Spanish - A Level
Exam Board: AQA
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 or to further study, including a modern languages degree.
The approach is a focus on how Spanish-speaking society has been shaped socially and culturally and how it continues to change. In the first year, aspects of the social context are studied, together with aspects of the artistic life of Spanish-speaking countries. In the second year further aspects of the social background are covered, this time focusing on matters associated with multiculturalism. Students also study aspects of the political landscape including the future of political life in the Hispanic world by focusing on young people and their political engagement.
Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of themes relating to the culture and society of countries where Spanish is spoken, and their language skills. They will do this by using authentic spoken and written sources in Spanish.
Year 12 and Year 13 Content
The specification has been designed to be studied over two years. Therefore A Level Spanish students must complete two years of study to achieve the qualification. There is no longer an option to take the AS Level after one year.
Key areas of study include:
Text Book:
Year 1: AQA A Level Year 1 and AS Spanish Student book
(Authors - Francisca Mejias- Yedra, Francisco Villatoro, Ian Kendrick, and Margaret Bond).
Year 2: AQA A Level Spanish Year 2 ( Francisca Mejias- Yedra, Francisco Villatoro, Ian Kendrick, and Margaret Bond) P96RUZ
1. Social issues and trends
1.1 Aspects of Hispanic society: Modern and traditional values (Los valores tradicionales y modernos), Cyberspace (El ciberespacio), Equal rights (La igualdad de los sexos)
1.2 Multiculturalism in Hispanic society: Immigration (La inmigración), Racism (El racismo), Integration (La convivencia)
2. Politic and artistic culture
2.1 Artistic culture in the Hispanic world: Modern day idols (La influencia de los ídolos), Spanish regional identity (La identidad regional en España), Cultural heritage (El patrimonio cultural)
2.2 Aspects of political life in the Hispanic world: Today's youth, tomorrow's citizens (Jóvenes de hoy, ciudadanos del mañana), Monarchies and dictatorships (Monarquías y dictaduras), Popular movements (Movimientos populares)
3. Grammar
A Level students will be expected to have studied the grammatical system and structures of the language during their course. Knowledge of the grammar and structures specified for GCSE is assumed. In the exam students will be required to use, actively and accurately, grammar and structures appropriate to the tasks set.
4. Works - Literary texts and films
Students must study either one text and one film or two texts from the list below. Abridged editions should not be used.
Texts
- Federico García Lorca La casa de Bernarda Alba
- Gabriel García Márquez Crónica de una muerte anunciada
- Laura Esquivel Como agua para chocolate
- Ramón J. Sender Réquiem por un campesino español
- Carlos Ruiz Zafón La sombra del viento
- Isabel Allende La casa de los espíritus
- Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer Rimas
- Fernando Fernán-Gómez Las bicicletas son para el verano
- Luis de Castresana El otro árbol de Guernica
- Gabriel García Márquez El coronel no tiene quien le escribe
Films
- El laberinto del fauno Guillermo del Toro (2006)
- Ocho apellidos vascos Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (2014)
- María, llena eres de gracia Joshua Marston (2004)
- Volver Pedro Almodóvar (2006)
- Abel Diego Luna (2010)
- Las 13 rosas Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (2007)
5. Individual research project
Students must identify a subject or key question which is of interest to them and which relates to a country or countries where Spanish is spoken. They must select relevant information in Spanish from a range of sources including the internet. The aim of the research project is to develop research skills.
Assessment
Mock Exams
Students will have mocks in January and March, as well as an induction test at the end of September.
Public Exams
Students sit examinations in their A Level courses at the end of Year 13. All students will take internal end of year examinations at the end of year 12 to determine suitability to continue with the subject in Year 13. Students who do not meet the required pass grade in the Year 12 end of year examinations will not be permitted to progress into Year 13.
This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course (At the end of the second year)
Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing: Written exam of 2 hours 30 minutes, worth 50% of A Level
Paper 2: Writing: Written exam of 2 hours, worth 20% of A Level
Paper 3: Speaking: Oral exam: 21–23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time), worth 30% of A Level
