Correspondence A'level language courses

[Gem13]

Feel like a challenge and am thinking about taking up a language.

Have substandard O'level French (Grade E) but feel I am wiser and more determined now. Certainly am more hard working (not difficult!)

So I was wondering whether I should tackle A'level French or start Spanish or Italian from scratch (is this possible in a year?)

I can't get out to the local college as I am breastfeeding 7 month old DD. Anyone know of a good course?

BTW - needs to be A'level (i.e. not conversational standard) as I need the incentive.

[Jimjams]

You might need to do AS first of all (because of the modular system of exams now). The best known of the correspondance schools is the NEC (national extension college).

[Tinker]

Could you maybe get a tutor to come to the house? I did this with French and loved it. For a language, you really need to practise speaking it

[Gem13]

Thanks for your replies. Jimjams - your Japanese got me thinking.

Tinker - a tutor is a good idea. Did you arrange this privately or did you go through the NEC?

[Tinker]

Not sure what the NEC is Gem. I just looked in Yellow Pages. It was when my nursery costs reduced due to the free plcaes and thought I'd use that money rather than get used to having it - was about £17 pw. But - tip - my tutor was through an agency. Since x pounds of teh fee were due to teh agancy, we just agreed to split the differnce and not go through teh agancy. Bit naughty but...

[Gem13]

Good idea - thanks for the tip.

Can I ask the level of French you had before and how difficult you found the A'level?

BTW - Did you see Grand Designs last night? I was very impressed with with Kevin McCloud's French. Apparently he went to Cambridge to read languages so not surprising really.

[Tinker]

Hi Gem - I had done French A level - loooong time ago - and failed it. However, lessons weren't an A level course - although no reason why you couldn't follow the syllabus. Eventually I'd 'improved' enough to do an OU French course - only a Level 1 one but prob equivalent to A level standard and passed! Would have carried on but they changed the course. But I retained my tutor whilst doing it - only once a fortnight by then but it has made a huge difference. Haven't had any lessons for a year now but do feel (when not surrounded by English who speak French extremely well!) a lot more confident speaking it now in France. In teh New Year I'm going to look for some other kind of course to try and up my level a bit.

Also, know it's difficult for you but if you did eventually do an OU course do go to the Saturday tutorials - 3.5 hourse of speaking solid French. Used to come away feeling very exhausted but very enthused to do more.

[Uhu]

International Correspondence Schools (ICS)do courses in A'levels and a range of other things. You can find them on the website.