Spanish - GCE A Level
Awarding Body: AQA

Why study Spanish?

• Spanish is spoken by approximately 400 million people all over the world.
• There are twenty-five countries in the world where Spanish is the official language.
• In 2003 more people from the UK visited Spain as a holiday destination than any other European nation
• In 2005 approximately 100,000 people from the UK will buy homes in Spain
• In 2008 you too could be living and working in Spain!

General comments

Spain and the countries of South and Central America offer an incredibly diverse and fascinating language and culture for students to learn about and enjoy. From the rhythm of flamenco in Andalucia to the Mayan temples in the jungles of Guatemala, there are endless opportunities to discover the true Hispanic culture.

The A level course is a natural continuation from GCSE with a focus on the four skill areas of reading, speaking, writing and listening. Students will have an opportunity to work with interactive technology in their learning and to access primary source material from satellite television, through digital radio and internet links.

Useful Links: Click here to access further information in the student's guide. Click here for useful websites

The vast majority of students take part in our weeklong visit to a language school in Salamanca. Here they stay with host families and attend classes delivered by Spanish teachers on an intensive course.
	In the evenings and at the weekend there are cultural and social activities such as a salsa dance class, a tapas tour, a conversation exchange with Spanish high school students and a visit to the regional centre of bullfighting memorabilia!

Syllabus

Students will study topics similar to those at GCSE but looked at from a more mature perspective. In the leisure topic, for example, we examine how football has taken over from Catholicism as the principal activity for Spaniards on a Sunday. In our studies of lifestyle we compare the laid back, siesta filled work day in Spain with the stress filled approach in northern Europe. When looking at media we discover how Spanish youngsters are equally obsessed with mobiles and the internet and how these have changed attitudes in Spain.

Exams

The department has an excellent track record of success with many students going on to study Spanish at university as well as pursuing gap year projects in Spanish speaking countries.

AS exam - listening/reading paper 1.5 hours, writing paper 1.5 hours, speaking 10 mins

A2 exam - listening/reading paper 2.5 hours, writing paper 2 hours, speaking 10 mins

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