Overview:
In the Spanish department, we have high aspirations for our students. Through our curriculum, we aim to develop confident linguists who are curious about the world around them. Our curriculum is based on the gradual acquisition of Grammar, Phonics and Vocabulary, which carefully builds from years 7 to 13, but it is also built around the exploration of different cultures and traditions, which helps build cultural awareness and empathy in our students. Our emphasis on the importance of speaking other languages will allow our children to thrive in a globalised, competitive jobs market, giving them the choice of living and working abroad.
Spanish is studied by all students in years 7-9 and is optional at GCSE and A-level.
Teaching staff:
- Miss Nicholson (Head of Department)
- Ms Jackson
- Mrs Roelake
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Year 7 |
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Summary of curriculum: |
The Year 7 curriculum aims to build on the phonics and key language-learning skills developed at Key Stage Two. Students start by being able to express basic information about themselves in Spanish. Throughout the year they will deepen their knowledge and range of vocabulary, enabling them to give justified opinions about a range of topics, including their life at school and at home. Pupils will learn about life at school in Spain, places of interest in Madrid and Spanish food. Year 7 students will be introduced to new sound-spelling combinations and will learn how to pronounce these correctly through a half termly ‘phonic focus’. Pupils will understand key grammatical terminology such as ‘plurals’ and ‘genders’ and will be able to conjugate the present tense to describe themselves and others. They will also be introduced to the future tense. |
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Main Topics: |
Autumn 1 – My life Autumn 2 – My family and friends Spring1 – My free time Spring 2 – My life at school Summer 1 – Where I live Sumer 2 - Where I live |
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Assessment throughout the year: |
Alternating formative and summative assessment each half term |
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How parents/carers can support their child’s learning: |
Encourage regular practice and help your child learn key words at home using flashcards for example. Encourage completion of homework and use of online platforms set by the teacher. |
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Character enrichment opportunities: |
Students will have the chance to participate in a range of extra-curricular language events such as Languages week and a flamenco dancing workshop. |
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Useful websites: |
BBC Bitesize KS3 Spanish: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zfckjxs Oak Academy Year 7 Spanish: https://classroom.thenational.academy/subjects-by-year/year-7/subjects/spanish Lyrics Training – https://lyricstraining.com/es/ |
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Year 8 |
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Summary of curriculum: |
In their second year of studying Languages, students broaden their vocabulary to talk about holidays, as well as exploring the media and food. Students learn more about the cultures of places where Spanish is spoken by discussing elements of the culture like Mexican food, places of interest in Mexico City and Spanish reggaeton music. Pupils knowledge of phonics will continue to develop and new sounds will be highlighted to them through the ‘phonic focus’. In Year 8, students will meet the present tense again and will be able to conjugate it to talk about a wider range of people. They will use this knowledge to compare life in the UK to places where they speak Spanish. Students will meet the past tense and will deepen their understanding of the future tense, meaning that they can talk about their life more in detail. Pupils will be able to apply grammar rules with more accuracy than in Year 7, and will be able to write using a variety of opinions and reasons. |
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Main Topics: |
Autumn 1 – Technology and Media Autumn 2 – A trip to Mexico Spring1 – Describing a past holiday Spring 2 – What do they eat in Latin America1? Summer 1 – Making plans (1) Summer 2 – Making plans (2) |
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Assessment throughout the year: |
Alternating formative and summative assessment each half term |
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How parents/carers can support their child’s learning: |
Test them on meanings and pronunciation — you don’t need to speak Spanish to help. Ask them to teach you a new word or phrase. Label common items at home with Spanish words. Encourage completion of homework and use of online platforms set by the teacher. |
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Character enrichment opportunities: |
Students will have the chance to watch a Spanish play in year 8 as well as participate in languages week. The value of languages in the world of work will be highlighted to pupils and they will participate in a talk from GCHQ about jobs in government linked to languages. |
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Useful websites: |
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Year 9 |
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Summary of curriculum: |
During the final year of KS3 Spanish, students are beginning to think about their future and career aspirations. This will be reflected in the vocabulary and topics taught, with the students studying work, jobs and future plans. Students also do a film project, focussing on key cultural differences relating to housing and lifestyle. Pupils will have met the most difficult phonemes in their target language by Year 9 and these will continue to be practised to ensure that pupils can speak confidently and can be understood. Students will be able to apply pronunciation rules to new words and will be able to speak for longer about a range of topics. Pupils will build on their grammatical knowledge of the past, present and future tenses and will need less support when using these in writing and speaking. They will be able to give justified opinions and reasons about a broad range of topics. Pupils will also be introduced to the imperfect tense to discuss something that used to happen when they were younger. |
