Entry Requirements

Spanish – Grade 6

Examination Board: AQA

Introduction/General Advice and Requirements

Did you know?

• A-Level Spanish is extremely highly regarded by universities, regardless of the course students choose
• Knowledge of another language can prove to be a tie-breaker when two equally good candidates are considered for a job
• Approximately 270 million people speak Spanish worldwide
• Spanish is second only to English in terms of geographical distribution
• A recent report has shown that more than a third of employers specifically recruit people for their language skills

Given the immense value of Spanish both in Europe and America, and the fact that language graduates are among the highest earners three to four years after university, Spanish A-Level is the perfect complement to any other subject. It offers an excellent opportunity for students to improve their employability and develop towards fluency in a language which will also allow for accelerated learning of French, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian.

Course Content & Assessment

The A-level specification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at GCSE. It constitutes an integrated study with a focus on language, culture and society. It fosters a range of transferable skills including communication, critical thinking, research skills and creativity, which are valuable to the individual and society.

The content is suitable for students who wish to progress to employment, business, international law or further study, including a modern languages degree. In the first year, aspects of the social context are studied, together with aspects of the artistic life of

Spanish-speaking countries. (the changing nature of family, the ‘cyber-society’, the place of voluntary work)

(Spain and its heritage, Contemporary Spanish music, cinema)

In the second year further aspects of the social background are covered, this time focusing on issues, such as life for those on the margins of Spanish-speaking society as well as looking at the positive influences that diversity brings.

Students also study aspects of the political landscape in a Spanish country, looking at immigration from the political perspective and at the way in which political power is expressed through action such as strikes and demonstrations. (positive features of a diverse society, life for the marginalised, how criminals are treated)

Paper 1 40% of A level

Listening, reading and writing

What’s assessed

• Aspects of Spanish society: current trends
• Aspects of Spanish society: current issues
• Artistic culture in the Spanish-speaking world
• Aspects of political life in the Spanish-speaking world
• Grammar

Paper 2 30% of A level

Writing

What’s assessed

• One text (El otro arbol de Guernica) and one film (Volver by Almódovar)

Paper 3 30% of A level

Speaking

What’s assessed

• Individual research project (a Spanish region, Freedom of expression, Science and technology in modern Spain)
• One of four sub-themes i.e. Aspects of Spanish-speaking society: current trends, Aspects of
• Spanish-speaking society: current issues, Artistic culture in the Spanish-speaking world, Aspects of political life in the Spanish-speaking world
• Grammar

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Studying A-Level Spanish will not only give students a firm grounding in one of the world’s most important languages, but could also be the key to accessing a huge range of jobs across several continents. Language graduates often go on to develop exciting careers in areas such as:

• International relations
• Media and journalism
• The civil service and international agencies and embassies
• International law
• Interpreting and translating
• International business management
• The armed forces

The importance of languages cannot be downplayed in the current climate of extreme competition for university places and jobs. Furthermore, the traditional lack of interest in languages in the UK means that there is now far less competition for jobs requiring knowledge of foreign languages.

A Level Independent Learning