Overview & Synopsis

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest is a topic in the AQA GCSE Spanish specification. This guide covers learning objectives, examiner tips, common mistakes, and key terminology to help you revise effectively.

Examiner Tips for Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

• Use communication strategies like paraphrasing or describing physical properties if you forget a specific word.
• Use visual and verbal context (layout, title, pictures) to deduce meaning of unknown words.
• Practice using connectives and opinion phrases to extend responses.
• Ensure you address all bullet points in writing tasks.
• Use repair strategies (e.g., asking for repetition) in the speaking test if you do not understand a question.
• Focus on accuracy in translation tasks to convey key messages.

Common Mistakes in Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

• Topic avoidance in speaking or writing tasks.
• Over-reliance on pre-learnt responses without spontaneity.
• Incorrect use of false friends (e.g., largo, sensible, actual).
• Failure to use appropriate tenses (past, present, future) when narrating events.
• Inaccurate adjective agreement and verb conjugation.
• Word coinage based on English that does not exist in Spanish.

Key Marking Points

• Ability to identify key information, themes, and ideas in spoken and written texts.
• Ability to express and justify opinions on local and global issues.
• Ability to narrate events coherently using appropriate tenses.
• Ability to use a range of vocabulary related to the environment, social issues, and travel.
• Ability to manipulate language for new purposes, including appropriate register and style.
• Ability to translate short passages accurately between Spanish and English.