MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
(Under Group I)
(Candidates offering a Modern Foreign Language as a Group II subject may not opt for the same language as a Group I subject.)
Papers will be set in French (27), Spanish (36),
German (28) and other Modern Foreign Languages on request.
CLASSES IX AND X
There will be one paper of three hours duration carrying 80 marks and Internal Assessment of 20 marks.
The paper will be divided into two sections, Section A and Section B.
Section A: 40 marks
Section B: 40 marks
SECTION A (40 Marks)
Three questions will be set, all of which will be compulsory.
Question 1: Candidates will be required to write, in the language, one short composition which may include short explanations, directions, descriptions or narratives. There will be a choice of subjects which will be varied and may be suggested by language or other stimuli such as pictures or objects.
Question 2: Candidates will be required to write a letter from a choice of two subjects. Suggestions may be given. The layout of the letter with address, introduction, conclusion, etc., will form part of the assessment.
Question 3: This will consist of tests in vocabulary, syntax and idiom, e.g., synthesis in sentence construction, formation of sentences in the language correctly embodying given words or forms. The question will not require any knowledge of
grammatical terms.
SECTION B (40 Marks)
The following tests will be set:
1. An unseen passage of about 150 words will be given in the language. Question in the language, will be set, to be answered in the language, designed to test the candidates’ understanding of the content of the passage.
2. One short passage will be set for translation from the language into English.
3. One passage will be set for translation from English into the language.
Note: No textbooks are prescribed.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT – 20 Marks
The minimum number of assignments for each academic year:
Class IX: Two or three assignments of reasonable length/duration of which two should be written assignments.
Class X: Two or three assignments of reasonable length/duration of which two should be written assignments.
Suggested Assignments
Class IX: Creative Writing: Students are to write short compositions, the stimuli being: i) a piece of recorded music; ii) a recorded series of sound; iii) a picture/photograph; iv) an opening sentence or phrase; v) a newspaper/magazine clipping or report; one piece of factual writing which should be informative or argumentative; one piece of expressive writing which is descriptive and imaginative; preparation of film/book review.
Aural: Listening to a conversation/talk/reading of a short passage and then writing down the relevant or main points in the specified number of words and answering the given questions.
Class X: Oral: Prepared speech/declamation; impromptu speech/debate/discussion; report/interview; elocution; role-play / general conversation on selected topics.
Creative Writing: Students are to write short compositions, the stimuli being: i) a piece of recorded music; ii) a recorded series of sound; iii) a picture/photograph; iv) an opening sentence or phrase; v) a newspaper/magazine clipping or report; one piece of factual writing which should be informative or argumentative; one piece of expressive writing which is descriptive and imaginative; preparation of film/book review.
EVALUATION
The assignments/project work are to be evaluated by the subject teacher and by an External Examiner. (The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated by the Head of the school, who could be from the faculty, but not teaching the subject in the section/class. For example, a teacher of Language of Class VIII may be deputed to be an External Examiner
for Class X, Language projects.) The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner will assess the assignments independently.
Award of marks : (20 Marks)
Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner) - 10 marks
External Examiner - 10 marks
The total marks obtained out of 20 are to be sent to the Council by the Head of the school. The Head of the school will be responsible for the entry of marks on the mark sheets provided by the Council.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES - GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES CREATIVE WRITING (CLASSES IX & X)
| Grade | Content/Analysis of Idea, Thought/ Feeling | Expression/ Effective Expression of Idea | Structure/ Organisation of Material | Vocabulary/ Use of Words, Phrases | Originality/ Imaginative/ Innovative | Marks |
| 1 | The candidate analyses the ideas, feelings and experiences effectively. Reasoning is logical and effective. | The candidate expresses the ideas, thoughts and feelings effectively. | The work is very well structured an introduction, body and conclusion, paragraphing and appropriate sentence construction. | The use of vocabulary exhibits a high level of competence in handling language. | The work is imaginative interesting and engrossing. | 4 |
| 2 | The candidate analyses the ideas, feelings and experiences with well defined explanations, reasoning is logical and persuasive. | The candidate expresses the ideas thoughts and feelings well and with clarity. | The work is very well structured with some sense of conclusion and of paragraph lengths. | The vocabulary exhibits competence of word usage; correctness of grammar and spelling. | The candidate's work is quite interesting and engrossing. | 3 |
