Gcse languages

Guys I have no idea how to revise languages. In my school you have to do two (I do German and French) and I am failing. I just don’t know how to revise languages, please help me.

Reply 1

username6000581

I'm not an expert but I think there is some general advice I could give (I take Aqa French and Aqa German gcses):

Step 1: Look at the specimin - if you go to your exam board's website then there should be an option to see the specimin, so print off the vocabluary and what is required. Vocabluary is the key!

Step 2: Use flashcards (make your own, or use anki or another website) and either type out the vocabluary or use another user's template. Split the vocabluary into modules (e.g. for aqa there are names of chapters) and try using spaced repetition, or aim to learn the vocab in a day. Learn the vocab French to English and German to English - it is harder initially but it sticks better.

Step 3: What components are in your exam? Are they equally rated? Aqa is 25% for each component (reading, writing, speaking and listening).

Step 4: Use past papers (if you're doing higher, start with foundation tests, and equally if you're doing foundation then you might want to attempt higher as a challenge) and find out your weakest area.

If you're struggling with the reading and comprehension skills - Learn learn learn vocabluary! If possible, maybe invest or look online for the textbook or simple texts to try and improve this skill. Use past papers to see how to allocate time - and remember to look at the instructions - it's very important to write in French/German when it asks you to.

If you're struggling with writing, then look online gcse writing prompts or there are books out there to help you improve. Start writing just for the sake of writing, and use the markscheme to try and see what is needed (e.g. time phrases, fancy adjectives etc - memorise it all to improve your chances of a high grade).

If you're struggling with listening - use vocabluary, but also online resources to attempt to find out the pronunciations of those words. Memorise the French and German alphabet and their sounds - this also helps with speaking.

The main key is to implement what is needed to achieve a high grade. However, this is very much ONLY for the exam. In order to study a language further than gcse in detail, then you should spend some time immersing yourself into media - tv shows with subtitles, podcasts, looking up videos at your level (you might have to endure some tv shows which might seem babyish - but it is helping your language skills).

Grammar - grammar can be hard to learn. Memorise the tenses etc - they are key for doing well in writing and speaking exams. However, some things (such as dative and accusative in German) are not necessary for a high grade, but once you learn it, it makes you more proficient and better set up for later learning. If you are in a rush and only looking for a high grade, then learn the tenses, but things such as dative and accusative don't need much focus. However, if you have time, learn the gcse grammar!!

Speak to your teachers - they could help you improve/pinpoint you to resources.

Best of luck and I hope some of this helps :wink:

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 2

erin11

Debate & Current Affairs Helper, Study Forum Helper

Original post by Elita777

Guys I have no idea how to revise languages. In my school you have to do two (I do German and French) and I am failing. I just don’t know how to revise languages, please help me.

Hi, I'm currently doing A-level French and here are some things that have been useful for me:

•

memrise - very helpful for learning vocab

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https://app.memrise.com/community/course/1137583/aqa-new-gcse-french-from-2016/ AQA GCSE French

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https://app.memrise.com/community/course/953348/aqa-2016-onwards-gcse-german-vocabulary/ AQA GCSE German

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quizlet - upload all your speaking questions and practice, practice, practice! also good for vocab

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YouTube - I found this helpful for walkthroughs about grammar that I struggled with

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use your teachers!! - it might seem awkward but at the end of the day they are here to help you so maybe talk to them about how you're struggling with revision and then they can point you in the right direction 🙂

Reply 3

dust bunny

Original post by Elita777

Guys I have no idea how to revise languages. In my school you have to do two (I do German and French) and I am failing. I just don’t know how to revise languages, please help me.

I did German and French at gcse and got a 9 and these are things I did to do that

A BIG LIST
basically the requirement for all of the language exams is checklist. Once you can tick off everything In the checklist you are good to go

-at least 2 opinions w a reason
-past/ present/ future
-conditional/ imperfect/subjunctive
-talk about yourself AND others
-connectives
-adjectives (and no not just gut)
Like use interesting different ones eg unternehmunglustig (again I’m ur 13 idk how to spell it anymore)
-adverbs
-intensifiers
-INTERESTING VOCAB
-comparitave/superlative
-idiom (optional but if u can learn a couple pls do shows your a high grade student)
-modal verbs
-COMPLEX SENTENCE STRUCTURE like um…zu
-USE NEGATIVES
-SO MANY OPINIONS
But not just icy finds use cool ones. Like Ich glaube dass or ich denke dass kr meiner meinung nach (personal faves)

LEARN YOUR TENSES (ALL OF THEM not just past present future)
This is one of the things that put me in the higher category. Make a massive list of the above abd put examples and look at it before every exam LIFESAVER i assure u you can use it in EVERY SINGLE EXAM its such a good method. This was mainly abt german but same applies for french. If you need any examples feel free to ask i have a massive sheet i made when i took ny exam. Hope that helps :smile: