Why study Spanish?
Linguists at QCL love their dynamic and varied lessons, as well as the wide-ranging extra-curricular offerings such as theatre festivals, drama workshops, cinema trips and trips abroad. The study of a language is exciting and Old Queens always say how happy they are to have done an A-level in a language, whatever sector they go on to work in afterwards.
According to recent research, Spanish is the most important language that UK citizens need at the moment, in terms of trade, business and diplomatic and security priorities. Acquiring fluency in Spanish will open up twenty amazing countries with a combined population of some 350 million people! Imagine being able to travel from Mexico, via the Caribbean, through the Amazon rain forests, across the Andes, up to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, down to Antarctica, able to talk to everyone along the way. (There are several Old Queen's who have done just that!)
By the end of the course, you will be able to converse fluently and to discuss complex issues in detail in Spanish. You will be set to continue studying any modern language you wish at university too, and many of our Hispanists go on to study a language beyond A-Level.
What will I study? How will I be assessed?
We prepare you for the AQA board specification. You will study cultural topics including film, literature, fashion and music, as well as contemporary issues such as immigration and globalisation. You will also study some important history, such as the Spanish Civil War. Your oral examination will focus on a topic you choose to research (this could be a work of art, a musician, a building or a political issue, for instance) and you will write essays on a play (by Lorca) and film (directed by Almodóvar), as well as be tested on your listening, reading and translation skills.
Our linguists always say how much more interesting the A-Level is compared to the GCSE – they are right!