Spanish

Spanish

GCE Advanced Level AS/A2
The AS course leads to the award of an AS Level qualification. The full A Level is gained after the second (A2) year.
Please note that these are examination courses. All students sit the WJEC-set AS and A2 examinations at the end of the course.

Course Content

AS

Conversation: General and topic-based conversation.

Grammar: An in-depth look at how the language works.

Topics

a) Leisure and Lifestyles, including travel and tourism, sport, hobbies, entertainment, customs, traditions, healthy living health and nutrition, diet and exercise; unhealthy living drugs, aids, smoking, alcohol, etc.

b) The Individual and Society, including relationships and responsibilities, gender issues, youth culture (values, peer groups, fashions and trends etc.), education, vocational training and future careers.
Independent Listening Programme (weekly listening tasks linked to the topics covered and designed to provide graded practice for the examinations).

A2

Conversation: General and topic-based conversation.

Grammar: An in-depth look at how the language works.

Topics

a) Environmental Issues, including technology, pollution, global warming, transport, energy, nuclear energy, renewable energies, conservation, recycling, sustainability.

b) Social and Political Issues, including the role of the media, racism, immigration, social exclusion and integration, terrorism, world of work (employment, commerce, globalization, etc.)

Additional Guided Studies Topics: We shall be selecting 2 additional topics from

a) One or two Spanish language films
b) One or two literature texts
c) One or two regions of Spain

How it is Taught
The course is delivered in 5 hours a week. The language is taught through a wide range of activities which include

• Speaking Spanish in class or conversation group
• Grammar exercises
• Translation work
• Reading comprehensions
• Listening exercises
• Vocabulary-building activities
• Background reading
• Watching videos/films/satellite TV
• Reading a short story or play
• Using the library and internet to do research
• Independent listening programme

Examination Details

AS
AS Level is achieved on the successful completion of units SN1 and SN2, set by the WJEC (Welsh) examination board. The examinations are held in May/June.

SN 1 (Oral) 15 minutes 40%

a) Topic-based conversation on an aspect of each of the AS topics, based on stimulus material prepared in the 15 minutes immediately prior to the examination. (8 mins).

b) General conversation on personal interests, studies and plans/aspirations for the future (7 mins).

SN 2 (Listening, Reading and Writing) 2 hours 60%

You have 2 hours to complete all 3 sections of the examination.

Listening: Using Individual computers. Passages of varying length (formal and informal registers brief conversations, interviews or reports). Tasks include true/false and correction, multiple choice, filling in a grid, questions and answers in Spanish, comparison with a written text, cloze- or gap-filling, paraphrasing, summary, re-statement, personal comments, transcription of individual words or phrases and translation into English.

Reading: 3 passages with various comprehension tasks, including some translation from Spanish to English.

Writing: 1 essay of 200 -250 words in Spanish based on the topics studied.

A2
A2 is gained by adding units SN3 and SN4, set by the WJEC (Welsh) examination board. The examinations are in May/June.

SN 3 (Oral) 20 minutes 20% of A Level

a) Structured discussion based on a short written stimulus (150-200 words) linked to one of the A2 topics and studied during a preparation period of 15-20 minutes. You will be asked a few questions on the text and then be invited to state and discuss your own views on the topic. (6 minutes)

b) Oral expos based on an aspect of your choice from the Guided Studies topics (eg one film/book/area of Spain) (maximum 4 minutes) followed by a discussion with the examiner on the topic of the expos and related issues (10 minutes).

SN 4 (Listening, Reading and Writing) 3 hours 30 % of A Level

You have 3 hours to complete all 4 sections of the examination.

Listening: 1 or 2 items with comprehension tasks answered in English.

Reading: 1 or 2 passages in Spanish related to one or more of the topic areas, with comprehension tasks including some answered in English.

Translation: A short translation (approx 100 words) from English to Spanish.

Essay: 1 essay (max 400 words in Spanish) related to a second subject from the Guided Studies option ( book/ film/region of Spain).

Those wishing to improve their overall A Level grade may wish to re-sit one or both of the AS modules during the A2 year

Unit Availabilty
SN2 may be sat in May/June or January
SN1, 3 and 4 may only be taken in May/June.


AS
The normal minimum entry requirement is a C grade in Spanish at GCSE (or equivalent). However, a formal entry qualification is not always required

• Those who have spent time living in Spain will be considered for direct entry to the course
• Those who have not had the opportunity to study Spanish at school but who are confident that they want to study the language to AS or A2 may be accepted, but would be required to study GCSE alongside the AS Level

Students should also meet the general college entry requirements for advanced level study. Please refer to the current Prospectus - advanced programmes, entry requirements.

A2
The normal entry qualification is AS Spanish.

Useful/Common Subject Combinations
Spanish combines well with many subjects

• Other languages. These days it is useful to have a working knowledge of several languages
• Travel/Tourism. Spain is a major tourist destination
• Business/Economics. Spain and Latin America are important trading partners

Careers and HE Information
A number of our students have progressed through our courses to from Beginners' Level to A Level and beyond. Some have found work in Spain or have participated in voluntary projects in Spanish-speaking countries. Others are putting their Spanish to good use in this country in business or education.

Other Relevant Information
Our Spanish students regularly participate in Spanish days organised by local universities and attend special events such as talks and plays.