Spanish

Communication skills are at the forefront of our work. This means that much of the work is done in pairs or groups, producing dialogues, debates and group presentations based around a wide range of current and topical themes. A careful study will be made of the grammar of the language to enable effective communication in all these areas. The first half term will have a special focus on grammar and oral skills improving students’ ability to communicate spontaneously in the foreign language.

Reading comprehension skills with an online account where they will have access to the course text book and lesson resources, will be practised through the exploitation of different kinds of texts. Students are issued with their own textbook and online account, and this, along with newspaper and magazine articles, downloaded from the internet, will form the basis of our work.

Video and audio clips accessed via the internet and viewed on an interactive whiteboard or in the department’s own multi-media suite, will be used regularly to promote listening skills and to heighten awareness of current affairs.

All this work will be aimed at developing an awareness of, and interest in the language, society and culture of those countries in which French, German and Spanish are spoken.

Topics studied over the two year course:

- Trends and issues in the society of the target language countries, e.g. the changing nature of the family, the cyber society, politics and immigration, youth culture

- Artistic culture in the target language countries, e.g. cultural heritage, film, music, art and architecture

- A film

- A piece of literature (a novel or a play)

Independent Research Project:

Students must identify a subject or a key question which is of interest to them and which relates to a country or countries where the language is spoken. They must select relevant information from a range of sources including the internet. The aim of the research project is to develop research skills. Students will demonstrate their ability to initiate and conduct individual research by analysing and summarising their findings, in order to present and discuss them in the speaking assessment.

A liking for the subject is the major requirement for a languages course but this must be allied to an ability to work well both independently and co-operatively with others. Active participation will be required, and so it is necessary to be willing to communicate and to become involved. Keeping up to date with current affairs in the target language is also essential in tackling the rigours of the new specification.

Students should have gained at least a grade 5 on a higher tier paper at GCSE before embarking on the A level course.

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Sixth Form option blocks