FCSE – video

Transcript

FCSE is an exciting new qualification which we believe will have a wide appeal in these challenging times for modern language teaching. Many language learners study for three years or more and end up with nothing to show for their efforts. No longer!

AQA staff have been speaking to practising teachers and we have found that there is a gap between our Entry Level Certificates and GCSE qualifications. FCSEs will bridge that gap. Anybody who has studied the type of content of Levels 4, 5 and 6 of the Modern Foreign Languages National Curriculum can now have a formal qualification, rewarding their hard work.

So what is FCSE and why is this a unique product in the market place?

The FCSE has no defined content or vocabulary – it has been designed to reward language learners for work routinely covered in their language lessons. There are twelve units, based on the Entry Level Certificate and GCSE themes. Teachers can choose to cover all twelve or as few as three, if time is tight.

Each unit includes all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Students will send a portfolio of work to AQA for moderation from three of the twelve units.

Listening and reading tests will be set by AQA but marked by the teacher. We will provide optional tests for speaking and writing but teachers can, if you prefer, produce your own tests.

These assessments can be taken at any time during the course – whenever students have covered the content of a unit.

Administration is straightforward – we realise teachers do not have time to deal with complicated paperwork. The keys to FCSE are versatility, flexibility and manageability – teachers want to have time to teach and to reward learners for their achievements. This is a teacher-friendly way to motivate language learners. We hope it will motivate many of them to continue their studies. The familiarity and flexibility of the assessment tests will encourage teachers and learners and onscreen testing is on its way.

The first phase of this development is already underway. Selected centres will begin teaching in September 2007, when French and Spanish units will be available. All centres will be able to come on board from September 2008, when German and Italian will join French and Spanish.

We will give teachers the high standard of support expected from AQA when you start offering your pupils the opportunity to achieve this new qualification.

We will put on free of charge launch meetings around the country in the autumn term 2007. These will be followed by language-specific meetings which will continue to take place annually. Teachers will have the chance to look at examples of student responses and to discuss how to teach and assess the FCSE. We will produce support materials and our publishing partner, Nelson Thornes, will supplement these with customised teaching and assessment materials.

This is a qualification requested by teachers, designed by and for teachers – we are confident that this will be a success story for both teachers and learners.