Spanish

Introduction

The Spanish department aims to provide a meaningful language learning experience for all students who opt to study our subject. Spanish at Auckland Grammar is crucial for those wishing to carry on their language career at university or those hoping to become fluent in the language.

Form 4

Prerequisites: Form 3 Spanish.

Course description/aims: The course aims to develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing Spanish to enable the student to communicate with confidence in a variety of everyday situations.

At the end of the course, students will have a solid grasp of the vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation of the Spanish language, which will enable them to progress with Spanish in Form 5. Students will also learn about the life and customs of the people of Spain and other countries of the Spanish-speaking world.

Course outline: Students regularly practise the four language skills. Topics covered include:

Asking for and giving more detailed personal information
Describing people and things
School
Holidays
Work
Talking about activities in the past, present, and future

Methods of assessment: Students sit three School examinations, testing the skills of listening, reading and writing. The final examination in Term 4 contains a speaking mark derived from tests undertaken in Terms 2 and 3. There are also common tests at regular intervals to assess progress in the four skills.

Special equipment and costs: Students are encouraged to buy a dictionary for use at home. We also sign all students up for the Education Perfect learning languages website.

Continuation of subject: All students do Pre-Q in Form 5 and in Forms 6 and 7 students can follow either the NCEA or Cambridge pathway.

Form 5 (Pre-Q)

Prerequisites: Students who have made good progress in Form 4 Spanish are recommended to undertake Pre-Q Spanish.

Course description/aims: The course for Pre-Q Spanish aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication with students learning to use Spanish to enable them to cope in a variety of common everyday situations.

Methods of assessment: While the level of mastery will depend on the particular student, the Pre-Q course is based on five topic areas:

Everyday activities
Personal and social life
The world around us
The world of work
The international world

Assessment objectives: Students sit three School examinations. Each examination includes four papers in total and each one is worth 25% (listening, reading, speaking and writing/grammar).

Special equipment and costs: Students are encouraged to buy a dictionary for use at home. We also sign all students up for the Education Perfect learning languages website.

Continuation of subject: Students may continue Spanish to Cambridge AS Level or NCEA Level 2.

Form 6 (NCEA Level 2)

Prerequisites: Pre-Q Spanish.

Course description/aims: NCEA Level 2 aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication by dealing with the more complex structures and wider vocabulary, which will enable students to express their opinions in Spanish on a wide variety of subjects of interest to young people. Students also develop individual reading skills.

Course outline: Topics covered will include:

The individual
Family and home
School and education
Social life and customs
City and town
Sport and recreation
Travel and holidays
Issues of current interest
History and Geography

Methods of assessment: There will be three School examinations each assessing the skills of listening, reading and writing:

2.1 – Demonstrate understanding of a variety of spoken Spanish texts on familiar matters [5 Credits, External]
2.2 – Give a spoken presentation in Spanish that communicates information, ideas and opinions [4 Credits, Internal]
2.3 – Interact using spoken Spanish to share and justify information, ideas and opinions in different situations [5 Credits, Internal]
2.4 – Demonstrate understanding of a variety of written/visual Spanish text(s) on familiar matters [5 Credits, External]
2.5 – Write a variety of text types in Spanish for genuine contexts [5 Credits, Internal]

Special equipment and costs: Students are encouraged to buy a dictionary for use at home. We also sign all students up for the Education Perfect learning languages website.

Continuation of subject: Students may continue Spanish to NCEA Level 3.

Form 6 (AS)

Prerequisites: Completion of Pre-Q Spanish or on agreement with the Head of Spanish.

Course description/aims: AS Level Spanish aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication by dealing with the more complex structures and wider vocabulary which will enable students to express their opinions in Spanish on a wide variety of subjects of interest to young people.

Course outline: The subject content is organised into six topic areas at AS Level. These provide contexts for the acquisition of vocabulary and the study of grammar and structures. The study of these topic areas enables students to progress from the knowledge and skills developed at Pre-Q. The six topic areas are as follows:

Culture
Health and well-being
Education and future plans
Community and society
Our responsibility for the planet
Science and technology

Methods of assessment: There will be three internal exams. These will assess the skills of reading, listening and writing.

The Cambridge examination is in October/November. The speaking assessment is internally-assessed and will take place near the start of Term 4. There are three papers in total:

Paper 1 – Listening (25%)
Papers 2 and 3 – Reading and writing (50%)
Paper 4 – Speaking (25%)

Special equipment and costs: Students are encouraged to buy a dictionary for use at home. We also sign all students up for the Education Perfect learning languages website.

Continuation of subject: Students may continue Spanish to A2 level.

Form 7 (NCEA Level 3)

Prerequisites: Form 6 Spanish.

Recommended achievement levels: Students averaging over 60% in Form 6 Spanish and/or Pre-Q Spanish School examinations are recommended for Form 7 Spanish.

Course description/aims: NCEA Level 3 Spanish aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication by dealing with the more complex structures and wider vocabulary which will enable students to express their opinions in Spanish on a wide variety of subjects of interest to young people.

Course outline: Topics will include:

The life of young people today
Human relationships
Health
Communication
Travel and tourism
Culture
Environmental issues
Education
Equal opportunities
Work and leisure activities
Immigration
Town and country life
Current affairs

Methods of assessment:

3.1 – Demonstrate understanding of a variety of extended spoken Spanish texts [5 Credits, External]
3.2 – Give a clear spoken presentation in Spanish that communicates a critical response to stimulus material [3 Credits, Internal]
3.3 – Interact clearly using spoken Spanish to explore and justify varied ideas and perspectives in different situations [6 Credits, Internal]
3.4 – Demonstrate understanding of a variety of extended written and/ or visual Spanish texts [5 Credits, External]
3.5 – Write a variety of text types in clear Spanish to explore and justify varied ideas and perspectives [5 Credits, Internal]

Special equipment and costs: Students are encouraged to buy a dictionary for use at home. We also sign all students up for the Education Perfect learning languages website.

Form 7 (A2)

Prerequisites: Students with a C or above at AS Level will be allowed entry into the course. Students with a D at AS Level will be allowed entry to the course at the discretion of the Head of Spanish.

Course description/aims: The A2 course aims to build on and extend the topic knowledge and grammatical knowledge acquired at Cambridge AS level. It also introduces the students to Spanish literary texts. Two literary texts from Spain or Latin America will be studied in this course.

Methods of assessment: The Cambridge examination is in November. There are three papers in total:

Paper 1 – Reading (33%)
Paper 2 – Writing (33%)
Paper 3 – Literature (33%)

Special equipment and costs: Students are encouraged to buy a dictionary for use at home. We also sign all students up for the Education Perfect learning languages website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our staff today.

Spanish

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