In the Lower Sixth, we build on the linguistic level you have acquired at GCSE and work on increasing your fluency. However, rather than talking and writing about yourself and your family, house, school etc. as at GCSE, in the Spanish A level course, the topics we cover are much more sophisticated and grounded in Spanish-speaking countries and current affairs. They are more contentious and naturally facilitate discussions and debates, which form the crux of our lessons. Some of the topics we typically study in the Lower Sixth include:

-Cyberspace

-Modern and traditional values regarding family and relationships

-Equal rights

-Modern day idols

-Spanish regional identity

-Cultural heritage

-Young people and their attitude towards Politics: apathy or activism?

Whilst your current GCSE experience of Reading and Listening may be past paper exercises, the breathing space which the two year A level course provides means that we can focus more on reading and listening for pleasure. In the Lower Sixth, you will get used to reading and watching the news in Spanish, and mastering the skills of reading and listening for gist. You will also learn how to give natural translations, and how to give accurate summaries of aural clips and written articles.

We also dedicate time in the course to building a sound understanding of grammar, so that our students can communicate accurately and feel confident manipulating complex language. In addition to consolidating the tenses you have already learned, the Lower Sixth is the opportunity to finally delve deeper into those higher-level structures you have learned at GCSE, and have been told you will learn more about in the Sixth Form! For instance, you will learn that the Subjunctive is an integral and fascinating part of the Spanish language, and you will have ample opportunity to practise and master its intricacies. The A level course develops your analytical skills and will encourage you to question grammar and how language fits together. You will also have the opportunity to play around with language and to use it creatively.

Finally, in the Lower Sixth, you will gain a fascinating introduction to Hispanic culture through our regular independent tasks which involve watching films and listening to music in Spanish. You will also begin your 'Individual Research Project' for your speaking exam, where you will have the opportunity to research an area of Hispanic culture which has always intrigued you.

Fundamentally, the focus of the Lower Sixth is enjoyment of the language, and discovering that you can in fact use it for real purposes.