Advice for A-Level French Students
If you’re having trouble with A-Level French revision, finding a private French tutor can help with every aspect of the course. Plus, these helpful tips will give you the best chance of making the most of your potential at A-Level French.
Useful Advice for A-Level French Students
-
Research, Research, Research! Whether you're preparing for your oral examinations, coursework, essay papers or presentations, a solid understanding of the French culture and tradition is vital.
-
Vocabulary and Grammar - Still Important! Even though the questions are more complex and the vocabulary you use is more specialised, making simple spelling and grammar errors is still the quickest way to lose marks. Focus your A-Level French revision as much on the basics as anything else.
-
Immerse Yourself in the Language. Whether it's through trips to France, reading French literature or speaking to native French speakers, the A-Level French papers will seem a lot easier if reading French is second nature to you.
And More…
A-Level French is a different sort of subject to what you've studied before - it's no longer about learning basic French in carefully constructed examples but gaining an understanding of how the language is spoken and written. The emphasis is placed on extended written work and French culture in the A-Level, especially the A2 written papers which require detailed knowledge and a good command of the language so the best way to obtain results is through practice.
The spoken elements of the examination are equally focused more on showing your command of the language rather than your conversation skills, to test your public speaking and improvisation as much as your language skill. Don't try to memorise swathes of text if you need to give a presentation, but instead remember the core facts and try to sound natural when speaking.
Working with a French tutor is a good way of focusing your A-Level French revision towards the spoken exam.
With this advice in mind, treat A-Level French revision like you would any other subject - set attainable targets, work through practise A-Level French papers, employ revision guides and practice as often as you can.
When the exam day arrives, stay calm, and treat the written aspects of the exam like you would any other written exam - read the questions carefully, plan any extended answers and spend some time checking your spelling and grammar at the end.