Spanish A Level
Course Overview
Developing your knowledge of the Spanish language is a valuable skill to have and enjoy. It allows you to communicate effectively and interact with people in a more meaningful way. It also allows you to travel more widely, enriching your experiences, and is an excellent way of meeting new friends. As a Spanish A Level student, you will learn the intricacies of the Spanish language. It will help you improve your understanding of Spanish grammar, thereby giving you a deeper insight into its inner workings, making you a better speaker and conversationalist.
Your two years of study will focus on the following key objectives:
- understanding how to appropriately react to spoken and written language,
- expressing complex ideas,
- developing the ability to analyse, evaluate and criticise original texts.
The qualification consists of four main topics:
- Current trends of the Hispanic Society
- Multiculturalism
- The Political Life in the Hispanic World
- Art & Culture
You will develop your listening and reading skills and learn to translate complex texts accurately both from Spanish into English and vice versa. You will study a novel, como agua para chocolate, and a film, currently Volver, in the original text which will improve your analytical skills as well your capacity to write in Spanish. Finally, you will have the opportunity to conduct and present a research project on a topic of your choosing, allowing your speaking skills to flourish.
With over 400 million Spanish speakers worldwide, and it’s continuing growth in popularity, the importance of Spanish as a world language is increasingly appreciated. Being able to interact with people in their own language will open the doors to a wondrous world of possibilities.
Year 1 Modules
- Traditional and Modern Values
- Cyberspace
- Gender Equality
- The Influence of Pop Culture Idols
- Regional Identity in Spain
- Cultural Heritage
Year 2 Modules
- Immigration
- Racism
- Living Together
- Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Citizens
- Monarchies & Dictatorships
- Popular Movements
Key Info
Minimum Entry Requirements
- Five GCSEs at Grade 5 including:
- Grade 5 in GCSE English Language
- Grade 6 in GCSE Spanish
Assessment
- 100% Exam
- Exam Board: AQA
Why choose this course?
You will enjoy this course if you enjoy finding out how languages work and discovering their patterns, and if you enjoy learning about new cultures and travelling. We use a great number of original resources. The course is very diverse, is tailored to suit the individual and help is always available.
Every year we organise a trip to Madrid, where you are encouraged to put into practice what you have learnt in a truly Spanish setting. We also make a trip to Norwich, to the University of East Anglia, where you will be presented with options for how you can take your Spanish learning further to university level with their hi-tech language lab, including state-of-the-art translation and interpreter equipment.
Skills you'll gain
The course will help you develop a wide range of skills and help you to interpret both the written and spoken language. You will develop your analytical, communication and critical skills, and be given opportunities to conduct research on a chosen topic. Being able to access information in a variety of formats from original sources is an invaluable asset.
After Long Road
As well as studying Spanish on its own, you can study Spanish with either another language or with a variety of subjects, including Law, Economics, Business, History and many others. Recent students have gone on to study Finance at the University of Loughborough and Marketing at Kent University.
Being able to speak Spanish is a skill highly valued by employers in a variety of industries as well as in Education.
Our lessons were conducted in Spanish, which at first terrified me, but made me grow immensely in confidence by the end of the academic year. Not only did we learn about the Spanish language, but also about the culture, which helped me understand the language and its speakers better. With all the progress I made, I felt confident enough to go on holiday and speak to locals, and to continue studying Spanish at university. In my current job in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, I am able to use Spanish to converse and assist others in need of help. I now hope to go into the field of Diplomacy and Development.
