March 2024 Languages Update

We are now pleased to be able to share with you the Spanish and German versions of our vocabulary and grammar guide. These guides contain everything you need to know about the vocabulary and grammar lists for the Pearson GCSE (2024) qualifications. They are specific to each language as some aspects are different.

You are now able to pre-order our GCSE (2024) French, Spanish and German textbooks.

Read more about our new resources

In addition, full schemes of work for these qualifications are now available.

French Foundation Scheme of Work

French Higher Scheme of Work

Spanish Foundation Scheme of Work

Spanish Higher Scheme of Work

German Foundation Scheme of Work

German Higher Scheme of Work

Recently I have completed a set of support videos for our current GCSE qualifications. The speaking videos are based on the issues observed by our assessment team and your most frequently asked questions. These are a handy reminder for any teacher, but particularly important for external adults conducting speaking exams who don’t usually teach the specification.

We still have face to face and online dates for our Getting Ready to Teach training for the GCSE French, German and Spanish 2024.

These are all free of charge.

Delegates will:

- develop understanding of the specification content and requirements (e.g. thematic contexts, vocabulary and grammar)
- deep dive into the new elements of the qualification and better understand their mark schemes
- find out more about the support available
- have the opportunity to discuss best practice and share ideas with other teachers.

Acting on feedback you have given us during our Getting Ready to Teach events we have arranged a new phonics training session.

In January we ran a new event related to the new GCSE writing paper. We are now running this session again in March.

Extra time in speaking exams

A reminder that for speaking exams any extra time is applied to preparation time. If you believe you have a candidate who should be entitled to extra time during the recording you should email us on uk.special.requirements@pearson.com.

If you have not had this approval our examiners will stop marking at the usual cut off time. 

Read the guidance

Pictures for International GCSE

A reminder that pictures for the International GCSE languages speaking exams should be photographs. Not drawings, AI generated images or any other type of illustration. Guidance can be found in our Administrative Support Guide on page 10.

We have arranged a range of training for the speaking exams. You can attend our regular speaking exam conduct training or one of my drop in sessions. My sessions will be short, 30 minute sessions with some top tips followed by time for your questions. 

We'll also be sharing the updated versions of our Administrative Support Guide and London Centre Orals documents shortly.

Will you be visiting Language World 2024?

We have had some exciting meetings with NCLE hub leads and specialist teachers recently and look forward to working with them even more in future.

Do you teach German?