French

Jump to: Form 4 | Pre-Q | NCEA Level 2 and AS Level | NCEA Level 3 and A Level | Changes to Cambridge AS and A Level French

Introduction

French is offered as a beginners’ course in Form 3 and can be studied through to NCEA and Cambridge International Examination A2 level following Grammar’s dual pathway policy.

All French students are grouped according to their prior attainment in French, based on their results in the reclassification examination.

As much learning as possible takes place in French. After five years of learning French, students should expect not only to give a good account of themselves in their everyday dealings in a French-speaking country but also be able to read widely in French and discuss a range of major issues with French-speaking people.

Form 4:

Prerequisites: Form 3 French.

Course description/aims: The course aims to further develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in French to enable students to communicate with confidence in a variety of everyday situations.

Students will also learn about the life and customs of the people of France and other countries of the French-speaking world. At the end of the course students will have a solid grasp of the vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation of the French language which will enable them to continue learning French in Form 5.

Course outline: Students regularly practise the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening). Topics covered include: travelling to and in France, holidays in France, family life, jobs, school life, life as a teenager, shopping, food and drink, health, going out and arranging to meet.

Methods of assessment: At the end of Terms 1, 2 and 4, students will sit examinations lasting between one and two hours. All examinations test the skills of listening, reading and writing. The Term 4 examination also contains a speaking mark. In Term 3, students will sit a common test and will be tested on their speaking as well. There are also common tests at regular intervals during the terms to assess progress in the four skills.

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect, as well as a workbook, are compulsory for all Form 4 students for $75. The internationally-recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The A2 Level best corresponds to Form 4 students. It is $75 and is usually sat at the end of August.

Continuation of subject: French may be studied at Pre-Q Level and to NCEA Level 2, and on to Cambridge AS Level.

Form 5 (Pre-Q):

Prerequisites: Form 4 French.

Course description/aims: The course builds further on the skills of oral and written communication and is highly practical with students learning to use French to enable them to cope in a variety of everyday situations.

Course outline: With the main grammatical structures of French having been dealt with in Forms 3 and 4, the Form 5 course is one of consolidation and reinforcement of the skills learnt during the previous years.

The topics studied will enable students not only to talk about aspects of their own life (personal details, family, description, leisure interests, housing, schooling and daily routine), but also equip them with language necessary for coping in a French-speaking environment (holidays, travel, shopping, eating and drinking, health and communications). The students will also develop beginner knowledge in French literature.

Methods of assessment: There will be three School examinations, each assessing the skills of listening, reading and writing and a speaking examination in Term 3.

1 x 1 hour examination
1 x 2 hour examination
1 x 3 hour examination (Pre-Q)

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect is compulsory for all levels for $20. The internationally-recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The B1 level best corresponds to Form 5 students. It is $85 and is usually sat at the end of August.

Continuation of subject: All students may continue their study of French at NCEA Level 2 or Cambridge AS Level.

Form 6 (NCEA Level 2 and AS):

Prerequisites:

AS entry requires a minimum of 70% at Pre-Q
NCEA Level 2 requires a minimum of 65% at Pre-Q

Recommended achievement levels:

Students averaging over 65% in Form 5 French have an appropriate achievement level to study Form 6 French
Students averaging 45-60% in Form 5 French may find Form 6 French difficult
Students averaging under 45% in Form 5 French are not recommended to take Form 6 French
Form 7 students who would like to take AS French after a one-year break need to talk to the Head of French before being admitted to the course

Course description/aims: The course aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication by dealing with the more complex structures and wider vocabulary which will enable students to express their opinions in French on a wide variety of subjects of interest to young people.

They will be able to develop highly practical skills designed to help them cope with a range of situations they might encounter when travelling in French speaking countries. Students also develop listening, close reading and paraphrasing skills.

Course outline: Students will be able to opt for either NCEA Level 2 or the Cambridge AS examination. A range of topics are covered in both courses, including but not limited to, health and well-being, leisure, latest trends, talking about future plans, and relationships. AS French topics are changed annually, but fall within the broad categories of relationships, work and leisure, war and peace, medical advances, and the environment.

Methods of assessment: Students who opt for NCEA Level 2 will be able to gain credits in the four NCEA Achievement Standards internally-assessed over the course of the year: two speaking assessments (a prepared talk and interactions) and two assessments to test students’ ability to write French with resources. Achievement Standards in Listening and Reading will be externally-assessed at the end of the year.

Students who opt to sit the Cambridge AS examination at the end of the year will sit a Reading and Writing paper and an Essay paper. They will also sit a speaking test (consisting of an oral presentation, a topic (prepared) conversation and a general conversation) as part of this examination.

