Spanish

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For those with linguistic ability and an interest in other countries and cultures, this course will take you beyond the realms of simply getting by abroad and will encourage you to learn about issues relevant to Spain and Spanish-speaking countries. You will learn how to extend your language to a more sophisticated level and take those extra steps towards fluency. By the end of the course you should have a greater understanding of the history, culture, geography and current affairs of Spanish-speaking countries, as well as greater competence and confidence in the language.

Special Features

We offer you the opportunity to undertake Work Experience in Spain – a real chance to thrive and extend your linguistic and life experiences! You will have unlimited access to our Sixth Form study room with its satellite TV and computer facilities, as well as our library of reading and reference material.

Entry

Please refer to the John of Gaunt Sixth Form entry requirements.

Attendance

Two years to complete the full A Level.

Assessment

By following this link, you can see the specification on the exam board website:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/spanish-7692

You will be assessed in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) via terminal examinations in the summer of year 13.

Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing	What’s assessed	Questions
How it’s assessed Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes 100 marks 50% of A-level	Aspects of Spanish-speaking society: current trends Aspects of Spanish-speaking society: current issues Artistic culture in the Spanish-speaking world Aspects of political life in the Spanish-speaking world Grammar	Listening and responding to spoken passages Students have individual control of the recording. All questions are in Spanish, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in Spanish (30 marks) Reading and responding to a variety of texts. All questions are in Spanish, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in Spanish (50 marks) Translation into English; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks) Translation into Spanish; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks). No access to a dictionary during the assessment.
Paper 2: Writing	What’s assessed	Questions
Written exam: 2 hours 80 marks 20% of A-level	One text and one film or two texts from the list set in the specification Grammar	Either one question in Spanish on a set text (from a choice of two) and one question in Spanish on a set film (from a choice of two) or two questions in Spanish on set texts (from a choice of two questions on each text). No access to texts or films during the assessment.No access to a dictionary during the assessment.Students are advised to write approximately 300 words per essay.
Paper 3: Speaking	What’s assessed	Questions
How it’s assessed Oral exam: 21–23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time) 60 marks 30% of A-level	Individual research project One of four sub-themes ie Aspects of Spanish-speaking society: current trends, or current issues or Artistic culture in the Spanish-speaking world or Aspects of political life in the Spanish-speaking world	Discussion of a sub-theme based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). The student studies the card for 5 minutes at the start of the test (25 marks). Presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9–10 minutes) of individual research project (35 marks). No access to a dictionary during the assessment (including 5 minutes preparation). Students may take the assessment only once before certification.

Moving on

An A Level in Spanish will enable you to study a whole variety of degree subjects at university, ranging from a traditional Spanish language course that may include elements such as Linguistics, European Studies, Politics, Economics, Literature or Translating, through to vocational courses such as Engineering with Spanish or Law with Spanish.