Spanish

Course summary

The Spanish A Level course enables students to develop their linguistic skills alongside their understanding of the culture and society of the countries where Spanish is spoken. You will study the following topics in the context of the Hispanic world: • Technological and social change, for example social media and equal rights. • Highlights of Hispanic artistic culture, including a focus on Spanish regional identity and the cultural heritage of past civilisations, for example the Inca civilisation. • Aspects of the diverse political landscape of the Hispanic world, for example Latin American dictatorships. • The influence of the past on present-day Hispanic communities. In Year 1 you will study a film and in Year 2 we will read a novel. This will enhance your language skills and give you an insight into the target language culture. You will also research a topic of your choice and discuss this in the oral assessment. You will enjoy studying Spanish at A Level if you are passionate about exploring the culture of the Spanish-speaking world and developing your written and spoken communication skills. By the end of the course, you will be able to speak Spanish with confidence and fluency and be able to use your language skills at a high level, for example in the workplace, at further study in higher education or on a placement year abroad as part of a degree course. You will also conduct an Independent Research Project on a theme of your choice related to Spanish culture so you will have the chance to focus on your specific area of interest. Apart from all the jobs that use languages directly (travel, teaching, interpreting/ translating, business, politics, law) the other skills that you develop are directly transferable in other areas. These skills include communication, flexibility, global awareness, and a rigorous and detailed approach to study. Learning Spanish opens up huge possibilities for travel and business in Spain, South America and Central America as well as in some important areas in the USA. Former students have gone on to study course combinations such as Spanish and Arabic, Spanish and International Relations, Spanish and English and Spanish and Biology.