Spanish (A Level)

The Spanish A Level course enables you to build on previous GCSE knowledge in a logical and rewarding way, applying transferable skills in critical thinking and analysis. The course will provide you with inspiring and engaging themes and content which provide clear links to some of the most fundamental and richly diverse aspects of contemporary Spanish culture and society. Popular literary texts and films are also studied during the course offering a further dimension of study into the wider Spanish-speaking world. This course rewards creativity and assessments place an emphasis on spontaneity and grammar as well as providing plenty of opportunities for students to apply their knowledge independently and creatively.

What you will learn

Listening: to understand spoken Spanish that takes place in a range of different settings, listen to Spanish news, films and Podcasts. Listen out for different accent variations and pronunciation of words.

Reading: to understand the context of written pieces, read a wide range of authentic texts from the Spanish media and Hispanic Speaking world. Read a play in Spanish and understand more traditional Spanish vocabulary in an historical context.

Writing: to apply grammar rules to write fluently and competently. Learn techniques to analyse characters studied in the play and film and write about the key themes within these materials.

Speaking: to become confident, sustaining long and detailed conversations about Spanish traditions and customs. To be able to verbally summarise written texts and to give presentations in the target language.

How you will learn

• Speaking in the target language
• Pair/group work
• Independent work
• Listening to authentic materials (watching films, Spanish TV, listening to music)
• Researching, reading and keeping up to date with Spanish current affairs
• Testing yourself on core vocabulary and application of grammar in written pieces
• Having an awareness of Spanish society and the changes that have happened in Spain since the Civil War and the dictatorship of Franco

Year 1

The evolution of Spanish society

• The modern family
• The world of work
• The impact of tourism in Spain

Political and artistic culture in the Spanish speaking World

• Music
• Media

The role of festivals and traditions

• Literature and Film study
• Mar Adentro (film)
• La Casa de Bernarda Alba (play)

Year 2

Immigration and the multicultural Spanish society

• Historic and contemporary immigration
• Integration and multiculturalism

The Franco Dictatorship and the transition to democracy

• The Franco Dictatorship
• The role of the monarchy and government in the transition to democracy

Speaking:

• Independent Research Presentation

Revision Strategies, application and translation

Assessment 1. Listening, reading and translation, examination, 2 hours, 40% of final grade.

Listening exam: Students will respond to comprehension questions based on a variety of contexts and sources.

Reading: A variety of text types and genres will be used to assess reading comprehension ability.

Translation: Students will be required to translate an unseen passage from Spanish into English.

Assessment 2. Written response to works and translation, examination, 2 hours and 40 minutes, 30% of final grade

Written: This exam draws on the study of a Spanish film and a literary text. Students write a 350 word essay to a question on a literary text and to a question based on a film.

Translation: Students will be required to translate an unseen passage from English into Spanish.

Assessment 3. Speaking, examination, 21-23 minutes, 30% of final grade.

Speaking: Students have two tasks to complete within 21-23 minutes with 5 minutes preparation time. Students will discuss one theme from the specification based on a stimulus containing two different statements. The second task allows students to present a summary of the key findings of the written sources they have used for their independent research and answer questions on this followed by a wider discussion on their chosen area of research.

College basic entry requirements

• Grade 6 or above in GCSE Spanish

Where Next?

Spanish A Level can lead to university study in modern foreign languages, either on its own or in combination with another language or subject, for example Law, Engineering, History, Geography, Art and Media.

A Level Language courses are highly respected by university admission tutors and potential employers, and may lead to overseas work and travel amongst other things.

Course Combinations

The course combines well with many A Level subjects, including English Literature and Language courses, History, Geography, Art, Mathematics, Biology, Music, Drama and many more subjects.