Food, drink, health, obsessions and addictions — OCR A-Level Spanish

This topic explores the vocabulary and cultural contexts surrounding food, drink, health, and addictions in the Spanish-speaking world. You will learn to discuss dietary habits, the Mediterranean diet, common health issues like obesity and diabetes, and the impact of addictions such as alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse. The topic also covers the language of obsession, including phrases like 'tener obsesión por' and 'ser adicto a', and how these concepts are portrayed in Spanish media and society.

Understanding this topic is crucial for the OCR A-Level Spanish exam as it appears in both the listening, reading, and writing papers, and is a common theme for the speaking card. It allows you to demonstrate a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures, such as the subjunctive to express opinions and emotions about health and addiction. Moreover, it connects to broader themes like social issues and personal identity, helping you to develop nuanced arguments in essays and discussions.

Mastering this topic will enable you to engage with authentic Spanish texts, such as news articles about the 'crisis de la obesidad' in Mexico or campaigns against binge drinking in Spain. You will also be able to analyse cultural differences, for example, the Spanish tradition of 'tapas' versus the UK's 'pub culture', and discuss the influence of the 'siesta' on health. This knowledge is not only exam-relevant but also enriches your understanding of Hispanic cultures.

• →Vocabulary for food and drink: 'la comida', 'la bebida', 'los alimentos', 'la fruta', 'la verdura', 'la carne', 'el pescado', 'los lácteos', 'los cereales', 'las grasas', 'el azúcar'.
• →Health-related terms: 'la salud', 'la enfermedad', 'la obesidad', 'la diabetes', 'el colesterol', 'la presión arterial', 'el ejercicio', 'la dieta equilibrada'.
• →Addiction vocabulary: 'la adicción', 'el adicto', 'drogas', 'el alcohol', 'el tabaco', 'el juego', 'las redes sociales', 'ser adicto a', 'tener una obsesión con'.
• →Use of the subjunctive in phrases like 'Es importante que sigas una dieta saludable' and 'Es preocupante que haya tantos adictos'.
• →Cultural references: the Mediterranean diet, 'la siesta', 'la comida rápida' in Spain vs. Latin America, and campaigns like 'Por una vida sin drogas'.

• Ability to express facts and ideas clearly
• Ability to present explanations and opinions
• Justification of points of view
• Use of accurate grammar and syntax
• Use of a range of vocabulary
• Ability to develop and evaluate arguments
• Relevance to the contemporary society of Spanish-speaking communities

• 💡Ensure notes for speaking tests are limited to one side of A4 paper
• 💡Focus on developing and justifying opinions rather than just stating facts
• 💡Practice using a range of complex sentence structures to improve accuracy and range scores
• 💡Ensure responses are relevant to the specific sub-topic chosen
• 💡Use the 20 minutes of preparation time effectively for speaking tests
• 💡Use a range of addiction-related vocabulary in your speaking card: don't just say 'fumar es malo', but use phrases like 'el tabaquismo es una adicción perjudicial' and 'los fumadores pasivos también sufren consecuencias'.
• 💡In the essay, compare and contrast Spanish and British attitudes towards food and health. For example, discuss the Spanish tradition of eating late and its impact on digestion, versus the UK's earlier dinner times. This shows cultural awareness.
• 💡Practice using the subjunctive in context: when giving advice, use 'Es aconsejable que...' or 'Recomiendo que...' followed by the subjunctive. This will impress examiners with your grammatical accuracy.

• Frequent errors in basic grammar (endings, verb forms, gender of common nouns)
• Over-reliance on pre-learnt material
• Limited ability to manipulate language
• Influence of the first language on target language performance
• Failure to address the requirements of the task
• Repetitive vocabulary and simple sentence structures
• Misconception: 'La dieta mediterránea' is only about eating olives and tomatoes. Correction: It is a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and olive oil, with moderate red wine, and is associated with lower heart disease risk.
• Misconception: 'Ser adicto a' is only used for drugs. Correction: It can be used for any addiction, e.g., 'adicto al móvil' or 'adicto al chocolate'. Similarly, 'tener obsesión por' can refer to hobbies or people.
• Misconception: The subjunctive is not needed after 'es importante que' because it's a fact. Correction: 'Es importante que' always triggers the subjunctive as it expresses a subjective opinion or necessity.