Spanish

Spanish is the official language of 21 countries and is the second language in the world in terms of the number of speakers. It is third language on the internet and the numbers of speakers worldwide is growing.

A person who can speak Spanish and English is able to communicate with 80% of the world’s population. In terms of the benefits of language learning in general, employers are always interested in applicants with languages skills because of the well-documented links between language learning and increased levels of mental flexibility, processing speeds, memory skills and their ability to multitask. Furthermore, in our increasingly global economy, employers value the crucial ability to work with overseas businesses in their own language, and since Spanish is now the second language of the USA, it is an incredibly useful language to have for the world of business in three continents.

Lower School

In Year 9, we cater for pupils who have no experience of Spanish (ab initio) and, increasingly, those who have studied the language previously. All pupils are introduced to the basics of pronunciation, and we work on listening, reading, speaking and writing skills straight away. We use a range of modern materials and adapt our teaching according to the previous experience of each student.

In Years 10 and 11, we follow the Edexcel IGCSE course. Vocabulary acquisition is crucial for success in the GCSE exams, but creativity and originality in written and speaking work are also rewarded. At this level, we also cover the seven main indicative tenses in Spanish, and so pupils become very familiar with the way in which verb conjugations work and become confident in using them in their writing and speaking. In order to prepare for the speaking exam and develop as much general fluency as possible, students have regular practice sessions on a one-to-one basis with their teacher and with additional support staff.

Upper School

Two Year A Level

We follow the AQA Specification for A Level Spanish. The course is rooted in expanding students’ intercultural understanding and awareness of the Spanish-speaking world – the most noticeable change from IGCSE, which centres around the students’ own lives and experiences. We study topics of social and importance, such as the changing nature of family life and the role of women in Francoist and post-Francoist Spain, as well as cultural issues such as the Patrimonial Heritage of Pre-conquest Latin and Central America, and issues of immigration and integration.

All Sixth Form pupils have an individual timetabled lesson each week with our native speaking Spanish language conversation assistant, which is crucial in developing their confidence and fluency.

This course suits students who are interested in gaining an in-depth knowledge of the social, cultural and literary world of Spain and Latin America, as well as building significantly on the grammar and topic work covered in the Lower School. Students should be prepared to get involved and give their opinions and ideas from day one of the course.

Two Year AS

The two-year AS course in Spanish also follows the AQA Specification. The topics are similar to those studied at A Level, and one book or film is studied and examined. All exams take place at the end of the second year of study. This course may suit pupils looking to take three full A Levels and an AS, and the two-year linear nature of the course enables pupils to mature linguistically before being examined. This course is also popular amongst students whose other subjects focus on alternative disciplines (such as sciences and maths) but who wish to add an additional string to their bow in terms of a language for future employment or personal reasons

Trips & Events

In the Lower School students are normally able to take part in our biennial trip to Spain, which we aim to restart soon, after a break due to the pandemic. Recent trips have visited Madrid, Cantabria and Seville. Students visit a number of cultural attractions, learning about Spanish history and everyday life through interactions with Spanish speaking guides and visits to local schools. Students are accompanied by Spanish speaking Cranleigh staff to help them to get the very best out of their visit to Spain. Students always report that this is a very exciting and enjoyable aspect of language learning, and they always return with a renewed confidence in their spoken Spanish ahead of the rehearsal and final oral examinations in the Year 11.

We do not currently organise a Sixth Form Spanish trip, for it would be too easy for pupils to simply speak English to one another without really engaging with the Spanish language and properly immersing themselves. Therefore, we support individuals and pairs of Cranleighans in organising their own visits to Spain, often to the Language Schools of Salamanca or other parts of Spain.