German

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Head of German: Mr C Zursiedel

 

German is started as a first language in Year 7 and students can continue with their German language to GCSE and in the Sixth Form, either at A Level or as part of their International Baccalaureate studies.

 

Courses offered

German is offered at GCSE, A Level and International Baccalaureate: Standard and Higher Levels.

 

German Exchange

'Our most excellent exchange in Lohr am Main' (student quote!): 36 students and 4 staff from the  Girls' and Boys' Grammar Schools, Torquay travelled to Germany for a week, ...

 

• Where/Wo?  Lohr am Main in Franconia (Franken), Bavaria (Bayern); on the river Main; Franconian is the local dialect; beautiful forested area, known as 'der Spessart'.  Pretty 'Altstadt' (old town) with timbered buildings; fairy-tale castle, reputed to have been home to the real 'Snow White' (Schneewittchen).
• Which German school?/Welche deutsche Schule?  Franz-Ludwig-von-Erthal Gymnasium (Grammar School), classes 9 and above (ca. 15-18 yrs).  Headmaster, Dr Fath gave us a tour around his school, interpreted by exchange organiser, Frau Von Lewinski-MacGregor.  We observed lessons, produced posters on our week in Lohr, as part of a project competition with our German partners; we were treated to delicious German foods and drinks at a farewell party (Abschiedsfeier) at the school on the last afternoon.
• Accommodation/Unterkunft: Everybody stayed with a host family, including our teachers, either in Lohr itself, in the surrounding countryside, or in nearby towns.
• Excursions/Ausflüge: Würzburg and Nuremberg (Nürnberg) with school; Aschaffenburg, Marktheidenfeld (amongst others) with host families:
  • Würzburg has the most spires (Türmchen) in Europe and was heavily bombed during the Second World War (während des Zweiten Weltkriegs), but the churches were avoided.  We were given an interesting overview of the city by one of our host teacher's Herr Emrich, who studied and lived in Würzburg.
  • Nuremberg, (Nürnberg) a beautiful, medieval town (mittelalterliche Stadt), famous for its 'Lebkuchen' (spicy biscuits), Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt) and castle (Burg).  A town known for peace, freedom and human rights (Frieden, Freiheit, Menschenrechte).  In the town square we saw a demonstration of GPs (Hausärzte), lamenting the volume of bureaucracy in their work.  They gave us free t-shirts and caps!
• Daily life/der Alltag: The school day started at 7:45 and ended at around 14:00, except on Fridays when it ended at 13:00. Many students take a 'second breakfast' (zweites Frühstück) to school, as the first one is so early.  The atmosphere in school was very relaxed and yet purposeful.  No school uniform, yet students well-presented and modern.  Plenty of free time.  Eiscafés (icecream parlours) are popular meeting places to catch up with friends.  We enjoyed trying different foods on offer, for example all kinds of different sausage (some home-made in the surrounding villages), eg Weiβwurst (white sausage - famous in Bavaria), a large range of breads, rolls, cakes and pastries, traditional dumplings (Knödel) and stews.
• To sum up!/Zusammenfassung: We gained real insight into the life and culture of young people in Germany and, above all, we made great friends!  We are looking forward to hosting our German partners in March, when they visit us in Torquay.  Wir freuen uns auf März!

 

Sixth Form Link with Swiss school,  involving students from the Boys' and Girls' Grammar Schools, Torquay

In the Summer of 2006, a Swiss School called the Kantonschule in Küsnacht (near Zürich) contacted the Boys' Grammar School, to ask whether there might be a chance for a group of around 20 of their Sixth Form Swiss students to join our students for a language afternoon. Since the Kantonschule, Küsnacht, is a mixed school, it seemed a good idea to link the project with the Girls' Grammar School.  Much preparation was put into the forthcoming venture by the Swiss teachers, Frau Prof. Dr. G. Borter and Herr M. Rohr, together with Mr Zursiedel (TBGS) and an interesting programme was arranged for the afternoon of 26 September.

 

Prior to the visit, e-mail contact was established between the Swiss and English students, so that each visitor could be greeted by somebody already known to them, however briefly.  The language activities for the afternoon were advertised some weeks before the event, so our students put much effort into preparing themselves thoroughly for quite demanding discussion topics which would be largely in the German language.  As the Swiss students had come to Torquay, in order to attend English classes at an international school, they were obviously keen to have an opportunity to speak a little English too.  They seemed very confident, which is perhaps not surprising once you learn that they are taught Mathematics and History in the English language at their school in Switzerland!

