Spanish
Our Curriculum Aims:
“Do you know what a foreign accent is? It’s a sign of bravery.”
The principal aim in teaching our students Spanish is promote and develop self-confidence and self-esteem, so they can communicate effectively in the Target Language. All students should be aware of the vast opportunities available to them if they have knowledge of Spanish. With over 530 million Spanish speakers worldwide and a language spoken in 22 countries, it is a highly respected and desired skill to be able to communicate in Spanish in today’s society. It undoubtedly helps foster an appreciation and respect for other cultures and people groups.
The Spanish curriculum here is ambitious and challenging, giving all pupils the chance to not only develop impressive language skills, but also to be more aware of cultural, moral and social aspects of everyday life in societies around the world. The topics covered in years 9-13 particularly promote good citizenship and equality, whilst also teaching a language. Examples of some topics studied include; wealth and poverty and the environment at GCSE; Franco’s dictatorship, racism and gender equality at A Level. No two lessons are the same in Spanish and students also learn skills that can be transferred to other subjects, it naturally being co-curricular, so all subjects studied can also be explored through the Spanish language. Language skills can aid those pursuing any career, for example in medicine, science, law, economics, history and many more.
Language cannot be accessed without culture, so we explore Spanish through film, music, online newspapers and a wide range of websites we subscribe to. Visiting Spain is an integral part of learning the Spanish language and we are looking to introduce a year 10-12 trip next academic year to replace the Spanish Exchange trip. There has been a joint 6th form Art and Spanish trip to Madrid in previous years which has provided students who have different skills to come together and share their skill with one and other. We also offer a popular year 8 trip to Barcelona at the end of the school year. Year 12 and 13 are encouraged to take part in the hugely successful Essay Writing Courses for A-Level; film workshops and taster days for studying Spanish at degree level at Manchester University and HOME cinema.