A-Level Spanish

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The Spanish curriculum intends to deepen a curiosity and love of languages and other cultures, as well as develop an advanced understanding of how languages work. Through a focus on both culture and communication, we aim to foster a passion for exploring a foreign language and comparing it to our own. Language learning provides an insight into others� countries and cultures and thus widens our intellectual horizons and promotes social mobility. We aim to broaden students� knowledge and skills beyond the subject specification, exposing them to as much authentic material as possible. We aim to challenge our students to achieve a high level of communicative competence in the four equally important attainment targets of listening, speaking, reading and writing, thus not only developing literacy skills but also strengthening students� resilience and problem-solving skills. Through studying Spanish, students will see the benefits of travelling the world and will be offered the opportunity to visit and have first-hand experience of family life in Spain, therefore ensuring they have the skills to communicate and have meaningful and life changing experience.

Students will study topics from a range of political, social and cultural themes all in relation to the Spanish-speaking world following the AQA A-Level course: Traditional and modern values Cyberspace Equality of the sexes Influence of idols Regional identity in Spain Cultural heritage Immigration Racism Coexistence Young people today, citizens of tomorrow Monarchies and dictatorships Popular movements In addition, students study a film and a book, and carry out an independent research project which forms a major part of their final A-Level oral exam.

Spanish is taught in a well-equipped specialist language laboratory, which means that students have plenty of IT access to facilitate independently controlled listening practice (as in the A-Level exam) and pair-work speaking practice. Lessons cover the four main language skills: listening, speaking reading and writing and are taught, as far as possible, in the target language. Grammar teaching is also integrated within the teaching of the A-Level topics. In addition to the three lessons, students have a separate speaking session in a pair / individually to enhance fluency and confidence in this skill area. We offer students an opportunity to visit Spain during their Year 13 year to further develop their cultural knowledge and linguistic competence. In addition, when Spanish theatre shows or films are available locally, we also offer students the chance to see these opportunities too.