A level Spanish at Trinity
why, who, what, and how ‐ All you need to know to make the best decision possible! Why study Spanish A level?
The simplest but most important reason is that the fluency you’ll achieve by the end of your A level studies will enable you to discover the culture, history and people of more than 20 fascinating countries in a way that you just couldn’t without speaking Spanish. The Hispanic World is an incredibly interesting and varied place and your A level studies would not only give you the linguistic skills to cope in any of these countries, but also a grounding in what society is like and how people live. In addition to this the communication skills you’ll develop as you study will serve you very well in all walks of life. You’ll learn to debate, to conduct in‐depth research, to write a balanced essay and to think on your feet amongst other things. Why study Spanish A level?
Studying Spanish is fun and rewarding in its own right, but if that weren’t enough here are some facts and figures to show you how important it is…
Spanish is spoken by nearly 500 million people around the world
The USA has almost 40 million native Spanish speakers
Spanish is the 3rd most used language on the internet
People using a language as part of their job have a salary on
average 20% higher than those who don’t use a language
The Russell Group of Universities describe Spanish as a
‘facilitating subject’, which means it helps students gain a place
on the most competitive courses
37% of language graduates in the business environment
end up in management positions
Who can study Spanish A level?
Anybody who has achieved an A or A* at (I)GCSE would be able to thrive on our A level course. The gap between what’s expected of you at (I)GCSE and A level is big, but we know that and do everything we can to help you step up to the level you need to work at. The most important thing is to be enthusiastic and want to be able to express yourself in the language. The following qualities are also important:
• Having an interest in travelling to Spain or Latin America
• Wanting to know more about different cultures
• Enjoying working in a group as well as individually
• Being well‐organised and able to manage your time
• Being pro‐active in seeking help whenever you need it
What do we study in Spanish at A level?
We follow the AQA syllabus which includes some fascinating and varied topics: Social Issues and Trends – Aspects of Hispanic Society 
Modern and traditional values (Los valores tradicionales y modernos)
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Cyberspace (El ciberespacio)
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Equal rights (La igualdad de los sexos)
Social Issues and Trends – Multiculturalism in Hispanic Society
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Immigration (La inmigración)
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Racism (El racismo)
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Integration (La convivencia)
What do we study in Spanish at A level?
We follow the AQA syllabus which includes some fascinating and varied topics: Political and Artistic Culture – Artistic Culture in the Hispanic world
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Modern day idols (La influencia de los ídolos):
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Spanish regional identity (La identidad regional en España)
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Cultural heritage (El patrimonio cultural)
Political and Artistic Culture – Aspects of Political life in the Hispanic world
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Today's youth, tomorrow's citizens (Jóvenes de hoy, ciudadanos del
mañana)
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Monarchies and dictatorships (Monarquías y dictaduras)
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Popular movements (Movimientos populares)
What do we study in Spanish A level?
In addition to these prescribed topic we study one text and one film in detail from the AQA approved list:
What do we study in Spanish at A level?
The final strand of the course comprises an Individual Research Project in to anything relating to a Spanish speaking country that you find interesting. You will be required to find sources on your own and form balanced opinions on whatever you have chosen to investigate. Below are examples of the sorts of issues that students may wish to do their project on:
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‘Is the bitter rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona simply a sporting matter?’
‘Has the advent of new political parties in Spain like Podemos and Ciudadanos changed the
political landscape forever?’
‘Can an English person ever truly understand Flamenco music?’
‘Is it more important for the Peruvian government to protect the rainforest or exploit their
natural resources for the good of the economy?’
‘Do the films of Pedro Almodóvar offer an accurate representation of modern Spain?’
‘Was Che Guevara a heroic freedom fighter or a bloodthirsty murderer?’
What assessment will I need to do for my Spanish A level?
With the advent of linear A levels all exams will take place at the end of the U6th. However, we will do regular assessments throughout both years to monitor your progress and full mock exams at the end of the L6th. ❶ Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing : assessment of themes & sub‐themes (comprehension exercises, summarizing and translation)
• Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes ► 50% of A‐level ❷ Paper 2: Writing: assessment of one text and one film (essay writing) • Written exam: 2 hours ► 20% of A‐level
❸ Paper 3: Speaking: Individual research project (2mn + 10mn) + One the themes / sub‐themes (conversation)
• Oral exam: 21–23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time) ►
30% of A‐level
How do we study Spanish at A level?
• The course book pictured to the right is our main frame of reference but this is supplemented by a whole host of other resources and authentic materials from Spain and Latin America. • You will have 8 lessons a week with 2 different teachers and one lesson per week with one of our Lectoras – this is a speaking session which won’t appear on your timetable but which is compulsory. • At least once per fortnight you will have a lesson in our Digital Language Laboratory, and we make use of the numerous sets of ipads available in school during lessons. • Spanish lessons are engaging and interactive because we understand that you need to practice speaking the language and giving your opinion. As a department we aim to show you that Spanish is doable, enjoyable and worthwhile. Trips and extra activities
• At Trinity we understand that your success or otherwise in an A level is determined by what you do outside the classroom. As such we organise several day and evening trips as well as study days, taking advantage of the large Spanish community that we have in London.
• We do not organise a residential VI form trip, but we strongly encourage students to travel to Spain independently. Many of our most successful students do this, be it to study, gain some work experience or simply enjoy the culture. We have various links with individuals and organisations around Spain and will help students however we can to make this happen.
• We also regularly invite speakers in to school to speak about matters relevant to the course or of general interest to those studying Spanish. For example, we have recently welcomed the Costa Rican ambassador to Trinity as well as Postgraduate translation experts. Any questions?