Spoken in 31 different countries, by around 427 million people, the Spanish language opens doors not just to Spain, but also to diverse countries across Central and South America. All our pupils start learning Spanish at Key Stage 3 using the NCELP (National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy) resources. Unfortunately for the last two consecutive years, trips have been cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic. However, in normal conditions, pupils are encouraged to take part in the linguistic and cultural visit to Spain in Year 8 and also in work experience offered to Year 10, as well as to participate in other events we arrange with our Spanish link schools. Pupils can progress to studying Spanish at GCSE, adding an international dimension to their choices which many employers and higher education providers value. The skills learnt in Spanish are useful in a wide range of careers, such as the ability to communicate clearly, being confident about speaking in public and using problem solving strategies. It creates greater opportunities to work abroad, or for companies in the UK with international links.
Pupils in KS3 will first learn the sounds of the Spanish language (phonics) and their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary will aim to build on any Spanish learnt at Primary School, but with a different focus. This means that pupils with no prior knowledge of the language are not disadvantaged in any way. All grammar and vocabulary are revisited several times over the years, with the aim of pupils becoming confident learners of the language.
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Half term |
Topics studied; skills and knowledge |
How this will be assessed |
|
Autumn - 1 |
Essential verbs: estar, ser and tener Indefinite articles Adjectives – gender and agreement AR verbs in the present (singular) Yes/no questions – raised intonation |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
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Autumn - 2 |
Using “no” to make a verb negative Hay/tiene Singular and plural definite articles Dar – to give (singular) Querer – to want, wanting (singular) |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
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Spring - 1 |
Adjective agreement and position Tener – tenemos/tienen Question words Hacer (singular) |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
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Spring - 2 |
Ar verbs – we form Modal verbs – poder,deber Estar – we and they Del versus de la |
Weekly vocabulary tests Achievement assessment covering listening, reading, writing and speaking |
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Summer - 1 |
Ar verbs – they Er and ir verbs (singular) Question words |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
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Summer - 2 |
Possessive adjectives (my, your) Ir – to go, going Ir + a + infinitive to express future |
Weekly vocabulary tests End of Year assessment in all skills |
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Half term |
Topics studied; skills and knowledge |
How this will be assessed |
|
Autumn - 1 |
Possessive adjectives (my, your) Ir – to go, going Ir + a + infinitive to express future |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
|
Autumn - 2 |
Past tense ar verbs I and you Ser and estar (revisit) Present tense er/ir verbs (we) Hacer (plural) Subject pronouns Present for ongoing actions Question words (revisit) |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
|
Spring - 1 |
Talking about what people do (work) Past tense (er/ir verbs I and you) Prenominal adjectives Revisit tener Querer and dar (plural) Ir (we) Para + infinitive Revisit regular present tense verbs |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
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Spring - 2 |
Talking about what people do (work) Past tense ar/er/ir verbs (he/she) Personal a Reflexive me and te Revisit possessive adjectives mi and tu |
Weekly vocabulary tests Achievement assessment covering listening, reading, writing and speaking |
|
Summer - 1 |
Direct object pronouns lo and la Indirect object pronouns me, te, le Gustar type verbs |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
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Summer - 2 |
Revisit ser, adjective agreement, para + infinitive Possessive adjectives su and nuestro Comparatives más and menos Demonstratives este, esta Hacer and ir in past (singular) |
Weekly vocabulary tests End of Year assessment in all skills |
|
Half term |
Topics studied; skills and knowledge |
How this will be assessed |
|
Autumn - 1 |
Revisit regular verbs (singular, past) Revisit regular verbs (plural, past and present) Present continuous Revisit future plans with ir |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
|
Autumn - 2 |
Not yet published by NCELP |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
|
Spring - 1 |
Not yet published by NCELP |
Weekly vocabulary tests |
|
Spring - 2 |
Weekly vocabulary tests Achievement assessment covering listening, reading, writing and speaking |
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|
Summer - 1 |
Module 1 of GCSE course Holidays Talking about activities during holidays (present tense) Revision of past tense Talking about where you have visited Talking about accommodation and travel Talking about a visit to a city Imperfect tense Preparation of answers for speaking |
Vocabulary tests Writing homework |
|
Summer - 2 |
Module 1 of GCSE course Narrating a day out Using preterite and imperfect tenses together Booking accommodation Talking about a disastrous holiday Preparation of answers for speaking |
Vocabulary tests Writing and reading homework End of Year assessment reading and writing |
Homework is set once per week and will be to learn 10-15 words using Quizlet and / or vocabulary guide. The words should be learnt over several days, as this will help pupils to remember them for longer. Vocabulary will be tested at the end of the second lesson each week, so that pupils have been using the vocabulary prior to the test.
The Spanish spelling bee is an opportunity for pupils to learn about the sounds of Spanish and take part in a competition with national finals.
Pupils will benefit from being supported to learn their vocabulary every week. They might enjoy teaching the words to you or ask you to help them practise for the test each week.
