- Mr H Byrne (Head of Department)
- Mrs K Fegan
- Mrs T Moreno
Spanish Department
Brief Overview of courses
What will I study?
| Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 |
| Personal greetings, name, age, birthday, months, days, school and subjects, classroom commands, likes and dislikes, Spanish food and culture | Family, describing yourself and others, town, buildings, where you live, free time and opinions, daily routine and telling the time, body parts and illness, ICT, TV. and films. | Countries and nationalities, summer holiday activities, weather, travel, personal information, family, pets, describing people, hobbies, pastimes, opinions, films, ICT related vocabulary |
How will I be assessed?
There will be two formal assessments for each KS3 class over the course of the school year.
These assessments usually occur at the end of November and mid February. There will also be a summer exam at the start of June.
Useful Links
Brief Overview of courses
What will I study?
| Year 11 | Year 12 |
| House and home area, where you live, daily routine, school, subjects, rules and other related material, holidays, hotel and campsite, weather, travel. | Food and drink, restaurant, illness, remedies, services and ordering. |
How will I be assessed?
Assessment (Exams and Controlled Assessment Requirements):
Title: Unit 1: Listening
Format: students answer 12 questions in English and in Spanish
Duration: 35 minutes Foundation, 45 minutes Higher
Weighting: 25%
Submitted/Taken: End of Year 12
Unit 2: Speaking
Format: 1 speaking test conducted in school by the teacher – 2 role plays and a general conversation
Duration: 7-12 minutes
Weighting: 25%
Submitted/Taken: as decided by HOD, most likely February Year 12.
Unit 3: Reading
Format: read paragraphs and write answers in English and Spanish, as well as translating short sentences from Spanish to English
Duration: Foundation 50 mins, Higher 1 hour
Weighting: 25%
Submitted/Taken: End of year 12
Unit 4: Writing
Format: 1 extended written piece in Spanish and short sentences/translation
Duration: Foundation 1 hour, Higher 1 hour 15 mins
Weighting: 25%
Taken: End of year 12
Useful links
Brief Overview of courses
A Level Spanish – Course Outline
The AS/A2 course in Spanish builds on the knowledge, skills and understanding acquired at GCSE, and is aimed at developing these to a high degree of linguistic competence. The course seeks to draw on students’ own interests by examining issues of relevance to young people in the Modern World, offering a particular insight into contemporary Hispanic and Spanish society and culture. Students develop knowledge and understanding of themes relating to the society and culture, past and present, of the country or community where the language is spoken.
This course has six units: three at AS level and three at A2 level.
GCE Spanish gives students the opportunity to explore two broad areas of interest. These are:
- social issues and trends; and either
- political culture or intellectual culture or artistic culture.
Students explore the areas of interest by studying four themes:
- Relationships (AS);
- Culture and Lifestyle (AS);
- Young People in Society (A2); and
- Our Place in a Changing World (A2).
AS level
Relationships
Students have the opportunity to understand and explore these issues in Spanish:
- different family structures;
- roles, responsibilities and relationships within families;
- challenges for families;
- intergenerational issues; and
- influences on young people, for example peers, family and friends.
Culture and Lifestyle
Students have the opportunity to understand and explore these issues in Spanish:
- physical well-being, for example diet or exercise;
- risk-taking behaviour, for example smoking, alcohol and drugs or extreme sports;
- dealing with stress and challenges, for example school or examinations;
- hobbies and interests, for example sport or music;
- the arts, film, fashion and design;
- social media and new technology; and
- holidays, festivals and tourism.
A2 level
Young People and Society
Students have the opportunity to understand and explore these issues in Spanish:
- part-time jobs;
- education and employment;
- career planning – aspirations or intentions;
- young people and democracy;
- European citizenship – advantages, disadvantages and opportunities; and
- societal attitudes and young people.
Our Place in a Changing World
Students have the opportunity to understand and explore these issues in Spanish:
- equality/inequality and discrimination/prejudice;
- poverty at home and abroad – causes, consequences and measures to combat it;
- immigration and emigration – causes, benefits and related issues;
- multicultural society and cultural identity – benefits and challenges;
- causes, consequences and resolution of conflict; and
- sustainable living and environmental issues.
CCEA Examination Board Assessment
| Teaching and learning Unit | Assessment Unit and associated techniques of assessment | Assessment weighting | |
|
AS 1: Speaking |
AS 1: Speaking
Question 1: students give a presentation based on an AS level theme related to an aspect of a Spanish-speaking country or community. (3 mins) Question 2: conversation (8 mins) Total time: 11 mins |
30% of AS level 12% of A level |
|
|
AS 2: Listening [A]; Reading [B]; and Use of Language [C] |
AS 2: Section A – Listening
Students answer two sets of questions based on two discrete passages recorded on disk. Recording 1: Students answer in Spanish. Recording 2: Students answer in English. (40 mins) AS 2: Section B – Reading Question 1: students answer one set of questions in Spanish based on one passage. Question 2: students translate a passage from Spanish into English. (50 mins) AS 2: Section C – Use of Language Questions 1, 2, 3 and 4: students complete a series of short grammatical and lexical exercises. Question 5: students translate short sentences- English to Spanish.(30 mins)
Total time: 2 hours
|
40% of AS level 16% of A level |
|
|
AS 3: Extended Writing |
AS 3: Extended Writing Students write one essay in Spanish in response to a set film or literary text. Total time: 1 hour
|
30% of AS level 12% of A level
AS: 40% of A Level
|
|
|
A2 1: Speaking
|
A2 1: Speaking
Question 1: Students introduce and discuss one individual research project based on either: . A cultural aspect of a Spanish-speaking country or community . a historical period from the 20th century of a Spanish-speaking country or community . a region of a Spanish-speaking country or community (6 mins) Question 2: Conversation (9 mins) Total time: 15 minutes |
18% of A level |
|
|
A2 2: Section A – Listening
Students answer two sets of questions based on two discrete passages recorded on disk. Recording 1: students answer in Spanish. Recording 2: students answer in English. (45 mins) A2 2: Section B Reading Sudents answer two sets of questions and complete one summary exercise and one translation. Q.1 gap fill in Spanish Q.2 questions in Spanish Q.3 Summarise a Spanish passage in English Q.4 Translation from English to Spanish (2 hours)
Total time: 2 hours 45 mins |
24% of A level
|
|
| A2 3
Extended Writing |
Students write one essay in Spanish in response to a set literary text.
Total time: 1 hour |
18% of A Level
A2 – 60% of A Level |
Useful links