GCSE
The Spanish department offers an accelerated GCSE course taking pupils up to the required standard in just two years with an extremely high success rate.
Spanish is aimed at those to have shown an aptitude for languages so far and who are continuing with either French or German. The skills and techniques learnt in another modern foreign language will consolidate the work in Spanish, and indeed help in learning the language more quickly.
The course content is very similar to that for French and German. We follow the AQA specification, in which the writing and speaking components of the GCSE are controlled assessments which are carried out during the two year course and make up 60% of the final grade.
The advantage of Spanish is that it is taught in smaller sets than usual, thereby allowing more individual tuition.
Revision classes
From the week beginning Monday 30th January 2012, Miss Psaila will be running GCSE revision sessions from 4pm to 4.30pm on the following dates in L4:
- Thursday 2nd February, family and characteristics
- Monday 6th February, relationships
- Thursday 23rd February, pocket money
- Monday 27th February, school
- Thursday 8th March, fashion and shopping
- Monday 12th March, food and drink
- Thursday 19th April, illness and accidents
- Monday 26th March, jobs and work experience
- Thursday 19th April, youth issues
- Monday 23rd April, holiday problems
- Thursday 3rd May, environment
The sessions will focus on listening and reading skills required for the final exams and will aim to revise and boost vocabulary. If any Fifth Years are interested, they must sign up to the session in advance with Miss Psaila as numbers will be limited to 18 per session.
A Level
The topics studied in the AS course are very similar to those studied at GCSE but are studied in more breadth and depth. Topics range from leisure and lifestyles, (including traditions, health and tourism) to talking about the individual and society (including relationships and responsibilities, youth culture and future careers).
For A2 the study of language topics continues looking at issues including racism, environmental problems and law and order. The course provides the skills that are necessary to discuss a wide range of topics in Spanish.
Literature and film play an important role in the Spanish culture, with some very famous playwrights and directors coming from various regions in Spain. It is important for pupils to feel confident about accessing the language and culture in as many different forms as possible. In addition to the language topics, a popular short novel and a film by a well known hispanic director are studied. This is often the first time that pupils experience film and literature in another language and can, for a lot of them, provoke a further interest in the subject.
Trips
All pupils studying Spanish have the opportunity of taking part in a cultural and education trip to Spain. The location changes each year to allow for repeated attendance on the trips. Last year’s trip was to Andalusia in southern Spain and a further trip is being organised to Madrid in October 2011. Work experience trips are also available, organised by an independent company. Information about these trips can be provided on request.
Assistants
The Spanish department is fortunate to have its own language assistant organised through the British Council. All year groups studying Spanish have weekly sessions with the assistant to help improve their speaking ability.
