Modern Foreign Languages - IGCSE FRENCH and SPANISH - Edexcel
Why Study French or Spanish at IGCSE level?
In our modern and global society, it is essential to study a foreign language. It is also a requirement should students wish to study a language at an advanced level (IB). Studying a foreign language enables students to communicate in a variety of contexts and demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
During this course, students will develop:
- Knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- The ability to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts in the language.
- Transferable language learning skills.
- An awareness and understanding of countries and communities where the language is spoken.
The IGCSE French/Spanish course at BISC
Some aspects of the IGCSE have already been introduced in Year 9. The course in Years 10 and 11, which covers a wide variety of topics, both reinforces and builds on the vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical rules, enabling students to operate confidently in a range of work and social situations.
The IGCSE course follows the Edexcel Board and consists of three units based on the following skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The course provides breadth, stretch and challenge and it enables students to show what they know, understand and can do within a clearly defined list of topics and subtopic areas.
Structure of the course
|
Topics |
Sub-topics |
|
A. Home and abroad |
1. Life in the town and rural life 2. Holidays, tourist information and directions 3. Services (e.g. bank, post office)* 4. Customs 5. Everyday life, traditions and communities |
|
B. Education and employment |
1. School life and routine 2. School rules and pressure 3. School trips, events and exchanges 4. Work, career and volunteering 5. Future plans |
|
C. Personal life and relationships |
1. House and home 2. Daily routines and helping at home 3. Role models* 4. Relationships with family and friends 5. Childhood* |
|
D. The World around us |
1. Environmental issues 2. Weather and climate* 3. Travel and transport 4. The media 5. Information and communication technology |
|
E. Social activities, fitness and health |
1. Special occasions 2. Hobbies, interests, sports and exercise 3. Shopping and money matters 4. Accidents, injuries, common ailments and health issues* 5. Food and drink |
*Sub-topics A3, C3, C5, D2 and E4 will not be assessed in Paper 3: Speaking.
Assessment
The IGCSE provides:
- written assessment in listening, reading and writing skills
- assessment of spoken language
- 100% external assessment.
|
Unit |
Assessment |
Weight |
|
Paper 1: Listening |
30-minute examination paper, plus five minutes’ reading time. Total marks: 40 |
25% |
|
Paper 2: Reading and Writing |
1h 45-minute examination paper. Reading: five tasks, each based around a collection of short texts or a longer single text. One literary text. Total marks reading: 40 Writing: two writing tasks and a third grammar-based task. First writing task around 60-75 words, including four prescribed words or short phrases. Second writing between 130-150 words: students will be able to choose from three questions. Total marks writing: 40 |
50% |
|
Paper 3: Speaking |
8-10 minutes Part 1: picture presentation followed by questions on the picture. Part 2: two conversations about two different topics, chosen at random by Edexcel. Total marks: 40 |
25% |
The Student Perspective - French
"Learning French isn't just about studying a language. French is a gateway to cultures around the world: over 25 countries have French as an official language, and over 450 million people around the world speak French, enabling you to communicate with them and understand them; furthermore, the course covers not only the language itself, but also French culture and traditions. French is also a gateway to other languages: French is one of a few Latin (Romance) languages spoken today; learning and understanding French can be a great asset if, in future, you will learn others such as Spanish, Italian or Portuguese. French is also, surprisingly, a gateway to other subjects: it is the language of culture, used in fields ranging from art to literature to cuisine to cinema. Learning a new language, especially French with its intricate yet logical, natural and orderly rules, is also a great way to develop your critical and creative thinking skills, which can even help you in STEM!
The French IGCSE course covers many diverse topics, such as school, holidays, jobs and the environment, equipping you to communicate with others both in casual and formal settings. It is based on the four pillars of communication (reading, listening, speaking and writing) and strongly develops all four skills. I greatly recommend choosing French for iGCSE, thanks to the utility, as well as the pleasure, of learning this language!"
Andrei Robu
The Student Perspective - Spanish
"The Spanish language possesses a unique beauty that is evident through its culture, history and influence. With over 548 million speakers worldwide, it offers a great deal of opportunities for meeting new people and being able to communicate all around the world.
The IGCSE course covers a range of topics from holidays and relationships to jobs and the environment, examining students in every aspect (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), thereby helping students to grasp the poetic melody of the Spanish language. In addition, the teaching staff are supportive and help in every way possible by creating enjoyable and informative lessons, so as to ensure the best experience for all students.
Overall, I urge and encourage all students aspiring to widen their knowledge in the subject of languages to choose to study Spanish and begin to embark on a journey that you wouldn’t regret."
Salaheldin Abdelwahab