Spanish
A desire to open the world to our students, to foster the skills of tolerance and inquiry as well as to embed an eagerness to be the best that they can be, both linguistically and socially, underpins the intent of the Modern Foreign Language curriculum here at St. Barts.
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein
All Year 7 students at St Bart’s learn a language (French or German). The language studied is dependent on the House to which the students belong. In Year 8 most students then move on to learn 2 languages and, at this point, students also have the option to learn Spanish.
All Year 9 students learn a language, opting to continue with one or both of the languages they studied in Year 8.
The department offers lots of co-curricular activities from clubs, to competitions such as our Cultural Poster Competition and the annual MFL Karaoke competition! You can also read more about our international links.
Examination Board: AQA
Course Description
A-level Spanish builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at GCSE, with a focus on Spanish language, culture and society. It fosters a range of transferable skills including communication, critical thinking, research skills and creativity. Students will have the opportunity to develop their language knowledge, understanding and skills to a deeper level.
Students will study 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 covered together with aspects of the artistic life of Spanish-speaking countries.
Throughout A-level Spanish, you will make reference to authentic spoken and written sources in Spanish and students will have the opportunity to study a film and a work of Spanish literature.
Students will assimilate, translate and summarise information from spoken and written sources, reporting key points and subject matter in speech and writing.
To complement the classroom lessons and to help develop fluency, students in the Sixth Form have weekly lessons with our Spanish assistant on a two-to-one or one-to-one basis.
Assessment
This is a linear course. This means that students opting for this subject will be committing to a two-year linear course, with all units examined at the end of year 13.
Entry Requirements
A grade 6 or higher in GCSE Spanish is required.
Where might it lead?
A Level Modern Foreign Languages can help open doors to careers in/as:
- Academic Researcher
- Archeologist
- Art Historian
- Cabin Crew
- Diplomatic Service Officer
- English as a Foreign Language Teacher
- Intelligence Analyst
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Interpreter
- Journalist
- Logistics and Distribution Manager
- Political Risk Analyst
- Publishing Rights Manager
- Teacher
- Translator/Tutor
- Travel Consultant
- Tour Manager
Student Destinations
Marcie Essex-Lopresti
2024 Offers from:
- University of Birmingham – Liberal Arts and Sciences
- University of Exeter – Modern Languages
- Lancaster University – Psychology and Spanish Studies
- University of Southampton – Modern Languages (Two Languages)
- University of Warwick- Modern Languages
