Social issues and trends

Social issues and trends in French A-Level (Pearson Edexcel) explores contemporary challenges and developments in French-speaking societies, focusing on topics such as family structures, education, work, immigration, and environmental issues. This topic is part of Paper 1 (Listening, Reading, and Translation) and Paper 2 (Written response to works and translation), and also informs the speaking component. Students analyse authentic texts, statistics, and media to understand how French society evolves, comparing it with the UK and other francophone countries. Mastery of this topic requires knowledge of key vocabulary, grammatical structures for expressing opinions and hypotheses, and cultural awareness of France and the wider French-speaking world.

Studying social issues and trends is crucial for developing critical thinking and intercultural competence. It allows students to engage with real-world debates, such as the impact of immigration on national identity, the changing role of the family, or the challenges of sustainable development. This topic also builds skills in summarising, analysing, and evaluating arguments, which are essential for exam success. By connecting language learning to current affairs, students gain a deeper appreciation of French culture and are better prepared for discussions in the speaking exam.

Within the Pearson A-Level specification, social issues and trends is divided into two sub-themes: 'Changes in French society' (e.g., family, education, work) and 'Social issues and inequalities' (e.g., immigration, integration, marginalisation). These themes are revisited across the two-year course, with increasing complexity. Students are expected to use a range of tenses, the subjunctive, and idiomatic expressions to discuss these topics fluently. The topic also links to the study of a French film or literary text, where social issues often form a key context.