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Charles Darwin School

Spanish

Spanish at A Level

Students find the courses interesting and engaging and enjoy how much they can communicate in the foreign language. 

 Key Stage 5

Studying a language at A Level is challenging yet very exciting.  The level of language that students develop in the Sixth Form is very high.  

A-level Spanish helps students develop confident, effective communication skills in Spanish and a thorough understanding of the culture of countries and communities where Spanish is spoken.

AQA AS Spanish (new specification)

Students will develop their understanding of themes relating to the society and culture of the countries where French is spoken, and their language skills; they will do this by using authentic spoken and written sources in Spanish.

The AQA AS Spanish specification is divided into two main subject areas, called themes. Each theme is divided into three sub-themes, making a total of six sub-themes to study during the course. The themes and sub-themes are as follows:

Theme 1: Aspects of Hispanic society: current trends

Modern and traditional values (Los valores tradicionales y modernos)

  • Los cambios en la familia
  • Actitudes hacia el matrimonio/el divorcio
  • La influencia de la Iglesia Católica

Cyberspace (El ciberespacio)

  • La influencia de internet
  • Las redes sociales: beneficios y peligros
  • Los móviles inteligentes en nuestra sociedad

Equal rights (La igualdad de los sexos)

  • La mujer en el mercado laboral
  • El machismo y el feminismo
  • Los derechos de los gays y las personas transgénero

Theme 2:  Artistic culture in the Hispanic world

Modern day idols (La influencia de los ídolos)

  • Cantantes y músicos
  • Estrellas de televisión y cine
  • Modelos

Spanish regional identity (La identidad regional en España)

  • Tradiciones y costumbres
  • La gastronomía
  • Las lenguas

Cultural heritage (El patrimonio cultural)

  • Sitios turísticos y civilizaciones prehispánicas: Machu Picchu, la Alhambra, etc
  • Arte y arquitectura
  • El patrimonio musical y su diversidad

You will also be required to study a film or literary text at AS from a prescribed list.

Assessment

The exam is divided into three papers.

Assessment

The exam is divided into three papers.

Paper

What's assessed Length of Exam

Marks /

% of AS

1: Listening, reading and writing

Aspects of Hispanic society: current trends

Artistic culture in the Hispanic world

Grammar

1 hour 45 minutes

90 marks /

45%

 

2: Writing

One text or one film from the list in the spcification

Grammar

1 hour 30 minutes

 

50 marks /

25%

 

3: Speaking

One sub-theme from Aspects of Hispanic society: current trends

One sub-theme from

Artistic culture in the Hispanic world

12 - 14 minutes plus 15 minutes preparation time

60 marks /

30%