Spanish

subject overview

Teaching and learning in Spanish and Italian focuses on language acquisition through developing a range of language learning strategies. The emphasis is on encouraging learners to learn, practise and apply key language and structures for a range of tasks and contexts. Languages is traditionally split into four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and work centres on developing mastery in each skill area. Lesson activities are varied and may include exploiting a literary text for comprehension, extracting key details from listening texts, engaging in role-play or practising translation. Throughout their learning learners are strongly encouraged to make links with other languages that they know and to share this information with the class. All languages are celebrated and valued within the culture of Language Learning at Harrow High School

unit overview - autumn term 1

Subject: AQA GCSE 8698 Theme 2 Local and Global areas of interest
Skills	Exam skills Extracting relevant information from a range of listening texts Using reading strategies to access authentic material and literary texts Learning question words Inference and deduction of appropriate responses Extending sentences Giving opinions in different ways to extend writing
Knowledge	Theme: 2.3 Global issues Sub topics The environment Key Language , vocabulary and Grammar Modal verbs linked to behaviour Poverty/homelessness (must/can/should) Imperative tense (all pronouns) Past tense (preterite and imperfect) Revision of subjunctive = “si” sentences Pluperfect tense to express perspective = si fuera Si tuviera que + conditional completion Hay que, es importante que + infinitive structure Verbs of emotion + subjunctive Interrogative words
Rationale	This first GCSE unit enables Learners to make the transition from Year 9 into Year 10 being confident about previous key points of Grammar and vocabulary. This represents an opportunity to revisit strategies for learning vocabulary and structures from Year 9. Learners need to understand the requirements of the GCSE exam fully and that each skill is examined separately and carries equal weighting for their final assessment grade. Learners will further develop independent study skills through accessing Kerboodle at home. In this unit, learners are expected to understand, request and provide information about the sub topics specified above relating to their own experiences and those of other people, including people in countries /communities where Spanish is spoken. They are expected to acquire knowledge as specified in the specification for this unit and to apply it progressively throughout the course across the topics and across the skills in order to understand the importance and relevance of transferring skills and knowledge.

unit overview - autumn term 2

Subject: AQA GCSE 8698 Theme 2 Local and Global areas of interest
Skills	Exam skills Extending sentences with sequences (primero, luego, cuando, etc…) Including a variety of opinion and viewpoints Checking accents and spelling Learning sentences/phrases meaning the same Dealing with unpredictable questions Joining ideas with a variety of connectives
Knowledge	Theme: 2.4 Travel and Tourism Sub topics Holidays and Travel Regions of Spain Key Language , vocabulary and Grammar Preterite tense (regular verbs + ser/ir) Irregular verbs Imperfect tense (differentiate from the preterite) Using preterite and imperfect tenses together Using me hace(n) falta Me gusta(n) + article Present tense revision Using tú + usted appropriately Recalling how to say the time using the 24h clock
Rationale	This second unit enables learners to practise the important skill of sequencing their responses into a logical coherent structure and to extend sentences as overtly practised in the previous unit. This is to ensure learners are getting into the habit of systematically expanding their responses to reach the highest marks on their Speaking and Writing assessments. This unit is designed around themes that learners can easily relate to and engage with allowing for Learners to draw on familiar contexts as a starting base. Learners are expected to create content providing detailed information about the sub topics specified above and relating to their own experiences and those of other people, including people in countries /communities where Spanish is spoken. The introduction of irregular verbs in a variety of tenses will help them to acquire knowledge as specified in the specification for this unit and to apply it progressively throughout the course across any topics. They are expected to acquire knowledge as specified in the specification for this unit and to apply it progressively throughout the course across the topics and across the skills in order to understand the importance and relevance of transferring skills and knowledge.

