AS/A Level Spanish

AS/A Level Spanish

WHAT IS THE COURSE ABOUT?

• Families and relationships How are patterns of family life changing?
• Environmental issues what do the Spanish do as regards pollution initiatives? Oil tankers, wild cats and bears and the Doana nature reserve
• Immigration how does Spain deal with the increasing tide of immigrants from Africa, Eastern Europe and South America?
• Drugs, smoking and health issues Drug trafficking in Galicia; the smoking ban
• What about sport and leisure? Discuss the pros and cons of bullfighting and learn about the political implications of football in Spain
• Womens rights: the transformation in the status of Spanish women in the post-Franco era

This is a stimulating and challenging course, highly respected by all universities and useful preparation for a wide variety of careers. The AS course will take you well beyond GCSE, giving you a thorough grounding in the Spanish language, grammar and structures so as to enable you to research and discuss a wealth of topics such as those above. The A Level then takes you on to debating all sorts of contemporary issues from Crime and Punishment, Abortion and Cloning to the importance of the European Union and environmental policies in the Spanish-speaking world. We also study the historical and social reality of Spain:

• Who are Eta what are they fighting for?
• Myths and legends who was Franco? Was he really a fascist?
• Spanish twentieth century film: Buuel, Almodovar, Amenabar. From surrealism to melodrama.

All that and much more in a course that combines linguistic skills with analytical thinking. Self-reliance skills and adaptability are developed by those who participate in exchanges with a Spanish school. A Level Spanish is a highly rewarding and enjoyable course.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY SPANISH?

• You are keen to develop your skills in Spanish and to use it in a wider range of situations
• You really want to understand how the language works and are keen to learn new words and structures and to become genuinely fluent
• You are interested in Spanish culture and society and its history
• You enjoy the opportunity to discuss social issues and share your opinions

USEFUL SKILLS & INTERESTS
You find other countries and the lives of their people fascinating

You have a good memory and curiosity for words and phrases and are attracted by a more scientific study of the language

You are interested in current affairs

COURSE STRUCTURE & CONTENT
You develop your language skills throughout the course and build up your ability to use grammatical structures and a wider vocabulary. This language work is based on certain topics.

Year 1

• Leisure and Lifestyles, including healthy living, travel and tourism, entertainment and traditions
• The Individual and Society, including gender issues, relationships and youth culture

Year 2
You will also study two topics from the world of cinema, literature or region

• Environmental issues including pollution and global warning
• Social and political issues including the role of the media, racism, immigration and terrorism

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
The AS and A Level courses are each assessed by 2 Units, one of which in each course is an oral unit, whilst the other tests listening, reading and writing skills. In A Level this includes assessment of your research into the social and cultural background.

COURSE COMMITMENT
You will have approximately four hours and 30 minutes of classroom time. We expect you to work outside of your timetabled lessons for at least an extra four hours per week plus during two identified private studies periods within your college timetable. All students will also have the benefit of a weekly conversation class with a native Spanish speaking assistant. Constant revision of vocabulary and verb tenses is an essential part of private study time in addition to set homework assignments.

EXCHANGE VISITS
Here at Prior Pursglove we regularly have exchange visits to France, Germany, Spain and Italy and we have links to schools in Aix-en-Provence in France, Troisdorf in Germany, Valladolid in Spain and Ischia in Italy and as a student of languages you will have the opportunity to visit the country of the language(s) you are studying. During your visit you will stay with a host family, attend college and you may also have the opportunity to do work experience there, too. There will be places of interest in the region and joint activities with your host families. Students find that these exchanges improve their language skills and extend their knowledge of the country in which they are staying. In addition, many of them make new friends with whom they keep in touch after the exchange through email links or by talking to them over the Internet. Exchanges are also useful in preparing for oral units or coursework. Costs are generally around 180 220,but support funding may be available to help students who have financial difficulty.
COURSE COSTS
You will receive the main course books on loan from the college, but you are invited to buy yourself a Grammar Workbook, currently 6, for use in class and at home. You are also invited to buy a Spanish language magazine to expand on your skills.

PROGRESSION ROUTES
You can progress from AS to A Level in Spanish. You could then progress to university where Spanish can be studied as a main subject or in combination with a wide range of other subjects such as Business, European Management, or Physics. We currently have ex students at a wide variety of universities studying Spanish with another language or Business or Mathematics or History.