Subject talk
Why you should consider studying Spanish:
The A Level Spanish course comprises stimulating content which enables students to develop their linguistic skills alongside their understanding of the culture and society of the countries where Spanish is spoken. Spanish is the third most widely spoken language on Earth after Chinese and English with 33 countries in the world that list Spanish as an official language. In addition, Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
What future opportunities might Spanish lead to?
Spanish is a FACILITATING SUBJECT, which means that it is looked on highly favourably as preparation for a degree course by Russell Group universities including Oxford, Cambridge and the LSE.
Spanish A Level can lead to study in many varied degrees courses, including English Literature; Classics; Politics; Language; Speech and Language Therapy; History; Linguistics; Psychology; Modern Languages; English Language and Literature; Marketing; Law; European Studies; Translation and Interpreting; Celtic Studies; Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic.
Many universities also offer linguistic options in scientific, economic and business degrees.
Key areas of employment include: Education; Translation; Hospitality: Tourism; IT and Telecommunications: Law; Civil Service: Local Government; Media and Journalism; Recruitment; Customer Services; Logistics; Transport
Is it the right course for me?
Students pursuing these courses will deepen their interest in and enthusiasm for learning their chosen language: understanding it in a variety of contexts and genres; communicating confidently, clearly and effectively for a range of purposes and with native speakers; developing greater awareness and understanding of the societies, cultures and heritages of countries where the language is spoken; and acquiring knowledge, skills and understanding for practical use, further study and future employment.
These courses will appeal to students who enjoy learning about different countries and cultures. Studying languages at A level requires stamina, perseverance and dedication, and a willingness to develop a good knowledge of another country. It is essential for students to take an interest in their subject outside the classroom, for example reading literature and watching films in their chosen language, watching and reading the news and looking for interesting documentaries.
Website
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/spanish-2016.html (Edexcel 9SP0)
Units
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Theme 1 |
Theme 2 |
Theme 3 |
Theme 4 |
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La evolución de la sociedad española
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La cultura política y artística en el mundo hispanohablante
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La inmigración y la sociedad multicultural española
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La dictadura franquista y la transición a la democracia
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Themes 1&2 are covered in Y12 and Themes 3& 4 are covered in Y13
Pupils will also study one film and one novel in depth.
La Lengua de las Mariposas (José Luis Cuerda)
El coronel no tiene quien le escriba (Gabriel García Márquez)
Students will also prepare an Independent Research Project to present orally.
Textbook(s)
Edexcel A level Spanish (includes AS) by Barefoot, Mee, Morcilla Laiz, Thacker
Hodder ISBN 978 1 4718 5831 4
Sample papers
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Assessment Details |
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Exam |
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% worth |
40% |
30% |
30% |
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Time |
2hrs |
2hrs 40 minutes |
2hrs |
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Topics |
This paper draws on vocabulary and structures across all four themes. |
This paper draws on the study of two discrete Spanish works: either two literary texts, or one literary text and one film |
Task 1 draws on vocabulary and issues from all 4 themes. Theme 2 draws on the student’s personal research. |
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Marks |
80 |
120 |
72 |
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Sections |
Section A: Listening (30 marks) Section B: Reading (30 marks) Section C: Translation into English (20 marks) |
Section A: Translation into Spanish Section B: Written response to texts (Literature question- 50 marks) Section C: Written response to film (Film question-50 marks) |
Task 1: Discussion of a theme (6-7 minutes) Task 2: Presentation and discussion of Independent Research Project (10-11 minutes) |