All about A levels in Modern Languages – course information

What are A levels in Modern Languages about?

'Modern Languages' refers to a range of individual language A levels, from the most widely available ones (A level French, A level German and A level Spanish) to language A levels taken by a much smaller number of people, for instance Russian, Italian, and Chinese. All of these A levels follow a similar pattern. The EDEXCEL exam board offers A levels in the widest range of modern languages.

Languages reveal fascinating things about the people that use them, as cultures are both shaped by the language they speak while actively shaping that language in turn. This means that if you are interested in humanity, its history and the challenges facing the modern world, then you will find an A level in Modern Languages to be a rewarding and worthwhile choice. An A level in a modern language will also help you become more sensitive in general to language and culture, making you a better communicator.

As you would expect you will learn to develop a good command of vocabulary and grammar, to be able to translate into and out of the language, and to speak it confidently. However, there is a lot more to A level Modern Languages than that.

They all include studying social issues and trends in relation to any country that speaks that language as a first language. For example if you study French A level you could look at the development of ‘cyber-society’ in France or in Canada or in Algeria.  If you choose A level Spanish or A level Italian, you will find yourself exploring some of the key elements of Spanish and South American society and culture or Italian and Swiss culture. An A level in German will encompass both Germany and Austria and could also involve looking at the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

You will also study political and artistic culture and look in detail at literature and films written in your chosen language. There is a wide selection of texts that you can choose from, and you are generally able to choose whether you would prefer to look at one literary text or one film or two literary texts. A level French students often choose to read Camus’ l’Etranger or Joseph Joffo Un Sac de Billes. Common films include La Haine and Entre Les Murs.  Popular choices for Spanish students include Esquivel’s Como Agua Para Chocolate and Gabriel García Márquez Crónica de una meurte anunciada and the film Volver.  Studying literature and film really brings the language to life and also consolidates your understanding of culture and society that is so important for other topics you study.

Underpinning all of those topics is work in advanced grammar and the vocabulary which will increase your fluency and ability to communicate in that language.

What sort of work is involved?

An A level in a modern language will involve reading and listening to a wide variety of media texts – news and magazine articles and broadcasts, as well as interviews. You will also be able to develop your skills in speaking and writing through class-based discussion and through using the language to produce different types of written text. You will write essays and shorter pieces such as summaries and have the opportunity to practice translation from your first language to your chosen language and from your chosen language to your first language. You will also have the opportunity to develop independent research skills in that language and present your findings to your teacher and classmates.  In many ways the A level course equips you to be able to function in your chosen language independently, while also laying the foundation for further study.

What background do I need?

It would be challenging to take an A level in a language without any prior knowledge of the language – so a GCSE or equivalent level is recommend before you begin (and if you only got a 4 or 5, take advice - you may find the A level very difficult). If you have learnt to speak a language while living abroad that helps, but be prepared to polish up grammar and for the work on cultural aspects. The study of modern languages is helped by having some knowledge of ancient languages (though this is not essential), History, Geography and English and English literature.

Where can it lead?

Universities value students who have taken a modern language at A level. An A level in a modern language provides a particularly good foundation for a degree in History, English, Politics, or Law and also opens the door to doing a joint honours degree (for example English and Spanish or Law and French).

Having an additional language can enhance your employability in a world which increasingly depends on global relationships.

One year course? 

It is possible to do an A level in a modern language in one year as long as you have a very good level in the language when you begin (ideally an A or A* at GCSE), and are prepared to work hard.

Assessment

All exams will take place at the end of the course. An example of a typical final assessment (EDEXCEL French A level) is given below:

Paper 1 Listening, reading and target language to English translation

Paper 2 Written response to works (texts and/or films) and translation into target language

Paper 3 Involves speaking live on three tasks: discussion on a theme (chosen from 2 on a given stimulus card);  independent research presentation; discussion on independent research

Article written by Catherine Weston of Oxford Tutorial College