French
Bienvenue - Welcome
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Vive la Francophonie! |
Whatever plans you may have for your future after school, knowledge of French (or a foreign language) will increase your options. Learning French gives you a range of skills, which can improve the quality of your education and your future. Learning French can help with the development of communication skills and general literacy because it encourages you to reflect on your knowledge of English and your skills in your native language.
With about 300 million speakers worldwide, French is the only language (after English) taught, learned and spoken on 5 continents – 5th in the world. Knowing French will enhance your experience with the locals. Remember not everybody speaks English. French is easier to learn than you think. About 30% of everyday English words come from French. An English speaker typically knows at least 1500 French words. Therefore, unbelievably, you are already speaking French.
Learning French contributes towards your options in the world of work: travel and tourism, business studies, the hospitality sector, science and research are areas where knowledge of French will prove useful. French, as an academic subject, stands you in good stead for any apprenticeship, college and university application.
BGE French
BGE - S1 to S3 French
Pupils in S1, S2 and S3 study various topics, which will prepare them for successful progression into the senior phase: Family and Friends, Spare Time and Modern Media, School and Future Plans, French-speaking countries and cities, Holidays in Scotland and Abroad. The focus is on understanding language before pupils begin to develop talking and writing skills. A new aspect of the course is the consideration of the importance of transactional language, for example ordering food and drink, shopping dialogues and hospitality scenarios. Each year group will also do a film study that gives pupils an opportunity to enjoy a French film and apply skills they have developed in English literature studies.
Senior Phase French
Senior Phase - S4 to S6
In the senior phase, teachers and pupils work towards successful results in the national qualifications. The Modern Languages department presents candidates for National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.
The courses follow the SQA specifications, which are broad and therefore allow interesting and stimulating topics to be covered. At Higher and Advanced Higher level, personalisation and choice will be included to meet the needs of all learners.
All senior phase courses follow the same structure: Each course covers four contexts (Society, Learning, Employability and Culture) with a number of age-appropriate, motivating topics and sub-topics. Assessment will be on-going during class time to ensure learners feel supported and progress successfully in understanding and using the language. Each year group does a film study and a cultural focus on French society and recent French history. This allows the young people to transfer their skills from subjects such as English, Music, Art, History, Modern Studies and Geography to the French classroom.
Below is a summary of the benefits of learning French in the Senior Phase.
