Spanish
Entry Criteria
- Mathematics GCSE Grade 4
Examination Board
Click here to visit the exam board course page for A Level Spanish.
Teaching Staff
- Miss Hollin
We also have a native Spanish language assistant who works individually with all Sixth Formers
Spanish is currently the third most spoken language in the world and therefore an excellent choice for anyone wanting to continue their study of languages at A Level. From Spain to Central, South and even North America, Spanish is a truly international language, offering a range of opportunities in a whole host of different professions. These include banking, finance, law, hospitality and tourism, fashion, medicine and engineering. Continue your study of Spanish and you’ll have an edge.
As well as their taught lessons, our A Level language students have a dedicated hour one-to-one with a native language speaker as part of their timetable.
This significantly increases spoken language fluency and gives our students the opportunity to regularly practice their speaking in a low-pressure environment.
Year 12 and 13 Spanish pupils at the Leeds Phoenix Theatre ready to watch La Casa de Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca performed in Spanish.
Studying Spanish at A Level will give you every opportunity to:
- Develop the knowledge and skills you acquired at GSCE Level and therefore use Spanish in a wide range of contexts
- Gain a useful insight into another culture and reflect on various aspects of contemporary society
- Enhance your employment prospects, facilitate your foreign travel and have the enjoyment of using your linguistic skills around the world.
Languages are universally useful and you can combine Spanish with any subject.
Learning a foreign language improves your skills of analysis and interpretation and this can complement all your studies. As more and more companies work closely with businesses in other countries, many kinds of workers will be needed who can communicate in different languages and understand other cultures.
No matter what career you choose, if you have learned a second language, you will have a real advantage.
What will I study?
Year 12
Aspects of Hispanic Society: Current Trends
- Traditional and Modern Values
- Cyberspace
- The equality of the sexes
Artistic Culture in the Hispanic World
- The influence of idols
- Regional Identity in Spain
- Cultural Patrimony
You will also study the film El Laberinto del Fauno by the director Guilermo del Toro.
Year 13
Multiculturalism in Hispanic Society
- Immigration
- Racism
- The cohabitation of cultures
Aspects of Political Life in the Hispanic World
- Young people of today, citizens of tomorrow
- Monarchies and dictatorships
- Popular movements
You will also study the play La Casa de Bernarda Alba written by Federico García Lorca and prepare your independent research project; a project on a topic of your choice related to the Hispanic world.
What can I use A Level Spanish for?
You can use your language knowledge in many areas of employment. You can study Spanish at degree level and many university programmes teach languages in conjunction with other subjects. You could even decide to study abroad, in a Spanish speaking country for a summer, a term or maybe for a year. When you study a language, you learn about how to learn a language, so acquiring the next one will be even easier.
What do our students say about Spanish?
Zara is planning to use her A Level Spanish during her Tropical Diseases degree, with a year abroad in South America.
My favourite aspect of studying Spanish is the wide variety of things that you learn. Not only are you learning a new language but sometimes it feels like many subjects in one! Some of my favourite topics included the history of Spain and other Hispanic countries including their many dictatorships. Also, studying the works of Guillermo del Toro and Federico García Lorca was another highlight as it tied in my love of theatre with learning Spanish.
Something I noticed when starting Spanish in Year 12 was that it was a big step up from GCSE and it did feel a bit overwhelming at first, but the support provided by the teachers and having one on one lessons with our Spanish Language Assistant really helped to improve my skills.
The advice I would give to new Year 12 students is to make sure you learn the vocab provided by the teachers and to try and practice a little bit every day using sites such as Memrise. Also, it would be useful to keep up to date with current affairs in Spanish news as it will help when deciding on a topic for your Independent Research Project.
As well as Spanish, I also studied Biology and Chemistry; after Sixth Form I am planning to go to university to study Tropical Diseases. Part of the course has a study abroad programme to South America which learning Spanish will give me a great advantage.
