Pupils are strongly encouraged to study a modern language at GCSE level, hence we offer both Irish and French. Most pupils who come to our school from local Gaelscoileanna will sit their GCSE Irish exam at the end of KS3.
Students of GCSE Irish and French can develop their enthusiasm for the language while increasing their confidence in the four key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. They learn more about Irish/French-speaking countries/communities, as well as covering topics like social and global issues – taking their place as citizens in a multilingual, global society.
GCSE CCEA IRISH & FRENCH
This is a revised specification with first teaching from September 2017 and first awarding in Summer 2019. Candidates must complete at least 40 percent of the overall assessment requirements at the end of the course, in the examination series in which they request a final subject grade. Some assessments can be taken in Year 11 and candidates may resit individual assessment units once before cash‐in. The better of the two results will count towards their final GCSE grade.
Three Contexts for Learning are covered over the two year course:
Structure of the GCSE Course
| Unit 1:
Listening 25%
|
External written examination with
stimulus material in Irish There are two tiers of entry:
Students answer 12 questions. Four of these are the same in both tiers. Responses include:
|
Unit 3:
Reading 25%
|
External written examination with
stimulus material in Irish There are two tiers of entry:
Students answer 12 questions. Four of these are the same in both tiers. Responses include:
|
| Unit 2:
Speaking 25%
|
One teacher‐facilitated and externally marked speaking examination
There is one tier of entry. The test lasts 7-12 minutes, plus 10 minutes of supervised preparation time. Each test includes:
Each role‐play lasts up to 2 minutes and each conversation topic takes up to 4 minutes.
Students prepare the first conversation topic in advance from the Context for Learning that we prescribe.
Teachers must record and authenticate all evidence and submit it to us for marking. |
Unit 4:
Writing 25%
|
External written examination
There are two tiers of entry: · Foundation (1 hour); and · Higher (1 hour 15 mins). Students answer four questions. One of these is the same in both tiers. Responses include: · a listing and short phrase task in Irish/French (Foundation Tier only); · short phrase/sentence responses in Irish/French (both tiers); · short responses in Irish/French to one or more pieces of text (Higher Tier only); · translation of short sentences from English into Irish/French (both tiers); and · one structured, extended writing task in Irish/French from a choice of three(both tiers) |
CAREERS LINKED WITH MODERN LANGUAGES
Advertising, Airport Information Assistant, Bilingual secretary
Banking, Courier/Resort Representative, Customs Officer
Diplomatic Service Officer, European Union Administrator,
Export Sales Manager, Flight Attendant, Hotel Manager/Receptionist, Interpreter, International Business Administration, Immigration Officer, Journalist, Lecturer, Librarian, Media, Solicitor, Teacher, Tourist Information Centre Assistant, Translator
CAREERS LINKED WITH IRISH
Teaching, Classroom Assistant in Gaelscoileanna, Irish language promoter for the GAA, Garda Síochana, Irish Army, Translator, European Union Administrator, Advertising, work in Gaeltacht areas, Local Council sector, Producer of Irish radio/television programmes, Irish language radio/television presenter, Irish language website designer, Journalism, Producer of Irish language resources, Administration, Civil Service