STYLE OF ASSESSMENT
Spanish GCSE is assessed by 4 examinations: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing and translation and finally a 10-minute speaking test. The marks are awarded equally for all 4 skills. These exam skills are exactly the same as those practised in Years 7 to 9, so students need not fear them!
Students can be entered for either foundation or higher exams at the end of the two-year course. All exams will be sat in the June 2021 examination series.
There are four exams each with equal weighting:
- Paper 1: Listening (25%)
- Paper 2: Speaking (25%)
- Paper 3: Reading (25%)
- Paper 4: Writing (25%)
For full details please visit the website below
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698/specification-at-a-glance
OVERVIEW OF COURSE
Spanish GCSE is a fascinating course which gives students the linguistic tools necessary to communicate in one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, (437 million speakers) spoken in 22 countries and by nearly a fifth of the population of the United States. As well as offering an insight into the varied cultural heritage of the wider Hispanic community, the GCSE course hones the students’ language skills and complements their study of other GCSE subjects showing students how manipulating language can be both fun and rewarding, whether in Spanish or English.
LEARNER REQUIREMENTS
Spanish GCSE suits ALL kinds of learners. It has the academic rigour to really challenge the most intelligent students, but at the same time its focus on every day, practical language makes it accessible and useful to all. There are few things more satisfying than realising you can actually COMMUNICATE with a foreign person in their own language, whether on holiday or simply in an online forum on Social Media. Learning in a GCSE Spanish classroom is never boring, with a huge variety of activities, teaching methods and opportunities, so if you are a learner who likes variety and challenge, Spanish is for you. Essentially, if you are thinking of going to one of Britain’s best universities, a language is certainly a must-have. As an essential part of today’s multicultural world and international world of work, as a rule of thumb you should be thinking “If I can do a language, I certainly should!”
EXTRA-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES
The MFL department offers trips to Spain. Students have previously visited Seville and Barcelona. In 2019 a party of 34 students visited Andalucía, Southern Spain, taking in the historic city of Cádiz, the world famous Alhambra palace, a visit to one of Europe’s largest water parks, attending Spanish lessons and even learning to Flamenco dance!
Our GCSE students are offered the opportunities to get ever more involved with the events run by the department, acting as language Ambassadors who pitch in with younger years, or helping out on Open Evenings. We are also looking to enter our students or national translation and language competitions, such is the talent which is regularly unearthed!
