Spanish

Course summary

This course has been designed to give you a profound understanding of your chosen language. Not only will you study the mechanics of the language in more detail, its grammar and vocabulary, but you will also learn about how people live and actively use language. You will: • Develop and build on skills acquired at GCSE. • Achieve a sound basis for future study. • Gain an insight into another culture and society. In the first year, you will study two main themes which are “Social issues and trends” and “Artistic culture”. Within these main themes, you will look at several sub-themes, including “Youth culture”, “The digital world” and “Festivals and traditions”. These topics will build on what you have studied at GCSE and will cover a wide range of interesting and engaging issues. The common thread amongst these is discovering how people speak at a personal level and what their individual views are. You will also study one text or one film from a prescribed list. In the second year, you will continue to study the theme of “Social issues and trends”, focussing this time on areas such as immigration and racism. You will also study the theme of “Political and artistic culture”, concentrating specifically on aspects of political life in the country of the language that you are studying. In addition, you will study either one text and one film or two texts, again from a prescribed list. Finally, there is an Individual Research Project which you undertake under the guidance of your teacher. As well as having time in lessons with your subject teachers, time is spent with a language assistant to develop your speaking skills further. In our ever-expanding global economy, language skills are increasingly sought after by prospective employers in a range of spheres, from Medicine to Banking, from Politics to Information Technology. The ability to communicate effectively in a language other than your mother tongue will undoubtedly broaden your chosen career path and boost your earning potential.