The ability to communicate in other languages is a great asset for work, study and leisure . Studying Spanish at Chesterton Sixth Form will give you a profound understanding of the second most-widely spoken language in the world. Not only will you know more about the mechanics of the language – grammar and vocabulary – but also about how people live and use the language on a daily basis.
Subject Information
Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. This course involves reading and listening to a wide variety of media texts, news and magazine articles and broadcasts. You will be able to develop your reading, listening and speaking skills through class-based discussion as well as using the language to produce different types of written essays. You will have the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills including communication, critical thinking, research and creativity, which are valuable to the individual and society.
There will be opportunities throughout the two years to go on trips to the cinema, theatre, university and conferences. We can offer you work experience teaching our secondary school students in mini–workshops. We can help you organise a work experience placement, intensive course or exchange in Spain. All these activities will add to your learning experience and will help you forge friendships and feel at home in 21 countries.
Course Details
You will practise the four skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing through a range of cutting-edge topics.
The course consists of:
- Social Issues and Trends: you will explore some of the key elements of Spanish and South American societies including modern and traditional values, cyberspace, equal rights, multiculturalism, immigration, racism and integration.
- Political and Artistic Culture: you will explore the artistic culture of the Hispanic world that includes music, regional identities, cultural heritage and some aspects of political life involving today’s youth, activism and popular movements.
- You will study a film and a novel. Studying literature and film brings the language to life and consolidates your understanding of culture and society so important for the other topics you will study.
This qualification is linear which means that you will sit all of your exams at the end of the course in Year 13.
Assessments:
- Paper 1 Listening, reading and Spanish to English translation.
- Paper 2 Written response to works (texts and/or films) and translation into Spanish.
- Paper 3 Involves speaking live on three tasks: discussion on a theme (chosen between two on a given stimulus card); independent research presentation; discussion on independent research.
Subject Specific Entry Requirements
- Grade 6 in GCSE Spanish.
- or applicant is bilingual or near-native standard.
Where could Spanish take me?
There are many misconceptions about where studying a language might take you. Teaching, translating or interpreting are only some of the many jobs available to students of Spanish. Careers in the world of diplomacy, national security, medicine and engineering are also possibilities. Spanish opens the door to communication with the 560 million speakers in the world. You will develop key skills such as the ability to build relationships in and across borders, critical thinking and problem solving, a global outlook and intercultural confidence. Businesses and organisations not only want to recruit people who speak a language, but also those who have a deeper understanding of foreign environments.
Universities value students who have taken a modern language. It provides a particularly good foundation for a degree in History, English, Politics or Law or even a joint honours degree (for example in English and Spanish or Law and Spanish).
Having an additional language can enhance your employability in a world that increasingly depends on global relationships.
Reading List
Books
- La casa de Bernada Alba – Federico García Lorca (Cultural topic 2)
- El otro arbol de Guernica – Luis de Castresana
- Spanish short stories: Cuentos en español – John R. King
- Como agua para chocolate – Laura Esquivel
- Spanish grammar in context
TV / Film
- 8 Apellidos Vascos (Cultural topic 1)
- Amores Perros
- Biutiful
- Julia
- El Laberinto de Fauno
- El Orfinato
- Toc Toc
- Todo sobre mi madre
- Volver
Media
