GCSE 2009 Modern Foreign Languages - Russian Event Overview & Assessment Details

1. GCSE 2009- Delivering the new specification in September 2009 Modern Foreign Languages - Russian

2. Aims of Event • To consider changes in specification content • To consider changes in listening and reading assessments • To consider changes in speaking assessment • To consider changes in writing assessment • To explore delivery strategies applicable to new specification

3. Key subject aims • To enable students to develop: • an understanding of Russian in a variety of contexts • a knowledge of a range of vocabulary and structures • transferable language learning skills • the ability to communicate effectively in Russian • awareness and understanding of countries and communities where Russian is spoken

4. All languages All languages

5. Qualification structure Unit/skill % Assessment Unit 1 Listening & understanding Defined common topic areas 23 Examination Edexcel marked Unit 2 Speaking Choice of themes 27 Examination Edexcel marked Unit 3 Reading & understanding Defined common topic areas 23 Examination Edexcel marked Unit 4 Writing Choice of theme-linked questions 27 Examination Edexcel marked

6. Listening and understanding Reading and understanding Listening and understanding Reading and understanding Mix of familiar question types Out and about English language questions Customer service and transactions Single Tier Personal information Listening (50 marks) 45 minutes + 5 Future plans, education and work Reading (50 marks) 55 minutes The Units in detail: Units 1 & 3 Units one and three (all languages) Unit one and three (all languages)

7. Listening & Reading - what is the same? • The single tier, incorporating two levels: • ‘Foundation’ questions targeted at grades G-C • ‘Higher’ questions targeted at grades B-A* • Emphasis on non-verbal testing • ‘Peaks and troughs’ approach rather than incline of difficulty (which can mean students give up before the end of the paper) • Most test types remain unchanged • NO dictionaries

8. Listening & Reading - what is new? • Revised Minimum Core Vocabulary • Reduced generic content with 4 common topic areas: • Out and about • Customer service & transactions • Personal information • Future plans, education & work • All questions, titles & rubrics in English • Less dependence on use of pictures

9. Listening & Reading - Test types (1) • The following are examples, not a prescriptive list: • Matching pictures to words • Matching halves of sentences • Writing a letter or number in box or grid • Multiple choice using pictures, words in English or (only in the reading test) Russian

10. Listening & Reading - Test types (2) • Further examples, not a prescriptive list: • Identifying correct statements (4 from 8) • Choosing 4 out of 8 options (identifying opinions, preferences, current likes etc) • Identifying speaker/writer by ticking box, or writing name or number • Gap filling (using letters/numbers/words or phrases in English) • Short answers in English Activity 1

11. Unit two Unit two Speaking Speaking Activities relate to chosen theme(s): 2 x different tasks from: Picture-based discussion OR presentation & follow-up discussion PLUS Themes link to those used in main languages Open interaction: general theme-based conversation Media, travel and culture Sport, leisure and work Assessment focus on communication Speaking

12. Media, travel & culture Music/film/reading Fashion/celebrities/religion Blogs/internet Holidays Accommodation Eating, food, drink Sport, leisure & work Hobbies/interests Sporting events Lifestyle choices Work experience/part-time jobs Product or service information Speaking assessment broad themes – possible content

13. Task 1 option 1 - Picture-based discussion • Students use picture as prompt to discussion • Picture relates to something of interest to student • Students prepare on an individual basis in advance • Students will not be presented with unseen picture a few minutes before assessment • Students will not be asked in-depth questions on every aspect of picture’s content

14. Task 1 option 2 - Presentation • Students choose their presentation content • Students prepare on an individual basis in advance • Students can give a short presentation (1 to 2 minutes maximum) - may refer to A5 sheet with bulleted notes (30 words maximum)

15. Task 2 –Conversation • Covers the selected general theme • Students able to prepare in advance of assessment • but must not know exact questions in advance

16. Speaking : marking criteria Content & Response (15) Very confident and fluent Frequently takes initiative & develops elaborate responses No difficulty in explaining wide range of ideas & points of view Very little or no hesitation Range of Language (5) Uses wide range of appropriate vocabulary & structures, including some complex lexical items Consistently competent use of different tenses Accuracy (5) Very accurate, only isolated & usually insignificant errors Consistently good pronunciation and intonation

17. Speaking = 2 tasksEITHER Picture-based discussion OR PresentationPLUS Conversation Activity 2

18. Unit four Unit four Writing Writing Choice of questions linked to new and engaging themes Single tier examination paper (1 hour) ‘Grouped’ themes: Media, travel and culture Sport, leisure and work Assessment focus on communication Increased choice of questions Different task types Writing

19. Writing assessment • Tasks: • give students opportunity to inform, describe, provide detail, express feelings & give opinions • reward students for effective communication, range & accuracy of language • are set in English (to ensure that the assessment is not over reliant on reading ability) • have key elements accessible to ‘Foundation’ students • provide opportunities to stretch and challenge • enable students to use a dictionary to check writing

20. Writing assessment • Students complete two tasks: • a shorter answer • a longer answer • Tasks are set on 2 ‘grouped’ themes: • Media, travel and culture • Sport, leisure and work • Dictionaries can be used

21. Writing assessment – Task 1 • A short piece of continuous writing: • could include writing short note, email etc • choice of 1 of 4 possible tasks (2 per grouped theme) • 25-50 words of Russian • requires information & simple opinion • assessed for communication + knowledge & application of language • dictionaries can be used

22. Writing assessment – Task 2 • Extended writing: • could include writing letter, report, magazine article, blog, etc • from a choice of 1 of 4 possible tasks (2 per grouped theme) • opportunities to narrate, express opinions and justify points of view, using variety of tenses • at least 90 words of Russian • assessed for communication, knowledge, application & accuracy of language • dictionaries can be used Activity 3

23. Delivery strategies Activity 4 1 All units sat at end of Y11, leaving as long as possible for students to prepare for assessments 2 Units 1 & 3 sat at end Y10 (unitisation of qualification means that students can re-sit each skill once before certification); Units 2 & 4 sat at end Y11 3 Short Courses - either ‘Spoken’ language (Units 1 & 2) OR ‘Written’ language (Units 3 & 4)

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