Spanish
A Level Spanish will develop your knowledge and skills acquired at GCSE level. The course will enable you to use Spanish in a wide range of contexts and gain a useful insight into another culture. Through the study of a modern foreign language, you will have the opportunity to develop your understanding of, and reflect upon, various aspects of contemporary society. Work experience abroad in your final year is also an option.
Your fluency in both the written and spoken language will develop, as will your ability to understand the language in both the spoken and written form.
Entry Requirements
GCSE Spanish Grade 6+
Content
The AQA A Level Spaniah course consists of five components:
Component One: | Social issues and trends |
Component Two: | Aspects of Hispanic-speaking society: current trends |
Component Three: | Political, Intellectual/Artistic areas of interest |
Component Four: | Grammar |
Component Five: | Film and book study |
In Year One you will study topics including the changing family structure in post-Franco Spain and Latin America, the gender pay gap in the Spanish-speaking world, and identity expressed through culture (such as food, music and bull-fighting).
In Year Two you will study topics including discrimination and injustice, Latin American dictators, and activism and protests. In Year 2 you will also carry out a research project of your choice.
Assessment
100% Examination
Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing (50%)
Paper 2: Written (20%)
Paper 3: Speaking (30%)
Am I right for the course?
Spanish is spoken by 470 million people worldwide and it is growing in popularity all the time. If you enjoy being able to communicate in another language and if you are interested in the culture and society of the Spanish speaking world, then this is the course for you.
Course Highlights
Hands-on Experience: |
As well as moving towards fluency in your own Spanish, you will have volunteering opportunities to help build your experience for future university or job applications. |
Personal Development: | Develop your use of Spanish to persuade, argue or explain, and prepare presentations for different audiences - all these are vital skills for the workplace. Learning how to interact with Spanish speakers can help you to see things from a range of perspectives. |
Enrichment: |
Students have participated in overseas trips and work experience in the past. We are happy to facilitate and support these. |
Where next?
Students can go on to degrees in Spanish and/or other Languages, Spanish can be combined with many other subjects, including Business Studies, European Studies, Sciences, Law, and Latin American studies with most offering the opportunity to live and study/work in a Spanish-speaking country.
Language qualifications are welcomed by employers and it is a great skill to have in the global work market. In addition, Spanish is one of the top five languages used in business, and employers value the transferable skills. A language qualification prepares you for careers with good communication skills including business, management, law, international marketing, teaching and journalism.
FAQ's
- Do I need to have taken GCSE Spanish?
You will either have taken GCSE Spanish, or have an excellent level of Spanish because you speak and write it at home. - Do I need to be fluent in Spanish?
You need to have a strong GCSE level of Spanish, with a good grasp of basic grammar. We will build towards fluency throughout the course. - Will there be lots of essays?
Essay writing will form part of the course, but only part. The skills that you will learn in A Level Spanish essay-writing will help you to write in your other subjects too.
Spanish A Level Teaching Staff

Subject Leader for MFL
l.hall@stwilfrids.com

Deputy Subject Leader for MFL
e.zeidler@stwilfrids.com

Spanish Teacher
r.johnson@stwilfrids.com

Spanish Teacher
k.mcguiness@stwilfrids.com