Pupils find that using an app like Duolingo is fun and helpful. Although it does not follow our curriculum exactly, it is motivating.
In Spanish we aim to build on knowledge from Key Stage 3 to learn listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in Spanish. We also teach pupils about the culture and traditions of Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.
|
Year |
Half term |
Topics studied; skills and knowledge |
How this will be assessed |
|
10 |
Autumn - 1 |
Mi vida en el insti – school subjects and teachers, describing the school day. Grammar: Using adjectives, comparatives and superlatives, justifying opinions, using negatives, imperfect and preterite tenses. |
Listening and speaking assessments at end of Module. |
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Autumn - 2 |
School rules and problems, talking about a foreign exchange, talking about activities and achievements. Grammar: Phrases followed by infinitive, near future tense, asking and answering questions, object pronouns, saying how long you have been doing something. |
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Spring - 1 |
Mi gente – talking about social networks, making arrangements, talking about reading preferences, describing people, friends and family. Grammar: Revision of present tense, using para with infinitives, present continuous tense, using a range of connectives, using ser and estar, using a range of relationship verbs, referring to past and present together. |
Reading and writing assessments at end of unit |
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Spring - 2 |
Intereses e influencias – talking about what you usually do, talking about sports, talking about what’s trending, discussing different types of entertainment, talking about who inspires you. Grammar: stem-changing verbs, adjectives of nationality, soler + infinitive, using imperfect tense, using perfect tense, using algunos/ciertos/otros/muchos/demasiados/ todos |
Listening and reading assessments at end of Module |
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Summer - 1 |
Ciudades – talking about places in a town, describing features of a region, planning what to do, shopping, talking about problems in a town, describing a visit in the past. Grammar: se puede/se pueden, future tense, demonstrative adjectives, conditional tense, synonyms and antonyms, idioms |
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Summer - 2 |
Continue Ciudades module and prepare / take end of year 10 exams |
Listening, reading, writing and speaking assessments |
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|
11 |
Autumn - 1 |
De costumbre – talking about typical foods and mealtimes, daily routines and illness, comparing festivals, describing a special day, ordering in a restaurant, talking about a music festival. Grammar: passive, question words, reflexive verbs in the past tense, absolute superlatives, irregular patterns in the preterite. |
Listening and reading assessments at end of Module. |
|
Autumn - 2 |
Continue De costumbre Module, then A currar – talking about how you earn money, talking about work experience, the importance of learning languages. Grammar: soler in the imperfect tense, using preterite and imperfect together, present and present continuous |
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Spring - 1 |
Applying for a summer job, discussing gap years, discussing future plans. Grammar: using indirect object pronouns, conditional tense, 24-hour clock, subjunctive with cuando. |
Speaking and writing assessments at end of Module. |
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Spring - 2 |
Hacia un mundo mejor – describing houses, global issues, local actions, discussing healthy lifestyles. Grammar: present subjunctive, commands, tenses revision. |
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Summer - 1 |
Talking about international sporting events, talking about natural disasters. Grammar: pluperfect tense, imperfect continuous Revision and preparation for speaking examination |
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Summer - 2 |
Period of Formal Examinations |
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Homework will be set twice a week. One homework will always be vocabulary learning using Quizlet. The second homework will be reading, writing or a grammar activity to consolidate learning.
Spanish is assessed by means of three written and one spoken exam at the end of the course.
|
Listening |
Foundation |
35 minutes |
Higher |
45 minutes |
|
Reading |
Foundation |
45 minutes |
Higher |
1 hour |
|
Writing |
Foundation |
1 hour |
Higher |
1 hour 15 minutes |
|
Speaking |
Foundation |
12 minutes |
Higher |
15 mins |
Each paper is worth 25% of the marks for the course.
Pupils cannot mix tiers, so all papers must be from the same tier.
Pupils are encouraged to use Quizlet to revise vocabulary. It may be possible to run a Year 10 Work Experience Trip to Spain. This will depend on the Covid situation and availability of a provider.
Pupils will benefit from help learning vocabulary each week, for example by testing them. Encourage your son/daughter to explain things they have learnt to you, or even to teach you some Spanish. There are online resources available for learning Spanish, such as BBC Bitesize and languagesonline.org.uk, as well as materials in the pupil section of the CATalogue. The online videos made by the Oak National Academy are a good source of revision and practice. Pupils could also use apps such as Duolingo, which are a fun way to learn the language.
All pupils are provided with a vocabulary booklet but may also benefit from using the Grammar and Translation Workbook for the Viva course.
Melbourn Village College
The Moor, Melbourn
Royston SG8 6EF
Tel: 01763 223400
Email: office@melbournvc.org Absence: absence@melbournvc.org
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Melbourn Village College is an academy of The Cam Academy Trust, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 0749 1945.
The registered office is at Comberton Village College, West Street, Comberton, Cambridgeshire, CB23 7DU
