PEARSON EDEXCEL | 9SP0
Pupils have the opportunity to discover different aspects of the Spanish-speaking world such as current trends and issues, and its artistic culture and customs. Over the two-year course, pupils study a Spanish film and a play. Whilst developing further speaking, listening, reading and writing competency, pupils will also learn to research and investigate topics that interest them.
A minimum of a grade 6 at GCSE Spanish is required for any girls considering this subject.
THE COURSE
This is a well-rounded course which is designed to enable pupils to: develop their skills to become better communicators, problem solvers and flexible thinkers; study some of the literature and films of the Hispanic world and learn more about its life and culture; express their views on a wide range of current issues; research topics and develop presentation and essay writing skills. By the end of the course, pupils will find they have learnt much more than a language.
Topics covered include changes in Spanish society (family, work and tourism), Art and Political culture of the Spanish speaking world (music, media, festivals and traditions), immigration and the Spanish multicultural society (impact of immigration, public and political opinion on immigration), History (the Spanish civil war, the Spanish dictatorship and the transition to democracy) Pupils will study the play, La Casa de Bernarda by Federico García Lorca and the film Volver by Pedro Almodóvar. Ideally, pupils should be good linguists with a desire to improve their fluency, an enthusiasm to learn about different cultures and to communicate.
ASSESSMENTS
- Paper 1 - Listening, Reading and Translation
40% (1 hr 45 mins)
- Paper 2 - Writing and Translating into Spanish
30% (1 hr 40 mins)
- Oral
30% (between 21 and 23 minutes, which includes a single period of 5 minutes’ formal preparation time)
BEYOND THE COURSE
By studying a Modern Foreign Language, a wide range of degree courses are open to you. Most universities offer a wide range of combined courses with languages; for instance: History and Spanish; Psychology and Spanish; or more business oriented courses alongside a new language. On the other hand, of course, if you wish to specialise in languages then it is ideal to be able to offer one or even two languages at A Level. There are a huge number of possibilities at university, with a year abroad often included in the courses and, of course, a language will could potentially raise your profile in the job
market.