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Specification A3691
GCSE Spanish is a 3-year intensive course of study consisting of the four skills common to all languages. Only those students who have studied Spanish in Year 10 may select Spanish for study at GCSE.
Each component carries equal marks - 25%
Listening entails being able to understand Spanish, spoken at the speed of a native speaker on tape. The tape is played twice in the examination and questions are set to be answered in English and Spanish.
Speaking - The student must achieve a good degree of fluency on several topics. He/She must also be able to carry out role-play situations in the language. This part of the examination is conducted and marked by the teacher and recorded on tape for moderation by the examining board.
Reading - Candidates must answer questions in Spanish on extracts on different topics, taken from authentic material.
Writing/Coursework - Three assignments are to be written on three separate themes chosen from the Bank of Assignments published in the specification.
Candidates may be entered for different tiers of assessment in separate attainment targets e.g. a student may be entered in listening and speaking at higher level and reading and/or writing at foundation level. There is a wide range of topics for studying. These include - My World, Work and Lifestyle, The Young Person in Society, Travel, Holidays etc. These topics must be studied thoroughly. Work is topic based.
The aim of the course is to develop the ability to use Spanish effectively for practical communication while at the same time gaining an insight into the culture and civilisation of Spanish speaking countries. It also provides enjoyment and intellectual stimulation. Testing is done on a regular basis. After each topic, a vocabulary and written test is given. Students are also examined twice yearly within the school examination system. There are opportunities for students to visit Spain through the exchange programme organised by the school and Southern Education Board. A local summer school for French and Spanish is available for pupils. Information about these is distributed to students and parents.
Hard work and attendance every day are essential, particularly since there is a large amount of work to be done in a short time. Students who find languages difficult are not advised to take this option.