SPANISH

Specification: Cambridge IGSE (7160)

Why study GCSE Spanish?                                

• Spanish: A World Language

Spanish is the second most-widely spoken language after English. Spanish ranks third in terms of the size of the population of native speakers after Mandarin Chinese and Hindi, with 400 million people around the globe. Spanish is the official language in 21 countries (Spain, South America and Central America). A total of 550 million people speak Spanish with at least some degree of confidence. Therefore, Spanish has a bright future as it is a fast growing language. This diversity, both in human and geographical terms, offers students of Spanish a wealth of opportunities for their future.

• Spanish: A Practical Language Skill and an Intellectual Challenge

You will achieve a practical language skill in a variety of contexts and registers.  At the same time, it will offer you an intellectual challenge: you will develop the skills of analysing and expressing ideas and arguments coherently and accurately in essays and projects, but all in Spanish.

• Spanish: A Subject that Links well with ALL other Subjects

The main objective of learning Spanish is not only to learn to communicate with other people by using this language, but also to learn about Spanish and Latin American culture and their way of life, consequently enriching the life of our students.

• Spanish: Transferable Skills

Beyond the language competency, you will acquire transferable skills such as autonomy, adaptability, flexibility, resourcefulness, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and cultural awareness. These skills will open doors to further study and work opportunities both in the UK and abroad.

Spanish language skills are highly sought after both by universities and employers and are a great asset in fields ranging from Arts to Law, from Business to Science, from History to Engineering, from Journalism to Media, from Medicine to Politics and from Diplomatic Service to Sports.

• Spanish: An Enhancement of Employment Prospects

It will enhance your employment prospects, making you more marketable/ employable both at a national and international level. It ensures that earnings are on average between 8% and 20% higher.

The world of business and trade has developed very important links with Spanish-speaking countries around the globe, and many companies in Britain value having employees who can speak Spanish.

• Spanish: For travelling and a Gap-Year

People are also travelling a great deal more nowadays and both Spain and Latin America are very popular destinations amongst British travellers, so is for many gap-students who find themselves drawn to exploring some of these countries. Being able to speak Spanish, will enhance your travel experience by giving you a much more enjoyable experience. You can get fully involved in the life and rich, artistic and cultural heritage of Spain and Latin America. You can get a greater insight and a better understanding of the Hispanic culture and their life styles and ways of thinking, enriching your own life and becoming a well-rounded and open person.

Whatever career you opt for in the future, having a qualification in Spanish and being able to communicate in this language will be of tremendous practical use and a definite asset on your CV.

What about the course?

The main objective of learning Spanish is not only to learn to communicate with other people by using this language, but also to learn about Spanish and Latin American culture and their way of life, consequently enriching the life of our students.

GCSE Spanish lessons at Thorpe House School thrive to be interactive, involved and exciting. We believe that by stimulating a lasting interest and enjoyment in the Spanish language and Hispanic culture, students enter an atmosphere where they wish to learn. Students are provided with the preparation to exploit the benefits of travelling, studying, working or living in to a Spanish-speaking country.

The Spanish Department aims to provide an outstanding instruction in this beautiful language, while instilling an appreciation for the rich cultural heritage and diversity within the Hispanic world.

We use a balanced combination of traditional teaching and learning methods with modern ones, such as, E-resources, Languages online, Linguascope, Duolingo, Mesmerise, Quizlet etc.

• Spanish cultural activities and trips

When possible, there will be opportunities for Spanish cultural activities and trips to Spain. Currently, there is a Spanish clinic for Spanish Year 11 students (for extension and reinforcement) and a drop-in clinic for Spanish Year 10 students.

• Content of the GCSE course

The current specification includes a wide range of themes with topics and grammar, with an emphasis on spontaneous use of language and on translation skills.

The four key Modern Foreign Languages skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking are central to the course and final assessment.

Topic areas and sub-topics: 

A) Everyday activities. Including: Time expressions (e.g. telling the time, days, days of the week, months, seasons). Food and drink (e.g. meals, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and seafood, snacks, drinks, cutlery and utensils). The human body and health (e.g. parts of the body, health and illness). Travel and transport.

B) Personal and social life. Including: Self, family and friends.  In the home (e.g. rooms, living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, furniture and furnishings, garden, household appliances). Colours. Clothes and accessories. Leisure time (e.g. things to do, hobbies, sport).

C) The world around us. Including: People and places (e.g. continents, countries and nationalities, compass points). The natural world, the environment, the climate and the weather. Communications and technology (e.g. the digital world, documents and texts). The built environment (e.g. buildings and services, urban areas, shopping). Measurements (e.g. size, shape). Material.

D) The world of work. Including: Education (e.g. learning institutions, education and training, the classroom, learning tools, subjects, studying). Work (e.g. jobs and careers, the workplace).

E) The international world. Including: Countries, nationalities and languages. Culture, customs, faiths and celebrations.

Students are expected to understand and provide information and opinions about these themes, relating to their own experiences and those of other people, including people in the countries and communities where Spanish is spoken.

What about examinations?

Assessment is via final examination only. Cambridge IGCSE Spanish has no tiers. Students must take all four question papers.

Paper 1 – Listening (25%). This paper consists of 37 multiple-choice and matching questions. Candidates answer all questions by selecting the correct option or options.

Paper 2 – Reading (25%). This paper consists of six groups of questions, each comprising a number of multiple-choice and matching questions, as well as questions requiring short answers in Spanish.

Paper 3 – Speaking (25%) Candidates complete one role play and conversations on two topics.

Paper 4 – Writing (25%) Written examination which includes three questions. Question 1: form-filling task. Question 2 (answer 4 questions): complete a directed writing task in about 80–90 words in Spanish on a familiar, everyday topic. Question 3 (answer 4/5 questions): choose between two tasks (an email/ letter and an article/ blog) and complete one of these in about 130–140 words in Spanish.

Please click on the link for further details about Cambridge IGCSE Spanish Examination

Should I study Spanish?

To help answer this question, bear in mind the following:

• Are you prepared to work hard?

• To really succeed, you must enjoy the challenge of learning a language and have a strong desire to use the language for communication.

In fact, if you are particularly strong at languages, we would recommend that you consider continuing with both languages to GCSE.