AH Spanish

Description of Course

The Advanced Higher course will allow pupils to continue to develop further their skills in understanding and using complex and detailed Spanish. Pupils will study across a range of different topics building on their previous knowledge of Spanish. Topic will include family structures; gender equality; technology; environmental issues; political issues; the press; film and music; and employability.

Time in class will be spent allowing students to improve their confidence in handling complex language. We will continue to develop pupils’ skills in the skills of Reading, Listening, Writing and Talking. Writing at AH level moves to being more discursive in style; Reading and Listening activities tend to focus more on societal issues.

The aim of the course is to equip students with the language skills which will enable them to:

• Understand complex spoken and written Spanish

• Communicate confidently and fluently in Spanish

• Analyse a piece of Spanish literature

• Develop self-confidence and social skills

The course is aimed at those students who wish to continue studying Spanish beyond Higher Level either for interest and enjoyment or for preparation for a university or college language course. Pupils who enjoy speaking Spanish and who wish to gain greater fluency in their spoken Spanish would particularly enjoy this course.

Course Content

At Advanced Higher level, students study work across four contexts:

• Society

• Learning

• Employability

• Culture

Students will also be required to complete the Specialist Study and Portfolio, which is a study of a piece of Spanish literature with an essay in English critically examining the work.

Assessment

In order to achieve the course award, candidates must successfully complete all internal assessments and pass the final course examination.

Internal

Candidates will sit internal unit assessments – one each in the skills of Reading, Listening, Writing and Talking.

External

External final course exam in the skills of:

• Reading/Translation (25%)

• Listening (15%)

• Writing (20%)

• Talking (25%)

• Portfolio (15%)

Career Pathways

• travel and tourism

• translating

• journalism

• interpreting

• performing arts

• teaching (primary and secondary)

• computing and ICT-related jobs

• hospitality / hotel work

• international aid work

• administration

• speech and language therapy

• cooking

• retail and customer services

• events management

• marketing

• business management