Key Stage 3
The language studied is based on the tutor group, with half of the year group taking French and half taking Spanish and they will study this for 5 hours a fortnight. In year 8, they will continue with this language.
The aim of year 7 is to continually build on prior learning whilst gaining confidence in the spoken and written language.
The aim of year 8 is to build on previous knowledge whilst gaining fluency in the spoken and written language. We continue to study cultural aspects of the countries and languages studied which we compare and contrast with English culture and traditions.
What support is there when studying Spanish?
The VLE hosts a wide range of materials from games, videos, podcasts and PowerPoint presentations to an online version of the textbook allowing pupils to access reading, listening and support material from home. You can also use the VLE to look at what your child may have been doing in their lesson.
There are residential and day trips to Spain to develop a deeper understanding of the culture and foreign language being studied. (For further information see the trips section of the VLE and the school website).
A Tuesday lunchtime drop in session in UC8 run by foreign language assistants (FLA) is open for all pupils to allow an informal chat about the latest music or news from Spain, or to support exam preparation. The FLA may also be used during lessons to develop speaking skills.
How can I help my son / daughter?
- Encourage them to learn vocabulary on a regular basis. Offer to test them on their vocabulary – even if you do not know the language, they can spell out the words to you.
- Have a look at your child’s book – they will be given homework each week – can they explain to you what they have learnt that week?
- Encourage them to look at corrections to written work so that they learn from them and avoid making the same mistakes again.
- Encourage them to listen to any Spanish available on the radio / television.
- If you are going to a Spanish speaking country encourage them to use their language for a real purpose.
- Go through the web links provided to find sites which best suit your child.
- Try watching Spanish films together – or switch a popular DVD to Spanish language or add the subtitles in Spanish.
Have a look at the (free) events offered at The Instituto Cervantes in London. http://www.londres.cervantes.es
http://www.zut.org.uk – Oye is the Spanish version – A great site with listening and reading activities under topic and year . Free after 4pm
http://linguascope.co.uk – Amazing. Ask your teacher for your username and password
http://www.lyricstraining.com/ – This American website has some great songs in Spanish
http://www.wordreference.com – This is a pretty good site for accurate translation to and from loads of foreign languages.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/ – There is so much here – videos, games, articles.
http://www.spanishrevision.co.uk/ – W-O-W
http://www.rtve.es/ – Catch up with live radio and Spanish TV clips and news items here.
Key Stage 4
All students at the King John School are encouraged to continue their language studies to GCSE.
Students have 5 hours of language lessons a fortnight and over the GCSE course, will build on the language and knowledge gained at KS3 and will go on to cover topic areas such as home and local area, health and sport, leisure and entertainment, travel and the wider world and education and work.
Spanish GCSE which assesses all 4 skills is currently assessed through the AQA exam board. http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698
There are KS4 residential trips to Spain to develop a deeper understanding of the culture and foreign language being studied.
A lunchtime drop in session run by foreign language assistants (FLA) is open for all pupils to allow an informal chat about the latest music or news from Spain, or to support exam preparation. The FLA will also be used during lessons to develop speaking skills.
Key Stage 5
Apart from being beneficial at a personal level, your A-Level in Modern Foreign Languages can help with quite a few career paths. For those who want to specialise in language, there’s translation or teaching. Or maybe you want to work in the travel and tourism industry. But even as, say, an engineer or designer, being proficient in a language will give you broader career options.
In the first year you’ll study five topics. These are the Cyberworld, Traditional and modern values, The influence of idols, Rights equality, Cultural patrimony and Regional identity in Spain. These build on what you have studied at GCSE and cover a wide range of interesting and engaging issues. The common thread amongst these is discovering how people speak at a personal level, and what their individual views are on these everyday topics.
In the second year you’ll have another five topics – Coexistence and integration, Immigration, Racism, Youngsters of today and the future, Monarchies and dictatorships and Social movements. You will also study a Spanish novel and a Spanish film
Spanish A-Level which assesses all 4 skills is currently assessed through the AQA exam board. http://www.aqa.org.uk/
The language department at the King John School has always believed that to fully understand a foreign language, students should be given the opportunity to visit France or Spain to put their language skills to practise and to gain a deeper understanding of the culture – the food, music, people and sites the country can offer.
Several trips are organised throughout the year – just ask any of the MFL teachers and look out in assembly to get involved.
Look at the photos and videos on the VLE if you want to see what King John students and teachers got up to!
Key Stage 3 trips include a Spanish trip to Barcelona, at Key Stage 4 students can go to Salamanca on a week long residential trips.
All A-Level students are encouraged to take part in Work Experience Abroad during the Easter holidays, this year students went to Salamanca and worked in shops, restaurants, nursery schools and even a fancy dress shop! In addition to having a great week, students develop confidence in their spoken language.