Spanish

Key Stage 3 is studied in Figures & Rudiments (years 7 & 8 at Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall), and continues into Lower Grammar (year 9 - Stonyhurst College)

Pupils follow a combination of plans and resources for the three years of work in KS3. Each year group attends one to two periods of Spanish a week, in addition to lessons in other languages.  

All resources and activities are clearly linked to the Modern Foreign Language framework in order for pupils to achieve the following outcomes: 

• Linguistic competence 
• Knowledge about language 
• Creativity 
• Intercultural understanding 

Pupils follow the Spanish course, Claro, which puts a strong emphasis on the practical use of language. Pupils are encouraged to develop confidence in speech and writing through regular formative and summative assessment, which ranges from vocabulary tests, to end of unit exams, to speaking games and quizzes. Differentiation is paramount and all students are encouraged and guided to reach their own full potential. All units have a variety of activities and challenges, including extension activities for the quickest finishers and most able linguists.

We use online programmes, such as thisislanguage, Linguascope and mflgames to help make language learning as fun and interactive as possible. Students are regularly praised in Spanish and a maximum amount of target-language use in lessons is encouraged. In addition, pupils can obtain stickers, stamps, postcards and other awards based on effort and achievement.

Finally, pupils benefit from presentations, games and cultural activities led by the Spanish Assistant, who this year happens to be a flamenco dancer! 

 

Grammar (year 10) and Syntax (year 11) 

The specification followed at GCSE Spanish is AQA. View the specification here.

In Grammar, pupils are introduced to the AQA Spanish text book and online Kerboodle learning platform. During this year, Theme 1 (Identity and Culture) is studied in detail and pupils are introduced the various assessment requirements on the GCSE course. The core grammar topics of major tenses, pronouns and prepositions are also covered.  

In Syntax, pupils move on to cover Theme 2 (Local, national, international and global areas of interest) and Theme 3 (Current and future study and employment). In addition to covering the core grammar topics of modal verbs, more complex tenses and the subjunctive, there is an increased focus on preparation for the four different assessments. Pupils will either be entered for Foundation or Higher in all four of the assessments:  

Paper 1: Listening - 35 minutes (Foundation)/45 minutes (Higher) - 25% 

Paper 2: Speaking - 7-9 minutes (Foundation)/10-12 minutes (Higher) - 25% 

Paper 3: Reading - 45 minutes (Foundation)/1 hour (Higher) - 25% 

Paper 4: Writing - 1 hour (Foundation)/1 hour 15 minutes (Higher) - 25% 

All pupils in Syntax and often in Grammar have weekly speaking practice with the Spanish Assistant who is always a native speaker.  

In the past, pupils have had the opportunity to visit Spain (Andalusia) and Latin America as educational trips.

The specification followed at A Level is AQA Spanish.

Studying any language at higher level is not only highly stimulating and enjoyable, but it gives pupils access to a much wider range of university courses at top universities. Spanish is offered through various courses in Higher Line.

At Stonyhurst we offer a two year A level course which aims primarily to create fluent communicators of Spanish who gain a strong appreciation and understanding of the various cultures and identities within the Hispanic world. The course is rigorous and demanding, although our highly specialised teachers make the best possible use of the most up to date and practical resources to complement their own significant experience and expertise. Similar to GCSE, the A level course enhances pupils’ skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing, although there is an increased emphasis on grammatical sophistication and there are the additional challenges of film and literature analysis. Pupils tend to find the study of cultural texts, such as film and literature, a welcome and hugely interesting challenge and an apt preparation for the demands of any languages-related course at university.  

The cultural texts currently taught and studied in detail are Guillermo del Toro’s El laberinto del fauno (2006) and Laura Esquivel’s Como agua para chocolate (1989). Reference is however made to several other films, novels and other cultural texts, as appropriate.  

The assessment for A level is as follows:  

Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing. 2 hour and 30 minute examination worth 50% of the total A Level. The core themes include: Aspects of Hispanic society; Artistic culture in the Hispanic world; Multiculturalism in Hispanic society; Aspects of political life in Hispanic society. 

Paper 2: Writing. 2 hour examination worth 20% of the total A Level. This includes either one text and one film or two texts from the lists set in the specification (currently the film and novel noted above). 

Paper 3: Speaking. 21-23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time). Examination worth 30% of the total A Level. 

The second year of the course in particular encourages the development of skills in researching, analysing and discussing current affairs and contemporary preoccupations within the Hispanic world. Pupils are regularly tested on vocabulary and grammar, but also in their skills in essay writing and translation. Each A level pupil has their own weekly session with the Spanish Assistant to work on their speaking.  

At Stonyhurst, you have the opportunity to study Spanish at a range of levels on the IB course.

Ab Initio

For students with limited knowledge of the language. You will develop skills in listening, reading, speaking and writing through studying 5 key themes: identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organization and sharing the planet.

Language B

For students with a good working knowledge of Spanish (GCSE grade 7-9, ideally). You will study Communication and Media, Global Issues and Social Themes, together with two additional topics. You will become an expert in recognising and producing different text types. At Higher Level, you will also study two works of literature.

Language A

A guided self-taught course for pupils with a native level of the language. You will cover a variety of Spanish literature, including original Spanish works and works in translation.

Our IB Diploma Programme is designed to produce highly educated all-rounders who embrace social responsibility, intercultural awareness and a duty to local and global communities to make an increasingly complex world a better place.