FRENCH
SCQF LEVEL 5 - NATIONAL 5
National 5 French will develop your Reading, Listening, Talking and Writing skills alongside key skills required for work. Pupils will also gain a more in-depth knowledge of grammar as well as continuing to learn about French culture. Studying N5 will make it easier to pick up another language at a later date.
QUALIFICATION
National 5 French
DURATION
1 Year full time/
5 periods per week/160 hours
COURSEWORK
Assignment (12.5%) – one piece of writing 120-200 words long.
EXAM
Reading – 25%
Listening – 25%
Talking – 25%
Job Application Writing – 12.5%
COST
No cost although pupils may want to buy a bilingual dictionary.
TEACHERS
Mrs Laing
Mme Lamb
Mr Sawers
Mr Gibbings
Mrs Sayers
Mrs Yule-Walker
Mrs Walter
WHY TAKE THIS COURSE?
N5 French will allow pupils to develop their overall literacy skills and explore the interconnected nature of languages. N5 French will give you a good insight into how language works and will therefore improve your English.
Learning a new language enables candidates to make connections with different people and their cultures and to play a fuller part as global citizens. The ability to use language effectively lies at the centre of thinking and learning.
Having a N5 French will make travel easier and more fun!
This is an interesting article about how learning a language develops other skills.
“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”
Frank Smith
“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.”
Rita Mae Brown
“He who knows no foreign languages knows nothing of his own.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.”
Geoffrey Willans
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
Nelson Mandela
wHAT WILL YOU EXPERIENCE?
You will study a range of interesting and relevant topics including healthy living, the pros and cons of social media and employability. You will have access to a wide range of up to date resources (many digitally based) to help you achieve the best grade possible.
Check out our X and Instagram profiles for more information on the types of learning that takes place in our classrooms: @MeldrumMFL.

KEY FACTS
Everything you need to know before selecting this course
entry requirements
To study Nat 5 French we would expect you to have completed one of the following courses:
S3 French
N4 French
N5 German
N5 Spanish
what will you get?
National 5 in French
The course is graded
A: Band 1, Band 2
B: Band 3, Band 4
C: Band 5, Band 6
D: Band 7
progress
Everything you need to know about future pathways from this course
EMPLOYMENT
The course will develop pupils’ creative and critical thinking skills as well as helping pupils become better communicators and problem solvers. These are essential skills in the world of work. Research shows that people with a second language make better employees; the transferable skills you learn mean you are likely to do well no matter which type of job you choose to do. International companies are looking for people with language skills who can integrate easily into roles in other countries. Many companies say that job specific training can be given later if an employee already has a second language.
These videos explain how languages can be useful in a wide variety of job sectors:
Languages in creative industries.
Languages in health and wellbeing.
Languages in manufacture and engineering.
Languages in hospitality and tourism
my world of work
This link will take you to an excellent resource on MyWOW which looks at potential career routes when you select a combination of subjects.
STUDENT STORIES
Information from pupils who have studied this course as to how they feel it was.
Ethan- S6
I picked French as I plan to move to Canada and work in an area that has French as the primary language. It was also necessary as I had a gap in my timetable! I have enjoyed revisiting the course as I haven’t done it since S3. Making friends with people in different years has also been fun. I would recommend the course as it is taught at a good pace and even with a two- or three-year gap it was relatively easy to get back into the course.

Rebecca - S4
I picked French because I really love languages and found S3 French very fun. I think the course is challenging but not difficult and the type of work is varied so it’s never boring. As well as the language you learn about French culture. It goes quite fast but it’s easy to keep up with if you study. If you liked French in S3 and are willing to work hard then I think you’d really love this course!
