AS/A2 Modern Languages

AS and Advanced French, German and Spanish.

There may also be opportunities to study beginners’ courses in a range of languages through the Leisure Club programme.

You will learn how to get by, as well as immersing yourself in the culture of the country of your choice. Don’t end your foreign language studies at 16! We will have a course to suit your needs.

Have a go at answering the following questions to test your knowledge of the importance of languages and see the bottom of the next page for the answers:

To be equipped linguistically and academically to face the 21st Century, proficiency in a language or languages is what you need.

Studying a Modern Language will give you an insight into life in other countries and even continents, as well as that necessary edge when it comes to competition for jobs in the world of work, as you will develop the following skills:

• The ability to structure arguments effectively.
• Excellent powers of analysis.
• An understanding of how language works which brings along with it an improved command of English.
• The ability to survive in unfamiliar surroundings.
• The expertise to enable you to speak about yourself and a variety of topics linked to current affairs.

All of the above skills, which are sought after by universities and employers, will put you ahead of the rest in the career of your choice!

Just like the languages department here at Sir John Deane’s College, a large number of universities now encourage students to continue their language studies alongside their main discipline.

Look at what the University prospectuses say:

Leeds

Mechanical Engineering “MEng students may spend their third year studying abroad.”

Leeds graduates can be found all over the world working in key design and manufacturing roles.

Oxford

Law

“Candidates applying for Law with Law Studies in Europe would be expected to have the relevant modern language to A Level (Advanced Higher or Higher Level in the IB or any other equivalent).”

Newcastle

Chemistry

“It is also possible to spend a year on placement in the UK, or at a university in France, Germany, Spain or North America.”

Manchester

English Law with French Law

“The degree gives you a grounding in the laws of both England and France, combined with advanced linguistic training.”

Bristol

Law

The university offers students the possibility of spending a year abroad. “A working knowledge of the language of the receiving country at A Level standard is essential.

“During the year abroad, you gain knowledge of the French/German legal system and take units in French/German Law.”

Some of our ex-students are studying Law with a language at Sheffield University.

York

Languages For All Scheme

“For graduates with a specialist knowledge of a main subject discipline, the ability to speak and write a foreign language is a valuable additional asset when applying for jobs in the increasingly international working environment of today.”

What are the entry requirements?

You will need a minimum of a grade B at GCSE in your chosen language for AS Level and the higher the grade you get, the easier you should find making the transition from GCSE to Advanced Level study. No previous knowledge is required for Leisure Club language courses.

What will I study and how will it be assessed?

We follow the WJEC specification. Our AS courses develop the language basis you have already acquired at GCSE. There is no need to worry about the gap between GCSE and A Level because our programmes are designed to bridge it smoothly.

AS

You will study two modules during the year covering a variety of topics including, Leisure and Lifestyles, tourism and travel, sport, hobbies, health and nutrition, smoking, drugs and alcohol. The other major topic area is the Individual and Society. Here, you will study youth culture, relationships and responsibilities, gender issues and education.

During the induction period you will surf the Internet for news, which is ‘hot off the press,’ as well as bookmark your favourite sites which could even include youtube extracts in your chosen language!

Module 1 Oral (40% of AS) – General conversation about your personal interests, studies and future plans. There is also a topic-based conversation for which you will be required to prepare oral cards from the main areas of study.

Module 2 (60% of AS) – Listening, reading and writing – you will be able to listen to the recording as often as you require within the time set. You will have a variety of exercises based on reading texts including some grammar and translation exercises into English. You will also have a short essay to write.

Assessments are carried out at regular intervals to support you in your learning and your subject tutor will discuss your progress with you, setting future targets.

Guidance concerning homework and other departmental information is given in the form of an on-line Study Guide at the beginning of the course and a Powerpoint presentation on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Answers: 1. 95% 2. 350,000,000 3. Germany 4. 50

Modern Languages

A2

You will develop the skills met at AS, and be tested in a similar way. For the oral exposé you will have the opportunity to study some topics of your own choice, in collaboration with your teacher. This part of the exam process is also divided into two modules and together with AS makes up the full A Level qualification.

In terms of topics, you will cover environmental issues, social and political issues including current affairs, immigration, media and terrorism, amongst others.

Module 3 Oral (40% of A2) – a structured discussion based on a short written stimulus linked to one of the A2 topics. You will also make a short presentation which you prepare in advance on a film, book or region of your choice.

Module 4 (60% of A2) Listening, Reading and Writing – again you will be able to listen to the recording as often as you require. You will have some translation into the foreign language and a film essay to write, along with reading comprehension activities.

How will I study?

You will have four and a half hours of lessons in addition to one workshop lesson with one of our permanent native speaker assistants.

You will use the digital language laboratory to improve your listening skills and will do a variety of activities from working as a whole class to discussion groups and pair work. Studying beyond the classroom is essential at this level and it will be carefully structured and monitored.

What are facilities like at Sir John Deane’s?

The Modern Languages Department seeks to encourage you to extend your studies beyond the immediate demands of the syllabus and so develop your initiative for further study or the world of work.

To help you to do this, in addition to a computer suite with interactive languages software and 20 booth language laboratory, other facilities include:

• A well developed VLE containing links to a wide range of sites as well as quizzes, listening exams, samples of essay work etc.
• A private study room with laptops available to record oral practice work.
• Dictionaries and specially devised exercises for both listening and reading.
• A large DVD library of foreign language films.
• A lending library stocked with modern novels.
• Individual additional listening exercises.

Could you ask for anything more?

Visits

You will be able to participate in work experience schemes in France, Germany and Spain. Whilst there, you can sample the food and general culture first-hand in addition to improving your linguistic competence.

You may also have the chance to participate in a conference at a local university or visit the Cornerhouse Cinema, in Manchester, to see films.

Do Modern Languages link particularly well with other subjects?

The great thing about language study at this level is that you can combine it with any other A Levels – sciences, humanities and practical subjects. Languages are considered to be rigorous academic subjects for the purposes of access to the most prestigious universities.

Where will it lead me?

Language graduates are the third most employable after doctors and lawyers! It goes without saying that you will be able to work in a multinational company or even abroad with your language skills.

Here is what some of our ex-students have done:

Among them, three Spanish students raised funds whilst at SJD to go to Latin America to work with school children for six months and travelled extensively. They conquered the Inca trail in Perú, watched the sunset over Lake Titicaca, went horseriding in a condor sanctuary and worked with minority groups in Chile.

A French student spent a year in Japan, taught English in Italy and worked in a ski resort in Switzerland whilst another followed a university course in Engineering, spending a year in Italy on an Erasmus scheme.

A German student is working in international banking whilst another has become a lawyer.

All of our students who go on to study languages at university find that they are well ahead of other candidates.

One former student has commented: “The foundations which we received in the Languages Department are second to none, and I can’t believe that pupils in any other establishment can have been given such a rich appreciation of language.”

As you can see, we have a wide range of courses to offer you and our facilities are superb so why not come and join us?

Get ahead of the rest!

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