Spanish

Course summary

The A-level course is designed to follow naturally from GCSE with equal emphasis placed on each of the four language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing. During the course, you will explore a wide range of exciting aspects that will help you develop not only your level of Spanish to an advanced standard but also your knowledge of the society and culture, past and present, of Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. The course will cover themes such as: (i) Social issues and trends in the Hispanic world – changes in the family unit, attitudes to marriage and divorce, cyberspace, equal rights, multiculturalism, the influence of celebrities, … (ii) Political and artistic culture in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries – the Spanish festivals and gastronomy, the cultural heritage of the Hispanic world, the Spanish civil war and dictatorship, the monarchy, other dictatorships in the Hispanic world, … Additionally, the course also allows you to learn more about Spain through the study of the works of Pedro Almodóvar (one film – Volver) and Ramón J Sender (a short novel Requiem por un campesion espagnol). Grammar will be an important part of your Spanish studies throughout the whole A-level course as you will be able to understand and use the language more confidently and successfully as a result.