 

Example of programme of events:

• Swiss students welcomed at Reception of TBGS by boys and girls from the Boys' and Girls' Grammar Schools.  'E-mail pen-friends' introduced and Swiss visitors shown around the school and taken to lunch.
• Swiss staff, Frau Prof. Dr. G. Borter and Herr M. Rohr hosted by Mr Pike, Languages Staff, Deputy Heads and Business Studies Head of Department.  Lunch taken and interesting discussions about Swiss/British life and schools took place in Governors' Room.
• Language activities in the Library, firstly in English.  Group discussions about life as a young person, interests etc.  Second part:  Carousel activity, involving one-to-one German conversations about a range of philosophical themes.
• Sharing of Swiss/English specialities, brought in by students and staff (eg. chocolate, cakes, scones, cordials, tea!)

 

After the formal programme, many students and teachers continued to chat informally and indeed some met up out of school time, to continue the contact.  The Kantonschule made it clear that they would be delighted if any of our students would like to visit them in Switzerland in the future - much to our Sixth Formers' delight!

 

Feedback from our Sixth Form boys and girls:  This new contact gave us a fresh perspective on our German studies - ie the Swiss dimension, and made us consider researching the country and culture in more detail, maybe even choosing aspects of it for our AS/A Level oral presentations.  It is good to know we would have friendly hosts in Switzerland if we visit one day!

This is now an established visit that takes places at the beginning of the academic year and which all students and staff involved really enjoy.

 

German Work Experience

 

Our school is very lucky to offer 5 Sixth Form students one-week  at Bosch as part of our Exchange Programme.  This is an outstanding opportunity for those students studying German at A Level or IB and it gives them an insight into the work place in a big international company and allowing them to put their language skills into practice in the work place. 

 

Report about Work Experience at Bosch

 

German Theatre Play

Every year we invite the Onatti Theatre Company to stage a whole play in German for Year 9 to Year 13.  The language is pitched at exactly the right level and touched upon a number of GCSE topics.  Those in the audience were delighted at how much they could understand of a play written in German.

 

Köln Trip - Year 9 Activities Week

The Year 9 Activities Week trip to Köln has been a long-running feature of the school calendar, and to judge by comments from pupils it is viewed fondly as one of the best school trips of all.

There are many, many high points in the week away from school. For a start, there's the awe-inspiring Channel Tunnel. Pupils discover how easy it is, thanks to today's scientific, technological, and geological expertise, to slip across to France in next to no time with the minimum of fuss and almost without the sensation of movement.

En route through Belgium, pupils experience for themselves the First World War trenches they read about in History books.

The Menin Gate at Ypres provides a sombre reminder of the horrors of war.

We could hardly wish for a better location for our youth hostel, with spectacular views over the Rhein towards the world-famous Kölner Dom.

Wherever you go in Köln, the cathedral is never far from sight, and this magnificent structure, where the relics of the Three Magi are said to lie, provides a moment of welcome spiritual regeneration. Many climb the 512 steps to the top of the tower, and for many this is literally the highlight of the tour.

The visit to Bayer Leverkusen's football ground is another highlight and the visit to the giant pharmaceutical company Bayer is a real privilege. This is Germany's version of ICI, and they are involved in everything from medicines to sports equipment and car bodies.

For those interested in media work, we are privileged to be shown round the recording studios of the West Deutscher Rundfunk, one of the major broadcasting stations in Germany.

The chocolate museum proves a real attraction. To judge by the amount of chocolate purchased, supposedly as presents, most parents get to hear quite a lot about the chocolate museum!

Some may also hear about the cable car trip across the Rhein, which affords the brave of heart some spectacular views.

The day we spend in Bonn, the former capital of West Germany, brings a taste of culture to the trip, with a visit to Ludwig van Beethoven's house. A picnic lunch outside the resplendent buildings of Bonn University, and a visit to the Peace Museum at Remagen help to cement a common European identity.

On the final evening of our stay in Germany those who have been particularly well-behaved enjoy a deserved treat to Aqualand, a magnificent swimming pool complex.

It is safe to say that we all enjoy the multi-dimensional character of the visit to Köln, staff and pupils alike. Trips such as these are education at its best. No wonder old boys of the school still talk about it long after they have left!

Links:

UK German Connection Opportunities

German Scholarsips Application Form 2010

GPC Application Form 2010

UK GermanConnection Somemerkurse 2010

A Report on Vienna by Tim Partridge

 

Letters:

Cologne Trip (1)	11 - 16th July (Yr 9)
Cologne Trip (2)	11 - 16th July (Yr 9)
Cologne Trip Consent Form	11 - 16th July (Yr 9)
Cologne Trip Study Form	11 - 16th July (Yr 9)
Cologne Details	11 - 16th July (Yr 9)