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Using authentic work-related contexts
'It is challenging to begin a new course and hard work but refreshing and worth it. Assessment at regular times when the students are ready is a good aspect of the course.'
Matt Connor, The Piggott School, SSAT Leader Practitioner for GCSE in Applied French
Context
The Piggott School is a mixed comprehensive school with around 1150 students on roll. It is set in Wargrave, a middle class area just outside Reading.
Key objectives
- To use genuine work-related contexts to motivate learners in French in KS4.
- To offer a more adult alternative to the conventional GCSE course.
How the programme is organised
- Applied French GCSE has been offered to students in KS4. Those opting have tended to be middle ability students.
- Real business scenarios have been devised to motivate the students.
- Links have been set up with Futuroscope in France as well as Microsoft and local hotels in the Reading area.
Principles of teaching
Teaching Applied French gives you the flexibility to create contexts that fit best with your learners. There are fewer obligatory topic areas than in standard GCSE and this gives much scope to be creative. In addition, Applied French allows teachers to create real business scenarios to motivate students.
Evidence of success
Matt Connor from the school has been chosen to be the SSAT Lead Practitioner Coordinator for Applied French.
There has been no major impact on results as yet, but it is believed there will be an improvement as the exam board provides more support and as staff and students become more accustomed to the course requirements.
Future developments
- Further development of www.appliedfrench.co.uk website to help all students.
- Better liasion with other vocational areas in school
- Improved business links.
Author: Matt Connor
