication and Information and Communication Technology, whilst improving their own learning performance.
The Future
Our world is constantly shrinking and today there is a global market for jobs. Learning how to interact with speakers of other languages can help you see things from a range of perspectives, develop your problem-solving skills and make you more adaptable, resourceful and creative. Knowledge of a foreign language is not just another IGCSE grade, but is a concrete and demonstrable life skill, one which is highly valued by employers. It is not necessary to be completely fluent in a foreign language to be an asset to any potential employer, as knowing how to meet and greet people from other countries and cultures is a valued skill. Indeed the ability to operate cross-culturally is becoming just as valued by employers as straight language skills.
Many K.E.S. students already have their own mother tongue in addition to English and Arabic. Knowledge of a European language can only further enhance their chances of a successful and fulfilling career.
Examples of employment where language skills are particularly valued include:
Business and marketing, Engineering, Journalism and the media, Law, Civil service (Immigration, Customs, Diplomatic Service), Hotel industry, ICT, Sport and leisure, Travel and Tourism, Teaching
Anne Merritt is an EFL lecturer currently based in South Korea. She writes at http://annemerritt.com/
Learning a foreign language is more than just a boost to your CV or handy for travelling. It will make you smarter, more decisive and even better at English.
Physiological studies have found that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process. The brains of bilingual people operate differently than single language speakers, and these differences offer several mental benefits.
Below are seven cognitive advantages to learning a foreign language:
Many of these attributes are only apparent in people who speak multiple languages regularly – if you haven’t spoken a foreign tongue since your A levels, our brain might not be reaping these bilingual benefits. However, people who begin language study in their adult lives can still achieve the same levels of fluency as a young learner, and still reap the same mental benefits, too.
You become smarter
Speaking a foreign language improves the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate meaning, and communicate in different language systems. This skill boosts your ability to negotiate meaning in other problem-solving tasks as well.
