Page last updated on Friday 11th July 2008

Modern Languages in S3/4

Pupils may continue with their study of French and can also take German in S3. The ability to communicate in a foreign language has become highly prized in industry and commerce in this country and it offers free movement to jobs in other European countries.

Jobs which are language specific include teaching, travel and tourism, interpreting and translating but languages are sought after in journalism, publishing, telecommunications, law, engineering, media, office & clerical, science.

All universities and colleges now offer joint courses in which a foreign language is studied alongside another major subject e.g. law and languages, business and languages, engineering and languages. Skills developed in languages are also much sought after by employers e.g. communication skills, interactive skills, team/pair work.

French
Pupils develop skills in reading for understanding, listening, writing and speaking.

The course is offered at Access for some pupils in S3, and at Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 levels in S4. The decision between Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 very much depends on the pupil’s work over S3 and S4.

,p>Candidates are allowed to use a foreign language dictionary for reading and writing activities both in class and during examinations.

German
All pupils have experienced some German in their languages course by the end of S2. Pupils can choose to take German as well as French as a second language course.

The skills and elements taught are the same as those in French.

What do you study?
A series of topics is studied over S3 and S4 including leisure and health issues, work experience and future employment, holidays, travel and tourist information, education, self, family and home, relationships with others. Practice is given in reading, listening, writing and speaking in all topics studied. Use is made of various media in the department such as MP3 players ICT and DVDs to enhance learning and teaching.

How do pupils get their marks and grades?
The Access course consists of reading, speaking and listening all of which are internally assessed for the National Qualification at the end of S3.

Intermediate 1 adds in writing and the National Qualification is obtained through a mixture of internal and external assessment. With regard to the external assessment Reading makes up 35% of the final mark, Listening is worth 20%. The Writing paper accounts for 15% of the award, whilst Speaking, which is recorded and may be submitted to the SQA, is worth 30%.

The Intermediate 2 exam also consists of reading, speaking, listening and writing. Each element is assessed internally during the units of the course and externally at the end of S4 to obtain the National Qualification with the breakdown of marks as follows:- 30% for Reading, 20% for Listening, 20% for Writing and 30% for Speaking, which consists of a recorded Presentation and Conversation which may be submitted to the SQA.

What comes next?
Modern Languages Intermediate 1 ---------- Modern Languages Intermediate 2
Modern Languages Intermediate 2 ---------- Modern Languages Higher