Spanish

AQA 7692 Ms Julie Desmarchelier-Arpino

“Lo único imposible es aquella que no intentas” - Juanto Fernandez

Why should I study Spanish?

With 329 million native speakers, Spanish ranks as the world’s No. 2 language in terms of how many people speak it as their first language. Spanish is also one of the world’s most phonetic languages. If you know how a word is spelled, you can almost always know how it is pronounced, which is why it is thought to be ‘easier’ than other languages, but do not be fooled! It will still require a lot of work and passion! Spanish is the language of Pablo Picasso, Federico Garcia Lorca, Isabel Allende and of course Antonio Banderas. Nowadays, many people in the UK speak Spanish through the necessities of their work. Spanish has at least three million native speakers in each of 44 countries, making it the fourth most widely spoken language behind English (112 countries), French (60) and Arabic (57)... So it is clear that English is not enough!

•Despite expanding, the world has become a much smaller place and it is more and more important for companies to have employees with • a wide spectrum of talents. Languages are the perfect way to meet new people, immerse yourself in new cultures and • make a difference to who you are. Speaking another language really makes you stand out from the crowd and you’ll be able to • work anywhere in the world. Learning a foreign language can help you • understand your own language. They’re good for you! Speaking more than one language increases your brain capacity and you • have better memory too. You can travel all over the world and feel like a • true local. It’s an impressive achievement to speak a foreign language - one your friends and family will envy and employers will love!

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking Spanish?

You need to have passed GCSE (or an equivalent examination) at B grade or better in Spanish. You need to be interested in the culture and way of life of the target language country, and be prepared to spend some time there during the course (exchange; work experience; stay with family) You need to take some interest in current affairs and world issues in general.

What will I learn?

To develop your general communication skills such as presenting information, organising your arguments, presenting and defending opinions. To analyse ideas, sustain a conversation, to communicate at a higher level in Spanish. To speak Spanish with greater fluency. To read, listen to and understand more complex material from a variety of sources. To write in Spanish with greater accuracy and sophistication. About a wide range of aspects of Spanish society.

Whol is this course suitable for?

Pupils who: • like to communicate. • are interested in and enjoy other cultures. • take an interest in a broad range of issues. • may want to travel, live or work abroad. • want to use their language for work, or • • further study. want to pick up a satisfying skill. want to open up many other opportunities: • personal, social, academic and professional. wish to complement their other courses: a language combines particularly well with History, English, Geography and the other Humanities as well as Music, Maths, the Sciences or the • Social Sciences. wish to work in the STEM or space industry (some employers will demand two languages).

Spanish (Continued)

How is the course assessed?

Paper 1: Listening, Reading, Writing (translation) 2 hours 30 minute examination (50% of A level) Paper 2: Writing (essays) 2 hour examination (20% of A level) Paper 3: Speaking 21-23 minute oral exam (30% of A level)

What could I go on and do at the end of my course?

There will be a range of opportunities open to you, where you can continue to use and further your language skills and knowledge of contemporary society. Some pupils choose to do degree courses in languages; often there is an opportunity to learn a new language from scratch. Others choose to pursue a higher education course which combines study of a language with another subject such as law, politics or business. There are also many courses on offer in European Studies, which include language study among a number of other disciplines.

Having a language at A level will certainly improve your employability, in particular with companies, which have international branches. Whether you are interested in continuing your studies or working at home or abroad, a language course at A level is an excellent step towards achieving your goals.