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Main Topics: |
Autumn 1 – My hobbies Autumn 2 – Film project Spring1 – My future plans Spring 2 – Staying in shape (1) Summer 1 – Staying in shape (2) Summer 2 – A Spanish exchange |
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Assessment throughout the year: |
Alternating formative and summative assessment each half term |
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How parents/carers can support their child’s learning: |
Test them on meanings and pronunciation — you don’t need to speak Spanish to help. Ask them to teach you a new word or phrase. Label common items at home with Spanish words. Encourage completion of homework and use of online platforms set by the teacher. |
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Character enrichment opportunities: |
Students will have the chance to watch a Spanish play in year 8 as well as participate in languages week. Students will have the chance to be part of a translation workshop and competition run by a translation company in the West Midlands. |
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Useful websites: |
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KS4 - GCSE
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Year 10 and 11 |
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Summary of curriculum: |
Our students’ learning journey in Languages so far has sought to equip them with key language, grammar and pronunciation that they need to be able to communicate. The GCSE course builds on these topics and language skills, to enable students to communicate more confidently and use increasingly more complex language. By the end of the GCSE course, pupils can speak about a range of topics in multiple tenses. Students will develop increased cultural awareness, studying new customs and festivals in countries where the language is spoken. With their increasing level of maturity and linguistic competence, students tackle more challenging and thought-provoking topics ranging from environmental and social issues, artificial intelligence and the importance of learning languages. Students practise all 4 language skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking, which they are assessed on in the external examinations. Students will have the opportunity to use their language skills in meaningful situations, including a trip abroad. |
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Main Topics: |
Year 10: Autumn 1 – My plans for the weekend Autumn 2 – Travel and tourism Spring 1 – My people, my world Spring 2 – Physical and mental wellbeing Summer 1 – Life at school (1) Summer 2 – Life at school (2) Year 11: Autumn 1 – My Neighbourhood Autumn 1 – People and our planet Spring 1- Your future |
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Assessment throughout the year: |
Exam board: Edexcel 4 exams worth 25% each: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. |
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How parents/carers can support their child’s learning: |
GCSE Spanish requires frequent, short revision sessions. Encourage your child to revise key grammar areas such as verb tenses (present, past, future). Pupils will be provided with a revision workbook for exam practice Pupils will have speaking answers to practise for their exam. They should practise look/cover/say/check to learn these effectively. Encourage completion of homework and use of online platforms set by the teacher. |
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Character enrichment opportunities: |
Students will have the opportunity to use their language skills in meaningful situations, including a trip abroad. |
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Useful websites: |
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698/specification-at-a-glance GCSE Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/z4yyjhv Past papers: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698/assessment-resources Create your own revision cards: https://quizlet.com/en-gb |
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Subject contact: |
Taryn Nicholson enquiries@darlaston.graceacademy.org.uk |
KS5 – A-level
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Year 12 and 13 |
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Summary of curriculum: |
In Years 12 and 13, pupils use their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary acquired at GCSE but also develop their critical thinking and debating skills. Pupils explore themes ranging from the Spanish dictatorship under Franco, Artistic culture and music, attitudes towards immigration and multicultural society. In addition to this, pupils study a novel and a film in Spanish. |
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Main Topics: |
Year 12- Autumn 1 – Modern and traditional values, Cyberspace Autumn 2 – Equal rights Spring 1- Film work (Pan’s Labyrinth), Spring 2- Modern day idols Summer 1- Artistic culture in the Hispanic world Summer 2 – IRP (individual research project)
Year 13- Autumn 1 – Immigration, Monarchies and dictatorships Autumn 2 – Todays youth, tomorrows citizens, literary text Como Agua Para Chocolate Spring 1- Popular movements, Integration Spring 2- Film / literary text |
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Assessment throughout the year: |
Exam board: Edexcel Alternating formative and summative assessments each half-term throughout years 12 and 13. Year 13 external exams: Paper 1: Listening, Reading & Translation (40%): Assesses comprehension and translation skills, with grammar tested through gap-fills and translations. Paper 2: Written Exam (30%): Two essays on the studied film/text. Paper 3: Speaking (30%): An oral exam including discussion on the themes and an Independent Research Project. |
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How parents/carers can support their child’s learning: |
Encouraging pupils to watch TV and film in Spanish and read books or content online Encouraging pupils to practise vocabulary through flashcards or online platforms Encouraging pupils to complete all work set by the teacher |
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Character enrichment opportunities: |
Students will have the opportunity to use their language skills in meaningful situations, including a trip abroad. |
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Useful websites: |
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/spanish-2016.html |
