WHY STUDY SPANISH? - Spanish is spoken by 4.77 million people worldwide; - it is the official language in 23 countries and is the second most spoken language in the world after Mandarin; - the Spanish-speaking population is one of the fastest growing segments in the world today, comprising of a huge community that shares products, services and culture, while at the same time offering individuals, institutions, and businesses a unique opportunity for growth; - some employers only choose graduates with an MFL qualification – proficiency in Spanish is sought after; - learn about current Hispanic culture – not just Spain but Latin American too; - not text book centred – fluid, up to date courses with ever changing course material to keep it relevant and current; - interesting issues discussed and investigated. Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening and access to other people and cultures. People who speak a foreign language are better placed to get a good job in today’s global workplace but there is, of course, also an enriching side to learning a language. Nobody ever says: “I wish I couldn’t speak a foreign language.” Along with not being able to play a musical instrument, the inability to speak a foreign language is one of the most common regrets amongst adults. - access to other people and cultures – being able to speak a foreign language opens doors and builds connections locally, internationally, globally; - communication skills – according to a UCAS survey, good communication skills were rated by employers as the most important proficiency an employee should have, and the one that is most frequently lacking; - employability – university admissions tutors and employers appreciate languages as they provide pupils with sought-after soft skills like teamwork, organisation and flexibility; - open-mindedness – linguists appreciate the fact that other nationalities think in different ways, and that there is a responsibility on all of us to accept differences and to build bridges. Learning the language is the first and most important step on this journey; - breadth – learning a language brings with it many things: culture, music, travel, humour, cuisine, art, sport, cinema…. there is so much to discover; - real life – a modern language is not just a school subject, it is used by millions of people every day. The study of Spanish deepens pupils awareness and appreciation of the perspectives of people from diverse cultures in a meaningful way. Moreover, the course helps underpin pupils’ burgeoning understanding of the importance of language to other areas of knowledge as well as providing a practical foundation for further study, work and leisure in Spanish speaking countries and contexts. This is achieved by pupils continually growing their knowledge and use of vocabulary and grammar, as well as their conceptual understanding of how the language works so they can communicate on topics relating to Spanish speaking cultures. This is supported through a range of written, audio, visual and audio-visual texts that bring variety but also allow pupils to develop the receptive, productive and interactive skills needed to communicate.