School and work (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
School and work vocabulary
Understanding vocabulary related to school and work is essential for GCSE Spanish success. This topic appears frequently in speaking and writing assessments, so mastering these terms will boost your confidence across all exam papers.
School and work vocabulary is one of the most practical topics in GCSE Spanish. You'll use these terms not only in exams but also when describing your real experiences and future plans. Building a strong foundation in this area will help you communicate naturally about your educational journey.
Basic school terms
Learning the fundamental school vocabulary helps you describe your educational experience and daily routine. These are the building blocks for more complex conversations about your school life.
| Spanish | Gender | English |
|---|---|---|
| escuela | (f) | school |
| colegio | (m) | school |
| instituto | (m) | institute/secondary school |
| universidad | (f) | university |
| clase | (f) | class/lesson |
| aula | (f) | classroom |
| curso | (m) | course/year |
| horario | (m) | timetable |
| recreo | (m) | break time |
| uniforme | (m) | uniform |
Worked Example: Using Basic School Terms
- Mi escuela es muy grande y moderna. (My school is very big and modern.)
- Tengo seis clases en mi horario. (I have six classes on my timetable.)
- No llevamos uniforme en mi instituto. (We don't wear uniform at my secondary school.)
Notice how adjective agreement works: "escuela" is feminine, so we use "moderna" not "moderno".
Subjects and learning
These terms help you discuss your favourite subjects and academic preferences. Being able to express what you enjoy studying shows personality and helps create engaging conversations.
| Spanish | Gender | English |
|---|---|---|
| asignatura | (f) | subject |
| matemáticas | (fpl) | maths |
| ciencias | (fpl) | sciences |
| historia | (f) | history |
| arte | (m) | art |
| educación física | (f) | PE |
| idioma | (m) | language |
| formación | (f) | training |
| conocimiento | (m) | knowledge |
| diseño | (m) | design |
Notice that matemáticas and ciencias are always plural in Spanish, unlike in English. This affects the articles and adjectives you use with them: "las matemáticas son difíciles" (maths is difficult).
Worked Example: Discussing School Subjects
- Las matemáticas son mi asignatura favorita. (Maths is my favourite subject.)
- Estudiamos tres idiomas en nuestro colegio. (We study three languages at our school.)
- La formación profesional es muy importante. (Vocational training is very important.)
School people and roles
Understanding who works in educational settings is crucial for describing school life and the people who shape your learning experience.
| Spanish | Gender | English |
|---|---|---|
| alumno/a | (m/f) | pupil/student |
| estudiante | (m/f) | student |
| profesor/a | (m/f) | teacher |
| director/a | (m/f) | head teacher |
| jefe/a | (m/f) | boss/manager |
| empresario/a | (m/f) | manager/entrepreneur |
| compañero/a | (m/f) | classmate/companion |
| científico/a | (m/f) | scientist |
Gender Rule: Remember that words ending in -a are usually feminine, whilst those ending in -o are masculine. However, estudiante works for both genders - this is an exception you must memorise!
Worked Example: Describing School People
- Los estudiantes trabajan mucho en este instituto. (The students work hard at this secondary school.)
- Mi profesora de historia es muy interesante. (My history teacher is very interesting.)
Notice: "profesora" (feminine) because we're talking about a female teacher.
Work and employment
These terms are essential for discussing future career plans and work experience. This vocabulary becomes particularly important when preparing for speaking assessments about your aspirations.
| Spanish | Gender | English |
|---|---|---|
| trabajo | (m) | work/job |
| empleo | (m) | job/employment |
| empresa | (f) | company/firm |
| negocio | (m) | business |
| salario | (m) | salary/wage |
| industria | (f) | industry |
| oportunidad | (f) | opportunity |
| entrevista | (f) | interview |
| prácticas | (fpl) | work experience |
| intercambio | (m) | exchange |
prácticas is always plural in Spanish when referring to work experience. Don't forget to use the plural article: "las prácticas fueron útiles" (the work experience was useful).
Worked Example: Talking About Work
- Busco un trabajo de media jornada. (I'm looking for a part-time job.)
- Hice mis prácticas en una empresa local. (I did my work experience at a local company.)
- La entrevista fue muy difícil. (The interview was very difficult.)
Study activities and assessment
These action words help describe what you do at school and how you're assessed. These verbs are high-frequency vocabulary that will appear across all exam papers.
| Spanish | Gender/Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| estudiar | (verb) | to study |
| aprender | (verb) | to learn |
| enseñar | (verb) | to teach/show |
| aprobar | (verb) | to pass |
| suspender | (verb) | to fail |
| resolver | (verb) | to solve |
| examen | (m) | exam |
| prueba | (f) | test |
| tarea | (f) | task/homework |
| deberes | (mpl) | homework/duties |
Worked Example: Study Activities
- Tengo que estudiar para el examen de ciencias. (I have to study for the science exam.)
- Mis deberes son muy difíciles hoy. (My homework is very difficult today.)
- Espero aprobar todas mis asignaturas. (I hope to pass all my subjects.)
Note the construction: Tengo que + infinitive = "I have to..." - a very useful phrase!
Translation practice
Practice translating between Spanish and English to test your understanding and build confidence with these key terms.
Translation Exercise
Spanish to English:
- Mi horario incluye seis asignaturas diferentes.
- El director habló con los estudiantes sobre las prácticas.
English to Spanish: 3. I want to study languages at university. 4. The science teacher gives us too much homework.
Answers:
- My timetable includes six different subjects.
- The head teacher spoke to the students about work experience.
- Quiero estudiar idiomas en la universidad.
- El profesor de ciencias nos da demasiados deberes.
Exam tips
Essential Exam Strategies:
- Gender matters: Always learn vocabulary with the correct gender marker (m/f). This affects article and adjective agreement.
- Plural forms: Notice irregular plurals like matemáticas and ciencias which are always plural.
- Context clues: Use these terms in speaking assessments to show vocabulary range and accuracy.
- Word families: Group related words together (e.g. estudiar, estudiante, estudio) to aid memory.
Key Points to Remember:
- School and work vocabulary appears frequently across all GCSE Spanish papers
- Learning words with their gender is crucial for grammatical accuracy
- Practice using multiple terms together in sentences to show linguistic sophistication
- Many of these terms have word families - learn related verbs and nouns together
- This vocabulary is perfect for describing your school experience and future career aspirations in speaking assessments