KS4

GCSE Course Followed: Spanish

Specification: AQA (Syllabus code 8698)

Why Choose GCSE Languages?

If you enjoy learning about different countries and cultures, communicating with other people, finding out how language works, then studying GCSE languages is an excellent choice for you! You will choose an MFL GCSE from the two languages you are currently studying at KS3 – why not consider choosing two?

Please note that Chinese is only open to those students currently studying Chinese as part of the curriculum at AGSB and who will sit the GCSE exam at AGSB at the end of Year 11.

There are many reasons for taking this GCSE:

You will be able to share your interests, ideas and opinions with other people who speak French, German, Chinese or Spanish.
You will learn about the country of your chosen language(s) and get a lot more out of a trip there.
You will add an international dimension to your choice of GCSE subjects, which is something many future employers and higher education providers look for.
You will learn many skills which are useful in a wide range of future careers, such as the ability to communicate clearly, being confident about speaking in public, using problem-solving strategies, etc.
If you continue with languages beyond GCSE to A Level, you will be able to combine your language with many different subjects at University, e.g. Medicine, Law, Business and many more.
You will create greater opportunities for yourself to work abroad, or for companies in the UK with international links. Many employers look for people who speak a foreign language.

What do I need to know?

You have started your GCSE course in Year 9 so you already know a lot of the vocabulary and grammar you’ll need for GCSE. You know how to talk about yourself, your family and friends, your hobbies, where you live, school, holidays, food and drink. You will build on these topics over the next two years, as well as moving on to new topics.

So you are already part way there!

Four skills are tested in a formal exam at the end of Year 11. Each skill is worth 25% of your total GCSE. You will be entered for either Foundation or Higher tier. The exams are set out below:

Listening:
You will answer questions on recorded material from different topic areas. Some material will be formal (for example a telephone message) and some informal (for example a telephone conversation between friends).

Reading:
You will answer questions about short texts on different topics in various forms such as text messages, adverts, emails and letters.

Speaking:
This exam will be conducted by your teacher. You will have range of activities to complete. You will take part in a role play with your teacher, you will do a ‘reading aloud’ activity ans answer questions surrounding that topic area and you will do a photo card and answer questions on that.

Writing:
There are three main tasks to complete. First you will translate sentences into Spanish, write a short response; (90 words); to 3 bullet points on a certain topic. You will then show off all of your language skills in a more detailed response to 2 bullet points; (150 words).

What can I do after I have completed the course?

People with language skills and knowledge are highly thought of in the modern world. They stand out as talented and successful people, with broad and exciting horizons. Being able to speak more than one language has been scientifically proven to give people higher cognitive ability. Taking GCSE language(s) means you will have much more fun when travelling and be able to continue your language learning to A Level. You will add an extra dimension to your personal skills profile which will impress anyone who reads your CV and you will be in a stronger position to get a job in companies with international links or to work abroad. You will also be able to choose between many careers that you may not have previously thought of such as working as a calls interceptor for MI5, being responsible for international links with global companies or even opening new franchises in foreign countries. The options are endless!

Key Stage Four Curriculum Overview

Year 10

	NAME OF TOPIC	KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC	ASSESSMENT POINTS
HT1	My home and local area	*Students will recap the following content:* Types of house, types of area, your future house. Prepositions of place, demonstrative pronouns and adjectives, possessive pronouns, formulating complex questions, tenses. *Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Higher level furniture items, amenities in their town, *Students will learn the following culture:* Popular towns in Spanish speaking countries, differences between city and country life. *Students will learn the following grammar points: Desde hace + time frame, lo que/ el que/la que/los que/prepositions of place*	End of Unit assessments. Weekly vocabulary tests. Speaking preparation assessments
HT2	The environment	*Students will recap the following content:* Environmental issues in their region and worldwide Good and bad aspects to their home town/region *Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Environmental issues in their area/ways in which they help on an individual basis at home/compare current issues to the past, the weather *Students will learn the following grammar points:* The regular and irregular conditional tense, the imperfect subjunctive with si clauses, the gerund with other than the present continuous, the imperative, acabar de +infintive *Students will learn the following culture:* Environmental issues in Spain and Spanish speaking countries	End of Unit tests Weekly vocabulary tests
HT3	Healthy living and lifestyle	*Students will recap the following content:* Qualifiers, revision of course so far in preparation for trial exams *Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Diet now and in the past, Lifestyles in the past, consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle, food, smoking, drinking, drugs, *Students will learn the following grammar points:* using modal verbs; tener que/se debe/hay que +infinitive, the present subjunctive, how to form and its uses *Students will learn the following culture:* Sports and habits of Spanish speaking populations now and in the past	End of Unit tests Weekly vocabulary tests Trial exam
HT4	Customs, festivals and celebrations	*Students will recap the following content:* The preterite tense/present continuous tense with the gerund. Past tense time phrases. *Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Different types of festivals, both religious and non-religious. Types of festivals all over the Spanish speaking world and in the UK. Popular activities people do at festivals. *Students will learn the following grammar points:* Preterite and Imperfect tense with regular and irregular verbs, using the conditional tense. Relative pronouns and clauses, more complex question words. Antes de+ inf/después de +inf. Seguir and continuar +present participle. *Students will learn the following culture:* Spain’s and Latin America’s religious and non religious festivals	July –speaking exam

Year 11

	NAME OF TOPIC	KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC	ASSESSMENT POINTS
HT1	Travel and tourism	*Students will recap the following content:* Holiday vocabulary, Adjectives, conditional verbs, the perfect tense (regular and irregular past participles). The passive voice. *Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Holiday destinations, travel and activities. Pros and cons of travel and holidays. *Students will learn the following grammar points:* Using a variety of past tenses; the preterite, the imperfect and the perfect tense. The past continuous tense.	Weekly vocabulary tests End of Unit tests Speaking preparation assessments
HT2	My studies	*Students will recap the following content:* School subjects, facilities, model constructions; hay que, se debe, se tiene que + infinitive, Imperative, reflexive verbs, comparatives and superlatives. *Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Different education settings in Spain, describing the school, school rules, the school day, problems at school, school uniform pros and cons *Students will learn the following grammar points:* The imperative, common subjunctive forms *Students will learn the following culture:* The school system in Spain	Weekly vocabulary tests End of Unit tests Speaking preparation assessments Trial Exams (including speaking exams) Past paper practice all 4 skills
HT3	Post 16 choices	*Students will recap the following content:* Adjectives, conditional verbs, the present continous tense *Students will learn the following vocabulary:* Career choices and ambitions, further education pros and cons, jobs, choosing a career, my ideal job. *Students will learn the following grammar points:* Using the present subjunctive in hypothetical situations, using the past continous tense	Weekly vocabulary tests End of Unit tests Speaking preparation assessments
HT4		Students prepare for their GCSE Spanish exams in the following ways: Revise every module Revisit each grammar point Past papers in class Preparation of the speaking exam	GCSE exams
HT5
HT6	N/A		GCSE exams

Recommended Revision Guides for GCSE

CGP Complete revision and practice guide GCSE AQA (9-1) You are strongly advised to purchase this.
AQA core vocabulary will be provided through syllabus. AQA vocabulary list.
www.kerboodle.com
www.languagenut.com
AQA GCSE Spanish Higher textbook (OUP).

Support available for GCSE Students

Pupils are mentored by year 12 Spanish students and year 13 prefects who practise their speaking: (role-play/reading aloud activity and photo cards). There will be additional speaking practice, reading intervention, writing intervention and listening intervention at 12:20pm or after school at 3:20pm starting in January after the mock exams.