SPANISH

What is the course about?
The course builds on sound knowledge of grammar and vocabulary at GCSE. You should be motivated to learn lots of new vocabulary and grammar concepts and to push ahead with listening, speaking and writing skills. You will study day to day matters, how Spanish society works, the jobs and interests of Spaniards.

Which skills/experience would be useful or essential?
You should ideally have a grade B or above in GCSE Spanish. You should enjoy speaking the language and learning new vocabulary. You also need to study some areas (such as society) in depth. A disciplined approach to learning independently is also required. You will need to produce a personally selected topic for the oral exam and discuss issues that arise from the topic for 10-12 minutes.

How will I learn and be assessed?
You will work mainly on your own but group work will evolve as your speaking abilities improve. Assessment will be through written, comprehension, speaking and listening tasks.

What opportunities are available to me?
There is usually a Field Trip to Spain where you go to a language school for 4 hours per day and then do cultural activities in the afternoon, hosted by a Spanish family. This can occur in Year 12 or 13.

In the longer term, you will find Spanish useful in all sorts of fields of work. Studying a language can improve communication and analytical skills for all students.