Stretford High School

In Key Stage 4 (year 10 & 11) student either study a GCSE in Spanish, French or Urdu; or an NVQ Level 1 or 2 in International Business Communication in French or Spanish. The NVQ Level 1 & 2 in International Business Language is a portfolio based qualification.  Students study topics of language related to the world of work and learn practical skills in communication which are useful in the place of work.

GCSE

Students learn to talk about the following topics:

• My World (Self, Family and Friends; Interests and Hobbies; Home and Local Environment; Daily Routine; School and Future Plans up to age 18)
• Holiday Time & Travel (Travel, Transport and Finding the Way; Tourism; Accommodation; Holiday Activities; Services)
• Work & Lifestyle (Home Life; Healthy Living; Part-Time Jobs and Work Experience; Leisure; Shopping)
• The Young Person in Society (Character and Personal Relationships; The Environment; Education; Careers and Future Plans post age 18; Social Issues, Choices and Responsibilities)

The GCSE is made up of four skill areas: listening (20%), speaking (30%), reading (20%) and writing (30%).  The final exam comes in two sections – reading and listening; while written skills are assessed through two pieces of extended writing and the speaking exam incorporates two tasks”.

AQA GCSE Spanish – Studying Spanish at GCSE adds an international dimension to your choice of GCSE subjects, which is something many future employers and universities look for. The advantages of modern languages for anyone wishing to work successfully in the international world are evident. Furthermore, language training also develops many skills which are useful in a wide range of future careers, such as the ability to communicate clearly, being confident about speaking in public, using problem-solving strategies etc. Spanish is the third most commonly spoken language in the world and, in terms of number of native speakers, it second only to Mandarin Chinese! It is the official language in more than twenty countries and is one of six official languages of United Nations. Whether you wish to trek around Peru in your gap year or work for the European Union, or you simply would like to be able to order some food whilst soaking up the sun on one of the Costas, Spanish is the language for you!

Students following the Spanish GCSE course learn about the following themes and topics:

• Health
• Relationships and Choices
• Leisure
• Holidays
• Environment
• Work and Education

How much of the course will be assessed by examination and how much by coursework?

Listening (20%) and Reading (20%): assessed by examination

WritingCoursework (30%): assessed externally (2 tasks submitted for moderation)

Speaking (30%): assessed internally (2 tasks submitted for moderation)

AQA GCSE Urdu – It is a living language spoken by 490 million people around the world. The Urdu community in the UK numbers about one million speakers. It is not just a practical language spoken on a daily basis, but one that produced great scholarships and poetry. Learning Urdu will also help you recognise words in Arabic and Persian since many words are common in all three languages. People will respect the fact that you make an effort to speak to them in their language, whether abroad or in the UK.

Students following the Urdu GCSE course learn about the following themes and topics:

• Health
• Relationships and Choices
• Leisure
• Holidays
• Environment
• Work and Education

How much of the course will be assessed by examination and how much by coursework?

Listening (20%) and Reading (20%): assessed by examination

WritingCoursework (30%): assessed externally (2 tasks submitted for moderation)

Speaking (30%): assessed internally (2 tasks submitted for moderation)

AQA GCSE French – French is one of the world’s major international languages: it is spokenby over 200 million people in 43 countries, on five continents. Knowing French increases your chances of communicating in non-English speaking countries and the prestige of French art, music, dance, literature, fashion, cuisine, and cinema make French a culturally important foreign language.

The course aims to enable you to use your French with confidence in a large number of contexts and to appreciate modern French society and culture. You will be able to share your interests, ideas and opinions with other people who speak French. Contemporary France and French-speaking countries are brought into the classroom with up-to-date material from magazines and newspapers as well as songs and films both documentary and artistic. Language training develops skills which are useful in a wide range of future careers, such as the ability to communicate clearly, being confident about speaking in public, using problem-solving strategies etc. Finally, you will add an international dimension to your choice of GCSE subjects, which is something many future employers and higher education providers look for.

Students learn about the following themes and topics:

• Health

• Relationships and Choices
• Leisure
• Holidays
• Environment
• Work and Education

How much of the course will be assessed by examination and how much by coursework?

Listening (20%) and Reading (20%): assessed by examination

WritingCoursework (30%): assessed externally (2 tasks submitted for moderation)

Speaking (30%): assessed internally (2 tasks submitted for moderation)

IBC

Through the IBC Entry Level Qualification students will:

• know, understand and be able to use a range of vocabulary in the target language.
• be able to greet and bid farewell to visitors in the target language within a business context.
• be able to construct and understand simple sentences and questions in the target language.
• be able to use strategies to help them to cope with comprehension: e.g asking for repetition / clarification.
• be able to receive and communicate information in the target language in a business context.

Students will initially take the Entry Level qualification in the language they have studied in Key Stage 3 (French or Spanish), but will later be offered the opportunity to take the Entry Level in the other language.

The Entry Level qualification contains four units:

• Element 1: Dealing with visitors to the company
• Element 2: Arriving at a hotel
• Element 3: Dealing with directions and signs
• Element 4: Travelling on business

In order to achieve a full Entry Level Qualification candidate must achieve all four units. Achievement of less than all four units can be recognised through unit accreditation.