Bienvenido al Departamento de Español

Ms F McCurry (HOD)
Mrs R Morgan

Mrs C Rohrs

OLS Spanish Department is a vibrant, innovative department. Motivated by a passion for language learning, our teachers aim to:

• Foster an enthusiasm for the Spanish language,
• Develop an awareness and understanding of Spanish-speaking countries and communities;
• Develop fluency, self-confidence and communication skills through oral work;
• Create a positive learning environment through good teacher-pupil relationships;
• Encourage students to learn through a variety of activities such as group work, pair work and use of communication and digital technologies;
• Enrich learning through participation in a variety of extra-curricular activities.

Key Stage 3

Students begin studying Spanish in J3. Using contemporary teaching and learning resources accompanied by an on-line learning facility, students learn vocabulary and grammar related to Greetings, Self, Family, School, Weather, Hobbies and Travel.

Key Stage 4

Year 11 & 12 pupils have the opportunity to study Spanish to GCSE level, following the CCEA course of study. They undertake exams in the four attainment areas of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. While the main focus at this level is on developing oral fluency, creativity and confidence are also fostered through grammar and reading exercises. In the Spanish Department, good teacher-pupil and pupil-pupil relationships play a vital role in the overall success of our students.

Key Stage 5

By this stage, students appreciate the benefits of studying the second most-spoken language in the world, therefore A Level Spanish is a very popular choice at Our Lady s. Students follow the CCEA AS & A2 Spanish course and are taught through the target language. There is a strong emphasis on independent study. In smaller, tutorial-style classes with the Spanish Language Assistant, students develop their oral Spanish by engaging in conversations about contemporary issues.

Extra-curricular

We have a rich programme of extra-curricular activities on offer in the Spanish Department. Our students take part in the A Level Spanish language debates at Queen s University. We enjoy using ICT as much as possible to improve learning and enhance enjoyment of language learning. A large number of Our Lady s girls (from a variety of year groups) attend Spanish language and culture courses in Salamanca, Spain on a bi-annual basis.