Welsh

 WELSH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE -  G.C.S.E. SHORT COURSE

Examination Board:  W.J.E.C.

The examination is designed for candidates:

• for whom Welsh is not their first language,
• who have obtained their knowledge of Welsh chiefly at primary and/or Secondary School

The four skill areas of language teaching are categorised in to the two main language areas:

1. Receptive Modes:

• Listening comprehension
• Reading comprehension

2. Productive Modes:

• Speaking
• Writing

The examination is designed on two levels: Foundation and Higher.

All candidates will follow the course and will sit an examination in the four elements Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing.

To gain levels A*, A, B, C or D, a candidate will have to sit the Higher paper.

To gain levels C, D, E, F or G a candidate will have to sit the Foundation paper.

Written COURSE WORK must be presented by each student as well as a tape of oral work.

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

All attainment marks will be marked as follows:-

              Examination                                                Coursework     

            * Oral  (group)            20%                            * Oral                          20%

            * Listening                  10%                            * Reading                   10%

            * Reading                   15%                            * Writing                     10%

            * Writing                     15%

There will be 4 parts to the examination.

* Teacher''s continuous assessment - Oral (Individual Tasks)                    20%

* External assessment          Oral (Pair or group)                                       20%

* External assessment          Listening/Watching and understanding         10%

* External assessment          Reading                                                         15%

                                                Writing                                                        15%

* Internal assessment           Coursework, Reading, Writing                        20%

WELSH GCSE Full Course

Taught by Saint Richard Gwyn Staff

The GCSE Welsh 2nd Language course is based on 6 fields of study, where the pupils are expected to speak, listen and understand, read and write about various topics.

 4 of the topics are assessed externally, in exam conditions and 2 of the topics are assessed through coursework which is marked in school.

Topics vary from local interests, family, leisure, fashion, TV and radio to the world of work and easy Welsh literature.

Group work is a very important element of the course, and great emphasis is put on the oral work because it accounts for 50% of the final marks.

There are 3 pieces of oral course work which the pupils prepare for in advance.

Full course pupils are taught in a mixed ability class, and the tier they sit in the final exam depends on their progress and ability.

Homework is set regularly, and learning vocabulary and structures is regarded as being as important as writ­ten and comprehension tasks.

Coursework is not completed at home, but thorough preparation is expected in order to achieve as good a result as possible.