December 2024 Languages Update
Dear Colleagues,
As we approach the end of this term, I hope you find time to relax and recharge. In this update, I am pleased to share links to exemplars for the 2024 GCSE French, German, and Spanish exams, covering writing and speaking. This week we have added further examples of the Read Aloud and Role Play tasks which we hope you will find useful in supporting your understanding of our mark schemes.
Additionally, you'll find information on further training, resources, and exemplars for other Pearson Edexcel Languages qualifications. I am also excited to include links to principal examiner vacancies in two languages, a festive December resource for those celebrating, and new episodes of the "Speaking Your Language" podcast. I hope you find the range on offer in this update both interesting and useful for your teaching.
As always, if you need support with any of our languages qualifications, please feel free to reach out to me using the contact details at the bottom of this page or utilize our support portal.
Best wishes,
Rebecca Waker
Subject Advisor for Languages
In this month’s update:
- GCSE (2024) Exemplars
- GCSE French, German & Spanish (2024) – On Demand writing marking guidance
- International Qualifications - Speaking exam conduct training
- International GCSE English as a Second Language Entries
- Japanese and French Principal Examiner vacancies
- International Qualifications Exemplars
- Festive December resource
- Speaking Your Language podcast
We are pleased to be able to offer a comprehensive collection of exemplar materials designed to help both teachers and students understand and apply the new mark schemes. Our resources include full speaking exam videos, writing responses at various levels, and newly added read aloud and role play tasks. These all come with marks and examiner commentary to demonstrate how these tasks will be marked at first assessment in 2026.
These materials are intended to provide clear examples and practical insights, making it easier to navigate the new assessments and support your students to achieve success in their language studies.
This course aims to:allow teachers the opportunity to access marked exemplars with clear audio and video explanations;give teachers the confidence to mark the new specification;allow teachers to go through this course in their own time, with the flexibility of it being on-demand.
Coming in early 2025, we’ll be launching a new, on-demand training course focusing on marking guidance for the MFL 2024 Writing GCSE. This training will equip teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to confidently mark their students’ work against the new specification mark scheme, in preparation for their exams. The training will take teachers through the writing exam for French, German and Spanish, showing example answers, explaining why they received their specific mark, and providing additional examples for the teachers to work through independently.
We know the importance of teacher-examiners feeling well-prepared for the speaking exams in order to support candidates to get the grades that they deserve. This is why we are pleased to be offering training for International GCSE English as a Second Language (2023), International GCSE Languages (2017) and International A and AS Level Languages. These sessions will be offered in early 2025 and I will share the registration information once it is available. Keep an eye on our Pearson Professional Development Academy for the latest updates.
If you are entering candidates for International GCSE English as a Second Language in the June 2025 series it is important to be aware that there are two specifications being assessed in this series.
This series sees the final assessment of 4ES1 (the 2017 specification). Candidates can be entered for this qualification using the usual entry codes found in our Entries and Information Manual. Please be aware that this is the last assessment for this specification, so there will not be an opportunity for candidates to re-sit. The speaking assessment is still optional and awarded as a separate grade from the subject grade.
The codes for the new specification are also found in our Entries and Information Manual. Please note, the new English as a Second Language specification is only available as a unitized qualification. If centres want to enter in a linear route, they need to enter for all four units as well as the cash-in, in the same series using the unit and cash-in code. The speaking assessment is now a compulsory unit in this qualification counting towards the overall grade.
For support making entries please visit our Support Portal.
As part of our commitment to supporting teachers and students with our qualifications we are continuing to provide exemplars for a range of qualifications.
Exemplar commentaries for Units 1, 3 and 4 for IAL German, French, Spanish are now available. We also have commentaries for International GCSE Greek.
With the countdown to the Christmas break almost upon us, we’ve created a festive pack of activities for you and your students to enjoy between now and the New Year. Whether completed in class or as part of homework, our new resource pack includes a range of activities and ideas that you can adapt as you wish, such as festive quizzes, charades, word searches and more!
Episode 6 features Councillor Antoinette Bramble discussing Hackney Borough Council's award-winning Spanish immersion program, highlighting the community's role in empowering learners and celebrating linguistic diversity.
In Episode 5, Paul Thomas, headteacher of Parkwood Primary School, and two Year 6 students talk about their unique experience at the UK's only Spanish International School and the benefits of early language education. The students also share their positive experiences of speaking Home, Heritage, and Community Languages.
Discover inspiring stories and innovative approaches to language teaching in the latest episodes of the "Speaking Your Language" podcast hosted by Pearson’s own Fiona Pryce.
In Episode 7, Fiona interviews Crista Hazell, a renowned MFL consultant and author, who shares her passion for language learning, tips on building positive student relationships, and the importance of teacher wellbeing. They also discuss the significance of primary languages and supporting Home, Heritage, and Community Languages.
Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical advice to enhance your language teaching.
Subject advisor
Rebecca Waker
Languages
