A Levels - Modern Foreign Languages

French and Spanish

Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form offers A Levels in French and Spanish and these will allow you to be able to speak, write, read and understand your chosen language at a high level. In addition, you will explore the societies, cultures and current affairs of the countries where your chosen languages are spoken.

Each Language will include an in-depth study of your topics in year one, such as the media, popular culture, healthy living/lifestyle and family and relationships, you will use authentic sources of information including newspapers and magazine articles. In year two you will expand on these subjects to take into context the country/community of the language being studied. You will look at a specific region in your chosen country, a period of 20th century history, the work of an author, the work of a dramatist or poet and the work of a director, architect, musician or painter, plus focus on topics such as the environment, multicultural societies and contemporary social issues.

Why choose Languages?

Did you know that people who study languages have some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country? In other words, people who can speak more than one language are in very high demand by employers! Not only that, but the possession of a second language often raises your basic salary considerably, making the study of a modern foreign language to be very profitable. Research suggests that over 90% of careers using languages are in non-linguistic professions. On average people who use languages in their jobs, earn 8% more than non-linguist colleagues (Reed).

The large accountancy and management consultancy partnerships like Price Waterhouse Coopers and Touche Ross are the largest, single employment sector for arts and language graduates in particular. In fact, many UK firms are active on a European and International scale. British Airways insists that all flight personnel now have knowledge of a foreign language (Nigel Reeves, Aston University).

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