unit overview - spring term 1

Subject: AQA GCSE 8698 Theme 3 Current and Future studies and Employment
Skills	Exam skills Revising and reusing basic vocabulary in a different context Saying the time and describing a timetable succinctly Giving a range of opinions + justify them convincingly Agreeing/disagreeing with exam stimuli Constructing a useful phrases list for revision Using questions to form answers
Knowledge	Theme: 3.1 My studies Sub topics School and subjects Key Language , vocabulary and Grammar Life at school and college Using me gusta(n) for the three tenses Phrases followed by the infinitive Imperfect tense revision Comparatives and superlatives Present tense + frequency adverbs Future tenses (immediate and simple) Alternatives to “porque” Connectives and intensifiers
Rationale	This unit will be used to encourage learners to reuse key phrases from prior learning in their interactions with each other and with the Teacher in order to develop accurate pronunciation, intonation and to work actively on expanding their answers as this is a key part of the GCSE. There is an opportunity to engage Learners further through the use of songs, tongue twisters and phonetics in order to develop fluency as well as transcribe texts. In order to be familiar with a variety of accents and idioms, learners will be exposed to Spanish from different Hispanic countries and be expected to transfer the skills they have learnt above to extract key meaning and confidently translate new words. They are also expected to use increasingly accurate sentences in two tenses in order to fully prepare for the Speaking and Writing assessments for their GCSE exam thereby building on the key grammar points learnt in year 9. They are expected to acquire knowledge as specified in the specification for this unit and to apply it progressively throughout the course across the topics and across the skills in order to understand the importance and relevance of transferring skills and knowledge.

unit overview - summer term 1

Subject: AQA GCSE 8698 – Speaking skills
Skills	Exam skills Improving pronunciation through practice Revising key vocabulary and structures across all 3 themes Extending spoken answers with complex sentences Using a variety of adjectives and intensifiers in responses Analysing roleplay and photocard stimuli to develop appropriate answers Predicting the surprise questions Learning and using delaying strategies (Es una buena pregunta…) Revising a reusing Spanish idioms
Knowledge	Preparation for the SPEAKING EXAM Sub topics Roleplay/Photocard Key Language , vocabulary and Grammar General conversation Recalling the difference between tú+usted Identifying and reusing questions words Using the present continuous to describe a photo Expressing opinion in different way (creo que/pienso que/en mi opinión) Referring to other people’s viewpoint Revising the agreement rule Identifying and responding to questions (3tenses) Comparatives + Superlatives Exclamations Using complex tenses (Conditional/Perfect)
Rationale	This fifth unit will allow learners to focus on their speaking skills, paying particular attention to their pace and pronunciation in order to fully prepare for their speaking exam. Key speaking skills will be revisited and tested through the three components of the speaking exams in order to make sure learners know how to respond adequately to the varied stimuli and surprise questions. Furthermore, Learners will gain further practise of using a wide range of tenses appropriately and accurately in preparation of their speaking exam. Learner will demonstrate use of critical thinking to decide on which tense to use This unit will also remind Learners of the vital GCSE skill of transferring language across contexts and themes. Learners will demonstrate how to recall and use previous knowledge to facilitate this unit. This is also an opportunity to revisit mind maps and highly frequent language in order to create meaningful revision notes.

unit overview - summer term 2

Subject: AQA GCSE 8698 – Writing skills
Skills	Exam skills Revising key vocabulary and structures across all 3 themes Extending verbal answers with complex sentences Analysing and responding to the bullet points in detail Revising translation strategies vs literal translation Using exclamations to convey emotions Revising and reusing Spanish idioms Proof reading for accuracy and SPAG Referring to other people’s viewpoints
Knowledge	Preparation for the WRITING PAPER Sub topics Essay writing Translation Key Language , vocabulary and Grammar Recalling the difference between tú+usted Expressing opinions in different ways Revising the agreement rule for accuracy Using the present tense to describe a picture (foundation) Using a variety of connectives Revising the agreement rule Identifying and responding to questions (3tenses) Comparatives + Superlatives Adding intensifiers and adverbs for complexity Using complex tenses (Conditional/Perfect)
Rationale	In this last unit, Learners will gain further practise in their writing skill by using a wide range of tenses appropriately and accurately. Learner will demonstrate use of critical thinking to decide on which tense to use for their essay. Furthermore, Learners will practise decision-making skills on how to translate using the translation strategies used in this and previous units. They will demonstrate their ability to differentiate between literal translation and adaptation in order to get full marks for their exam. In this unit Learners will also be expected to self-assess their written work through proof reading in order to be able to critically judge and improve their own essay in an exam situation. Time management will be practised as well as specific word counts, both of which are important to success at GCSE.

knowledge Organiser

A knowledge organiser is an important document that lists the important facts that learners should know by the end of a unit of work. It is important that learners can recall these facts easily, so that when they are answering challenging questions in their assessments and GCSE and A-Level exams, they are not wasting precious time in exams focusing on remembering simple facts, but making complex arguments, and calculations.

We encourage all pupils to use them by doing the following:

Quiz themselves at home, using the read, write, cover, check method.
Practise spelling key vocabulary
Further researching people, events and processes most relevant to the unit