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect is compulsory for all levels for $20. The internationally-recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The B1 level best corresponds to Form 6 students. It is $85 and is usually sat at the end of August.

Continuation of subject: French may be studied to NCEA Level 3 and Cambridge A Level.

Form 7 (NCEA Level 3 and A Level):

Prerequisites: Form 6 French.

Recommended achievement levels:

Students averaging over 65% in Form 6 French have an appropriate achievement level to study Form 7 French
Students averaging 45-60% in Form 6 French may find Form 7 French difficult
Students averaging under 45% in Form 6 French are not recommended to take Form 7 French

Course description/aims: The course aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication by dealing with more complex structures and wider vocabulary which will enable students to express their opinions in French on a wide variety of subjects of interest to young people. Students also develop close reading and paraphrasing skills.

Course outline: Students will opt for either NCEA Level 3 French or the A Level examination. Students who have already obtained a good pass in AS may opt for the A Level course in which an additional element is the study of French literature.

A range of topics are studied including for NCEA Level 3 a region of France, getting a job, the creative arts, environmental issues, social cohesion in France and the French-speaking world and media.

For A Level French, topics are changed annually but fall within the broad categories of relationships, work and leisure, war and peace, medical advances and the environment.

Methods of assessment: There will be five NCEA Achievement Standards internally-assessed over the course of the year: two speaking assessments (a prepared talk and interactions) and three assessments to test students’ ability to write French with resources. Achievement Standards in Listening and Reading will be externally-assessed at the end of the year.

Students who opt to sit the Cambridge A Level examination will sit a Reading and Writing paper, an Essay paper, and a Literature paper involving the study of three prescribed works of French Literature during the July 2024 session. They will also sit a speaking test (consisting of an oral presentation, a topic (prepared) conversation and a general conversation) as part of this examination.

Once the July session has been completed, students will be prepared for the NCEA French Scholarship examination which they will sit at the end of the year.

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect is compulsory for all levels for $20. The internationally-recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The B2 level best corresponds to Form 7 students. It is $85 and is usually sat at the end of August.

Changes to Cambridge AS and A Level French

The curriculum for AS and A Level French will change from 2025 on. AS French will be offered in the November and July sessions. A Level French will only be available during the July session.

Students who wish to sit A Level French in Form 7 are expected to read the literature during the summer holidays.

Form 6 (AS Level French):

Prerequisites: Form 5 Pre-Q French.

Recommended achievement levels:

Students averaging over 65% in Form 5 French have an appropriate achievement level to study Form 6 French
Students averaging 45-60% in Form 5 French may find Form 6 French difficult
Form 7 students who would like to take AS French after a one-year break need to talk to the Head of French before being admitted to the course.

Course description/aims: The course aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication by dealing with more complex structures, grammar and a wider vocabulary which will enable students to express their opinions in French on a wide variety of subjects of interest to young people. Students also develop close reading and paraphrasing skills.

Course outline: For AS Level French, topics are changed annually but fall within the broad categories of relationships, work and leisure, war and peace, medical advances and the environment.

Methods of assessment: Students who opt to sit the Cambridge AS Level examination will sit a Listening paper, a Reading paper and a Writing paper (consisting of a functional writing in form of a letter or email and an extended writing with an argumentative focus). They will also sit a speaking test (consisting of an oral presentation and a follow-up discussion and a random conversation task) as part of this examination.

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect is compulsory for all levels for $20. The internationally-recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The B1 level best corresponds to Form 6 students. It is $85 and is usually sat at the end of August.

Form 7 (A Level):

Prerequisites: AS Level French.

Recommended achievement levels:

Students averaging over 65% in AS French have an appropriate achievement level to study A Level French
Students averaging 45-60% in French may find French difficult
Students averaging under 45% in French are not recommended to take French

Course outline: For A Level French, topics are changed annually but fall within the broad categories of relationships, work and leisure, war and peace, medical advances and the environment.

Literature study will be an additional part of A Level French, compared to AS Level French.

Methods of assessment: Students who opt to sit the Cambridge A Level examination will sit this exam during the July session. The examination consists of a Reading paper, a Writing paper (consisting of either an argumentative or discursive essay and either a descriptive or narrative essay) and a Literature paper (consisting of two question; one on each book studied).

Once the July session has been completed, students will be prepared for the NCEA French Scholarship examination which they will sit at the end of the year.

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect is compulsory for all levels for $20. The internationally-recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The B2 level best corresponds to Form 7 students. It is $85 and is usually sat at the end of August.

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French

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