The modern languages offered at Hampstead Fine Arts include French, Spanish, Italian, and German. More than ever before, language A Levels put the emphasis on practical communication: speaking about everyday topics of interest, reading articles from newspapers and magazines, listening to radio items, and writing about subjects of topical and, more broadly, cultural interest. Students use language in speech and in writing to present viewpoints, develop arguments, and to evaluate information. In addition, students will be required to have read and researched major works of literature (e.g. texts by Molière, García Márquez, Moravia) in order to be capable of analysis and discussion. Among features of the new A Level is the integration of a period of historical study (e.g. the Occupation of France in World War Two, or the Transition to Democracy in Spain) and the requirement to study two texts (either two written texts or one written text and one film).
Course content of the new A Level exam:
| Paper 1 | Listening, Reading and Translating (40%) |
| Paper 2 | Written Response to Works and Translation (30%) |
| Paper 3 | Speaking, including independent research (30%) |
In the new A level, there will be three papers:
| Paper 1 | Includes elements of Listening, Reading and Translation. (2 hrs) |
| Paper 2 | Includes elements of Prose Translation and Written Response to TWO literary works/texts. (2 hrs 40) |
| Paper 3 | Comprises two speaking tasks: discussion of an unseen theme and discussion of an independently researched project (21/23 minutes, including 5 minutes’ preparation time) |
Fine Arts students have gone on to follow Modern Languages courses at a range of high-ranking universities, including Oxford, Edinburgh, King’s College, London, and Manchester. They have also used their linguistic skills in conjunction with areas of specialisation as diverse as Management and International Business, on the one hand, and History of Art and Comparative Literature, on the other.
Hampstead Fine Arts is one of the foremost Arts colleges in London. learn more about us, our staff and where our students fit in.