¡Bienvenidos! I am Jemma Becker (Head of Spanish) and I would like to offer you a warm welcome to the Spanish Department!
In the Sixth Form we study the AQA A level Spanish Course.
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.
In the Upper Sixth, we continue to work on developing the fluency you will have begun to acquire in the first year of the course. We study further thought-provoking and polemical topics such as:
-Youth unemployment
-Your ideal society
-Monarchies and dictatorships
-Popular movements
-Racism
-Immigration
-Integration
You will finalise your research for your 'Individual Speaking Project' which will give you the opportunity to become an expert on a cultural area of your choice!
In addition to mastering the skills learned in the Lower Sixth, there is a particular emphasis in the Upper Sixth on building on the language you have used orally the previous year, and learning how to craft a sophisticated analytical essay in Spanish.
During the Upper Sixth, you will gain an introduction to the rich literature and film which Hispanic culture has to offer. You will study a literary text and a film in Spanish: Fernando Fernán Gomez's play, 'Las Bicicletas son para el verano', and Guillermo del Toro's film 'El Laberinto del Fauno'
One of the things our students enjoy most about the Upper Sixth Course is how varied it is, as we study language, film, and literature. The multi-disciplinary nature of the course is particularly engaging and appeals to all interests.
Sixth Form Study Trip
Madrid 2023
Elche 2020
Granada 2019
Barcelona 2018
Spanish Partner Schools + Work Experience
We can facilitate time spent at our two partner schools in Mataró (Barcelona), Escola Meritxell and Madrid, IES Conde de Orgaz.
We can also help you to organise a work placement in Spain, for instance through Halsbury Travel.
Modern Languages Pathway
Being a Sixth Form linguist allows you to join the Modern Languages Pathway, where you have the chance to teach some Spanish to younger students at one of our Partner Primary schools.
Competitions
In the Upper Sixth, you will have the chance to make up part of the CHS team in the North West Modern Languages Debating Competition.
You are also given support for entering the prestigious Stephen Spender Prize for Poetry Translation
Additional opportunities
You are encouraged to form part of the editorial team for our very own Modern Languages magazine, 'The Cultured Linguist.'
You can become a Language Ambassador, to help promote Spanish across the wider CHS community.
Mr Ian Pauksztello - Head of Spanish - ianpauksztello@chschool.co.uk
Miss Lago Costa
Miss Martinez
Mr Wilson
Please contact our Head of Department if you have any further questions .