Modern Langauges

COURSES AVAILABLE

FRENCH AND SPANISH AT NATIONAL 4, NATIONAL 5 AND HIGHER At a time when an ever increasing number of jobs require a knowledge of a foreign language, studying French or Spanish will help you to develop a skill which will be of benefit in the future for both work and leisure. The S3/S4 and S5 courses build upon the work that you covered in S1 – S2 (Broad General Education). This means that you will need to revise these topics! Learning a language is a continuous process and moving on to a new topic means that you cannot forget what you learned beforehand. The work that you will do in S3 and Senior Phase will lead to the SQA qualification at either National Four, National Five or Higher.

MODERN LANGUAGES – COURSE AIMS

Courses at National Four and National Five level aim to develop your ability to:

• Read, listen, talk and write in the modern language
• Understand and use a modern language
• Apply knowledge and understanding of a modern language

The course will develop your skills and understanding. In addition to developing your language skills, the course also aims to:

• Develop literacy skills
• Develop communication skills
• Develop your understanding of how French and Spanish relate to English
• Raise your awareness of other cultures
• Develop skills such as ICT, research and working with others.

MODERN LANGUAGES – COURSE STRUCTURE

The National Four, National Five and Higher course are made up of two compulsory units. These are:

• UNDERSTANDING LANGUAGE – This unit will develop your reading and listening skills and will develop your knowledge and understanding of detailed language
• USING LANGUAGE – This unit will develop your talking and writing skills and will develop your knowledge and understanding of detailed language
• National Four – also has an “Added Value” unit that requires you to do a short reading test and then take part in a short oral exam.
• The National Four, National Five and Higher level courses are based around four theme areas. These are Society, Learning, Employability and Culture
• Within these theme areas, you will study a range of topics. These topics will include:

Family & friends     Lifestyles (sports / healthy living etc) Media (TV / Cinema & Technology) Language Learning     Describing your town Town & Country Life     School & Subjects Jobs / Part time employment / Future Jobs Pocket Money     CVs and Work Experience Holidays & other countries Foreign literature, TV and Film    

MODERN LANGUAGES – COURSE ASSESSMENT

• The National Four course is assessed entirely in school. There is no final SQA exam. Throughout the course, you will be assessed on your talking, writing, reading and listening skills!
• For the “Added Value” unit at National Four, you will do a reading and speaking assessment on a topic covered in class
• At National Five and Higher level: There will be a formal SQA exam, which will test your knowledge and skills. There is an internal assignment, which is marked at SQA. In the N5 exam, you are expected to understand and use detailed language. At Higher level the topics and grammar are a little more in-depth but lead on from your work at National 5.
• The National five course will be marked by the SQA and will be graded A-D

SQA EXAMS Components at National 5 and Higher level Both at National Five and at Higher, there are THREE exams. Component One – Reading (Paper 1) and Writing (Paper 2) In this paper, you will need to show that you can:

• Understand detailed written language
• Extract the main points from a text
• Use detailed written language
• Apply knowledge and understanding of the language

The reading paper is worth 30 marks. There will be three texts in the foreign language with questions in English which you will answer in English. In this paper, you may use a dictionary. Writing (Paper 2) The writing paper is worth 20 marks. You will write a text applying for a job by answering 6 bullet points. Again, you may use a dictionary. Component Two – Listening (Paper 3) In this paper, you will need to show that you can:

• Understand detailed spoken language
• Select relevant information
• Apply knowledge and understanding of the language

The listening paper is worth 20 marks. You will listen to one monologue and one short conversation. There will be questions in English, which you will answer in English. In this paper, you may not use a dictionary. Component Three – Talking (Performance) In this examination, you will deliver a presentation and take part in a short conversation. This assessment will allow you to show that you can:

• Use detailed language
• Take part in natural conversation
• Use language accurately to convey meaning
• Maintain interaction

The speaking assessment is worth 30 marks and is recorded. This exam is completed in school and will be assessed by your class teacher. It can be verified by SQA Writing assignment – This is done in the course of S4. You write on a topic of your choice. This writing is prepared in class with your teacher and you then reproduce it under exam conditions and your finished piece of writing is assessed by SQA. COURSE AWARD

• To get the full course award at National Five and Higher level, you will need to succeed in the final examination.

MODERN LANGUAGES – HOW TO SUCCEED!

To succeed in a foreign language, you will need to spend time each week, learning vocabulary, grammar and verbs. National Five and Higher level will test your ability to understand and use detailed language. Homework is vital in learning a Modern Language. You will need to be vigilant with your homework in order to develop the skills that you will need in order to do well in the final exams. Homework will be a selection from

• Copying and learning vocabulary and grammar notes
• Reading passages and testing your comprehension
• Revising for class vocabulary and verb tests
• Finishing class work at home
• Writing exercises
• Past paper questions
• Preparing for internal assessments

This will be a busy and productive year. Your teacher will support you as much as you need, however you must be prepared to work at your language studies in order to get the best qualification possible. Your teachers are, as always, available to help and support you. We hope that you ENJOY a course with the Modern Languages