Modern Foreign Languages

What levels are on offer?

Students are able to take a new language (Ab Initio) at Standard Level or can carry on with a language studied at GCSE (Language B) at Standard Level or Higher Level. The languages offered will be French, German, Italian (Ab Initio only) and Spanish. We envisage that most students will continue with the language they studied at GCSE by opting for Language B.

How do I decide which to choose?

Ab Initio- this is aimed at students who have not studied that particular language before or who have learnt very little of it. It is suitable for dedicated language learners because the syllabus requires that a lot of material is covered at a very fast pace.

Language B- Standard Level- this is aimed at students who studied this language at GCSE but who do not intend to study it beyond the IB.

Language B- Higher Level- this is aimed at students who intend to study the language at university and possibly use the language in a future career.

What will I need?

For Ab Initio no previous knowledge of the language is required. You cannot study a language at Ab Initio if you studied it at GCSE. You will need to be a very dedicated language learner.
For Language B Standard Level you will be required to have taken a GCSE in the language you wish to study.
For Language B Higher Level you are required to have sat higher papers at GCSE in the language you wish to study.

What will I study?

Ab Initio includes:

The individual
Work and education
City and its services
Food and drink
Travel and leisure
The environment
Health and emergency situations

Language B Standard and Higher Levels:

You study the same topics but higher level students study them in greater detail.

Family and personal relationships
Introduction to France/ Germany/ Spain and French/ German/ Spanish culture
Media, Environment, Science and technology, Health, fitness and health problems, Education, World of work, Crime and related issues, Transport, Leisure, Global issues and globalization, Immigration, racism and integration, France/ Germany/ Spain and the EU, Politics and political institutions, and French literature

How will I be assessed?

There are two written exams at the end of the course worth 70% of the total mark. The remaining 30% is from an Individual Oral and an Interactive Oral Activity. These are internally assessed and externally moderated.