Spanish

Why Choose Spanish?

Language learning is about communication and students will participate in group discussions, make presentations and will have opportunities to develop I.T. skills. The study of a major European language complements any other subject. You will become more knowledgeable about the culture and issues relation to the country such as political and environmental issues.

Course Content

1. Social issues and trends

2. Political and artistic culture

3. Grammar options

4. Works: literary texts and films

Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing

2 hours 30 minutes • 100 marks • 50% of A level

• Listening and responding to spoken passages from a range of contexts and sources. All questions are in Spanish, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in Spanish (30 marks).

• Reading and responding to a variety of texts written for different purposes. All questions are in Spanish, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in Spanish (50 marks).

• Translation into English; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks).

• Translation into Spanish; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks)

Paper 2: Writing

2 hours • 80 marks in total • 20% of A level

• Either one question in Spanish on a set text from a choice of two questions and one question in Spanish on a set film from a choice of two questions or two questions in Spanish on set texts from a choice of two questions on each text. Students are advised to write approximately 300 words per essay

Paper 3 Speaking

21-23 minutes including 5 minutes preparation time • 60 marks in total • 30% of A level Questions

• Individual research project. One of four themes. Aspects of Spanish speaking society: current trends, Aspects of Spanish-speaking society: current issues, Artistic culture in the Spanish-speaking world, Aspects of political life in the Spanish speaking world.

• Discussion of a sub-theme with the discussion based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). The student studies the card for 5 minutes at the start of the test (25 marks).

• Presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9–10 minutes) of individual research project (35 marks).

Teaching will be in small groups. All lessons will include development of all four language learning skills but will also provide opportunities to develop ideas and viewpoints relating to the world we live in. We have access to laptops to enable students to conduct independent research.

Students will have the opportunity to work with a foreign language assistant to help develop their speaking skills.