Spanish

Spanish will inspire you to engage with the world, different societies and cultures, so that you can broaden your tolerance, adaptability, knowledge and thinking skills.

In Year 7, all students have the opportunity to experience each of the four languages on offer at Bishop Luffa (French, German, Spanish and Latin) within a carousel over three terms. Students have 5 periods per fortnight. Before the end of Year 7, students will be asked (in consultation with parents/guardians) to decide on one language to study for Year 8 and 9. From Year 8, where possible, classes are grouped in order to support student ability.

In Years 8 and 9, students study their chosen language for 5 periods per fortnight. In Year 9, students start the GCSE course. There is an expectation that students continue their chosen language through to GCSE in Year 11. We offer students the opportunity to study A'Level French, German, Spanish and Latin in Years 12 and 13. Further details about the A'Level courses are available on the Sixth Form website.

Vision

Students will develop their linguistic confidence in a safe and supportive environment in which they are encouraged to take risks. The lessons foster cooperation, collaboration and teamwork. Students will develop their linguistic skills through the use of authentic materials (songs, articles, stories) in a positive atmosphere. Their teachers are experts in building positive relationships and they will have high expectations of students to engage and adapt to the pace of their lessons. Students will find teachers draw on their own experiences, which helps to take the subject outside of the classroom. They will be challenged to question where they have seen language used in the wider world, out of school. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a residential visit abroad.

Spanish Learning Journey

This is a visual representation of how students' knowledge and skills develop through the Latin curriculum.

(click on the image below to view a larger version)

Why Study Spanish at GCSE?

With over 500 million Spanish speaking people in Spain, the emerging Central and South America, Spanish is the official language in more than twenty countries. It is predicted that by 2050 the USA will be a bi-lingual country. Overall, in the business world, it is second in importance after English.

• Languages teach you about culture, art, cinema, sport, cuisine, music, history, and philosophy.
• Our teaching and learning invites you to be responsive, thoughtful, creative and collaborative.
• Learning a language teaches you how to think. You learn how to prepare arguments succinctly, how to express your points persuasively and, above all, how to relate to people who may think differently from you.
• You will also acquire a far better understanding of your native language and how it works.
• Linguists are valued in all areas of employment. Some work in creative industries such as journalism, advertising or cinema. Many others become doctors, lawyers and bankers; they work in the City, multinational companies or even international organisations as NATO or the EU.

There are no limits for the linguist!

Outline of syllabus content - Our aim is to ensure that every student benefits from a broad spectrum of Spanish culture, supporting their development and greater understanding of the role Spanish plays in the global market.

Topics covered from Year 9 to Year 11:

• Theme 1: Identity and culture.
• Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest.
• Theme 3: Current and future study and employment.

GCSE Assessment

You will be assessed on four skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing. GCSE Spanish has a Foundation Tier and a Higher Tier. The breakdown of the question papers is as follows:

• Listening paper: 25% of the GCSE.
• Reading paper: 25% of the GCSE.
• Writing paper: 25% of the GCSE.
• Speaking assessment: 25% of the GCSE.

GCSE Spanish Exam specification information