AS LEVEL SPANISH (PEARSON) - Albemarle College London

AS Course Outline

Why choose Edexcel AS Level Spanish?

Spanish

The new Edexcel AS Level in Spanish has been developed to inspire all students who have an appreciation of the language, literature, film and culture of the Spanish-speaking world.

Inspiring and engaging Themes
- There are familiar and popular themes as well as some new content that provides clear links to some of the most fundamental and interesting aspects of the culture of the target language country and communities.

Popular literary texts and films
- There is a rich choice of literary texts and films that includes contemporary and more classical titles, together with authentic source materials from Spain and the wider Spanish-speaking world.

How do students benefit from Spanish AS?

It is anticipated that students will:

Enhance their linguistic skills and promote and develop their capacity for critical thinking on the basis of their knowledge and understanding of the language, culture and society of the country or countries where the language is spoken
Develop control of the language system to convey meaning, using spoken and written skills, including an extended range of vocabulary, for both practical and intellectual purposes as increasingly confident, accurate and independent users of the language
Develop their ability to interact effectively with users of the language in speech and in writing, including through online media
Develop language learning skills and strategies, including communication strategies to sustain communication and build fluency and confidence
Engage critically with intellectually stimulating texts, films and other materials in the language, developing an appreciation of sophisticated and creative uses of the language and understanding them within their cultural and social context
Develop knowledge about matters central to the society and culture, past and present, of the country or countries where the language is spoken
Mediate between cultures and between speakers of the language and speakers of English
Foster their ability to learn other languages
Equip themselves with transferable skills such as autonomy, resourcefulness, creativity, critical thinking and linguistic, cultural and cognitive flexibility that will enable them to proceed to further study or employment.

SPANISH AS (PEARSON) AS Course Specification

What is Spanish?

A motivating course of study that will enable students to develop an advanced level knowledge and understanding of the Spanish language, the culture of Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, as well as practical and valuable language and transferable study skills.

Our assessments place an emphasis on spontaneity and grammar, as well as providing plenty of opportunities for students to apply their knowledge independently and creatively. Clear mark schemes encourage students to develop ideas, use language to persuade and analyse and give critical responses in their writing and speaking.

What Topics or Questions Will I Study in AS Spanish?

This qualification has a straightforward structure with two engaging themes - La evolución de la sociedad española and La cultura política y artística en el mundo hispanohablante; to be studied alongside either one literary texts or one film and assessed through two externally-examined papers (Papers 1 and 2) and one teacher-examiner conducted speaking assessment (Paper 3) in Year 2.

What Challenge Will I Face in AS Spanish?

A listening assessment based on a recording that features male and female Spanish speakers. Students will respond to comprehension questions based on a variety of contexts and sources.

A reading assessment based on a variety of text-types and genres where students will respond to comprehension questions.

An unseen passage to be translated from Spanish to English and vice versa and an extended response on either one literary text or one film.

Spanish

Textbooks
1. Edexcel A-Level Spanish (includes AS) Paperback by Mónica Morcillo Laiz (Author), Simon Barefoot
2. A-Level and AS Spanish Grammar & Translation Workbook by Vincent Everett
3. Modern Languages Study Guides: Volver: Film Study Guide for AS/A-level Spanish (Film and literature guides) by José Antonio García Sánchez (Author), Tony Weston

Further reading
www.donquijote.org/cultura, www.newsinslowspanish.com (subscription), www.elpais.es, www.elmundo.es, www.lavanguardia.es, www.abc.es

Literary texts

Bodas de sangre, Federico García Lorca, 1932 (play)
Como agua para chocolate, Laura Esquivel, 1989 (novel)
El coronel no tiene quien le escriba, Gabriel García Márquez, 1961 (novel)
La casa de Bernarda Alba, Federico García Lorca, 1936 (play)
Nada, Carmen Laforet, 1943 (novel)
Primera memoria, Ana María Matute 1959 (novel)
Réquiem por un campesino español, Ramón J. Sender, 1953 (novel)

Films

Diarios de motocicleta, dir. Walter Salles (2004)
El laberinto del fauno, dir. Guillermo del Toro (2006)
La lengua de las mariposas, dir. José Luis Cuerda (1999)
La misma luna, dir. Patricia Riggen (2007)
Mar adentro, dir. Alejandro Amenábar (2004)
También la lluvia, dir. Icíar Bollaín (2010)
Volver, dir. Pedro Almodóvar (2006)

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SPANISH (PEARSON)

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