| 3 | The candidate analyses the idea, feelings and experiences with a fair degree of detail and explanation. Reasoning is fairly logical and persuasive. | The candidate expresses the ideas, thoughts and feelings fairly well and with a fair degree of clarity. | The work is fairly well structured; candidate follows simple paragraphing. | The candidate uses straightforward vocabulary and fairly good pattern of spellings. | The candidate demonstrates the ability to sustain the interest of the reader. | 2 |
| 4 | The candidate attempts to analyze ideas, feelings and experiences with simple explanation and detail. Reasoning and arguments are not very convincing. | The candidate expresses the idea, thoughts and feelings intelligibly and in simple language. | The work shows some understanding of paragraphing and structure. | The candidate's vocabulary is limited and the spelling, punctuation and grammar is sometimes poor. | The candidate is, to some extent, able to sustain the interest of the reader. | 1 |
| 5 | The candidate attempts a basic analysis of ideas, feelings and experiences with few simple explanations and few details. Is unable to present proper arguments. | The candidate is unable to expresses the ideas, thoughts and feelings, uses simple language and work is not very intelligible. | The candidate does not display an understanding of structure and paragraphing. | There is consistent weakness in spelling, punctuation and grammar. | The candidate is unable to sustain the interest of the reader. | 0 |
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES - GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES AURAL ASSIGNMENT (CLASS IX)
| Grade | Understanding/ Comprehension Main Idea, Central Theme | Recall | Vocabulary | Context/ Correlation to Other Areas | Marks |
| 1 | The candidate accurately understands the central idea of the passage as well as the relevant points in the selected passage/ talk. | The candidate recalls all the important points made (written/ verbal). | The candidate uses appropriate and correct vocabulary while recalling the points made. | The candidate clearly understands the context and can widely correlate the passage to the other areas. | 3 |
| 2 | The candidate gives ideas fairly close to the central / main idea of the passage as well as understand some of the relevant points heard in the selected passage/ talk. | The candidate recalls some of the important points made (written/ verbal). | The candidate uses correct but simple vocabulary while recalling the points made. | The candidate can moderately understand the context of the passage and can moderately correlate the passage to the other areas. | 2 |
| 3 | The candidate cannot fully comprehend the passage and gives only a few ideas related to the central theme of the passage. | The candidate recalls very few of the important points made (written/verbal). | The candidate makes various errors in vocabulary while recalling the points made. | The candidate can only faintly understand the context of the passage and relate it to the other areas. | 1 |
| 4 | The candidate is neither able to understand the central/main idea of the passage; nor able to understand relevant points heard in the passage/talk. | The candidate is unable to recall the important points made (written/verbal) | The candidate uses incorrect vocabulary while recalling the points made. | The candidate is unable to understand the context of the passage and is unable to correlate the passage to the other areas. | 0 |
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES - GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES
ORAL ASSIGNMENT (CLASS X)
| Grade | Fluency of Language | Subject Matter | Organization | Vocabulary/ Delivery | Understanding | Gesture | Marks |
| 1 | Speaks with fluency and has full operational command over the language. | Matter is relevant, rich in content and original. | Content is well sequenced and well organized. | Uses appropriate vocabulary and pronounces words correctly. | While speaking, the candidate emphasizes the important points. | Uses natural and spontaneous gestures that are not out of place. | 3 |
| 2 | The candidate speaks with fairly good fluency and has reasonable operational command of the language. | The subject matter is mostly relevant, consisting of a few original ideas. | The content is satisfactorily sequenced and well organized. | The candidate pronounces most words correctly and uses simple vocabulary. | While speaking the candidate emphasizes most important points. | Uses some natural gestures. | 2 |
| 3 | The candidate speaks with poor fluency and does not communicate except for the most basic information. | The subject matter is irrelevant and lacks originality. | The subject content is very poor and lacks organisational structure. | The candidate pronounces many words incorrectly and uses inappropriate vocabulary. | While speaking, the candidate emphasizes some important points. | Uses very few natural gestures. | 1 |
| 4 | The candidate cannot communicate even the most basic information. | The subject matter is negligible. | The subject content comprises of mere words with no structured sentences. | The candidate is unable to correctly pronounce most words and has a limited vocabulary. | While speaking, the candidate is unable to emphasize important points. | Uses no natural gestures. | 0 |