Welcome to Spanish
Curriculum Intent
As part of the Archway Learning Trust family, we’re passionate and hope to impart the benefits that learning a language can bring. We strongly believe in languages as a skill for life and something students should enjoy and find rewarding. Our curriculum is structured to help students of all abilities progress and develop a passion for languages, through culturally engaging content. We have a captivating and inspirational course of study that enables students to manipulate and use Spanish effectively, independently and creatively, so that they have a solid basis from which to progress to GCSE, A Level, higher education or employment, as well as prepare pupils for today’s global village.
Throughout Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 the Modern Foreign Languages’ curriculum aims to develop pupils’ ability to communicate confidently and coherently in Spanish. We aim for students to be confident in speech and writing, conveying what they would like to say with increasing accuracy, to express and develop thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently, to listen to and understand clearly articulated, standard speech at near normal speed. Students learn how to extend and add interest, intonation and expression to their speech as they advance. Pupils are also encouraged to grow through learning, deepen their knowledge about how language works and enrich their vocabulary in order to increase their independent use and understanding of extended language in a wide range of contexts.
The Modern Foreign Languages curriculum aims to give pupils the opportunity to acquire new knowledge, skills and ways of thinking through the ability to understand and respond to a rich range of authentic spoken and written materials including literary texts. Pupils grow by developing awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where Spanish is spoken, and are encouraged to make appropriate links to other areas of the curriculum to enable bilingual and deeper learning, where the language may become a medium for constructing and applying knowledge.
Please click on the following link to see an overview of our Spanish curriculum:
Key Stage 3 Overview:
Key Stage 3:
All KS3 students are taught in ability groups and students study Spanish for 2 hours a week.
The Y7 course teaches students the vocabulary to talk about themselves, their free time, their school, their family and friends and where they live. Students will develop their understanding of Spanish grammar in order to share their ideas and express their opinions. Students will learn regular verb endings and a group of irregular verbs, the near-future tense and opinion starters as well as a range of adjectives and connectives. Phonics are embedded into the course and many opportunities are given to students to practise their pronunciation and productive skills in speaking. Hispanic cultural differences are shared throughout the year.
The Year 8 course builds upon the Year 7 course. The preterit and imperfect (description) tenses are introduced and the present and immediate future tenses are retrieved throughout the year. Students begin to use 3 tenses by the end of the year. Students will also develop their knowledge of connectives and time phrases. Students will be taught the vocabulary to be able to order food at a restaurant, buy items at the market and shops, talk about music and festivals, write a story and share their experiences on the topic of sports. Phonics are explicitly taught and retrieved within the course to develop students’ confidence when speaking and spelling. Hispanic culture is embedded into the units such as La Tomatina festival and San Fermín as well as Spanish music and stories.
The Year 9 course continues to build upon and retrieves the grammar points in Y7 and Y8 so that students can transfer and apply their knowledge into a variety of scenarios. Students are introduced to modal verbs and the imperfect tense. Students are taught the necessary vocabulary to discuss their health, festivals, family life and their career ambitions. Students will communicate with our partner school in Cataluña by sending them a Christmas card. Phonics are explicitly taught and retrieved throughout. Hispanic culture is embedded into the course through the teaching of Day of the Dead, Día de Reyes, Latin American countries and Spanish family life.
Key Stage 4 Overview:
GCSE Spanish follows the AQA Exam board covering different topics from three main themes:
Theme 1: Identity and Culture
Theme 2: Local, National, International Global Areas of Interest
Theme 3: Current and Future Study and Employment.
Students continue to build on their knowledge of grammar and widen their cultural understanding of Hispanic countries. The course is assessed by four exams all worth 25%: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Spanish Trips
The department believes that it is vital that students learning foreign languages spend some time in the target country. We feel this is an important part of the ‘languages experience’, one that makes the learning process come alive.
We run a Spanish Exchange with a secondary school in Badalona, Spain. In our last visit, students attended lessons at the school, visited a science museum, explored the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona and spent time getting to know their exchange partners and families. In recent years, the return visit has included trips the The National Space Centre, York and a tour of the Nottingham City Centre.
We have also participated in the Business Language Champions events in recent years which challenges students to use their language skills in a vast range of contexts.
Potential Careers:
Knowledge of languages is considered very important as we now all live and work in a truly global environment. A GCSE course in Spanish may be used as a key skill for job applications, to stand apart from the competition, or as an entry requirement for an ever growing number of universities. In addition, Spanish is one of the first languages of many countries around the world. Communication skills in languages are also essential in the world of business. The significance of qualifications in languages cannot be overstated.
Useful Links/Apps:
- Memrise – https://www.memrise.com/
- Quizlet GCSE – https://www.quizlet.com/bwa-mfl/folders/year-11-spanish/sets
- Duolingo – https://www.duolingo.com/
- AQA Spanish – https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698
- BBC Bitesize – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/z4yyjhv
