Higher Grade French
Topics Taught
Higher French requires significant proficiency in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. These skills are developed as pupils progress through the following themes:
- Problems in relationships;
- roles of men & women;
- advantages / disadvantages of home area;
- student life;
- TV viewing;
- travel & tourism;
- French & Scottish education;
- analysis of a good school;
- foreign languages & working abroad;
- future career;
- improving lifestyle – alcohol, tobacco, drugs.
Homework
Homework for Higher French often consists of preparation of sections of the book or other passages for study, completion of grammatical exercises, listening-related tasks, essay writing and reading comprehension questions. Regular learning of vocabulary and grammatical structures is expected.
Assessments (Internal and External)
A pass in all four skills in Internal and in External Assessment is necessary to secure a course award at Higher Still. Details are as follows :
Internal Assessment :
Language Unit : Speaking, listening and reading.Extended Reading and Viewing : Writing.
External Assessment :
Reading, translation, listening and writing. Speaking is dual purpose, and marks awarded in the course of Internal Assessment are forwarded to the SQA as part of the final award.
Prelim examinations assess all the elements previously mentioned with the exception of Speaking. Tests of this skill take place at a later date. Informal tests in any of the above elements may be conducted during the session, at the discretion of the class teacher.
Next Steps
Pupils securing a good Higher pass are eligible to further study French at Advanced Higher level.
The ability to communicate in a foreign language has never been as important as it is today. Our closer links with Europe have provided increased opportunities for work and study abroad, and for manufacturing and marketing links with foreign companies. An increasing number of Degree Courses refer to a pass in a Modern Foreign Language as a preference for entry.
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