German
Head of Department – Mr C.M. Zursiedel
Overview
Learning a new language is always a fascinating journey into new words, linguistic patterns, or different ways to express things. It is also the discovery of new ideas and concepts, sports, culinary delights, films, songs, etc. People who speak one or more foreign languages are said to have a higher brain capacity, and tend to be more successful and happier in life. Given The UK’s rather modest knowledge in foreign languages, mastering a new language or two will make you a highly desirable candidate for universities and employers, not just in the UK.
You will become a competent speaker who can express and justify ideas convincingly, reflect about your own language(s) and cultural background(s). You will also become a more globally aware citizen who may want to work with people from across the globe to make the world a better place. So, get on board, be brave, enjoy the ride…
Core concepts
As with any language, the focus is on the four skills of Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing, plus translation. In Year 8 and Year 9, students learn to recognise and produce relatively short sentences across a variety of topics (leisure, holidays, school, family, home etc.), often comparing these to the UK . Grammar plays an important role from the start, in particular verb endings (conjugations), and tense formations (present, past, future). At GCSE level, we build on the foundations laid in the previous years, and explore purposeful or creative means to expand vocabulary and complex sentence structures across three broad themes: identity and culture; the world around us; and school and employment. In the sixth form, you can study German as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB), discussing a wide range of themes on a more in-depth, intellectual and sophisticated level.
Key Stage 3
German is one of two language choices (alongside Mandarin Chinese) for students in year 8, and no previous knowledge is required. Therefore, this presents a great opportunity to explore a new subject as a complete beginner, with everyone on the same level, as with all modern foreign languages. German may have a reputation as a rather difficult language, but it is also one of the easiest to access for English native speakers, due to its straightforward pronunciation patterns and many similar words (cognates) with English (such as “Haus” or “gewinnen”). It is certainly a logical language, and it also boasts the highest number of native speakers in the EU, making it a highly desirable language to learn and master. Furthermore, there is the history – yes, deeply troubled for twelve years – but modern Germany is a multi-cultural society rich in music, film, art, green policies, philosophy, culinary delights, and sport.
Year 8: Textbook Stimmt 1. Four lessons per fortnight, one of which is often in the MFL IT suite. Students start as absolute beginners (but if you know some German already – great!). Through different topics (describing people and home life, free time, school, holidays), you quickly learn the basics (alphabet, numbers, key adjectives and verbs) to form simple sentences initially, to developing confidence in understanding longer passages or producing language in some detail (including present and future tense, and opinions). Vocabulary tests, short listening and reading tasks, and short dialogues and texts in oral and written tasks play a crucial part in most lessons. Formal assessment is at the end of one or two units towards the end of each term in at least three skill areas. The end-of year exam will consist of five different tests: grammar, listening, reading, speaking, writing. As German is at this stage still easily accessible to the vast majority of students, grades are predominantly high.
Year 9: Textbook Stimmt 2. Four lessons per fortnight, one of which is often in the MFL IT suite. Students build on the foundations laid in year 8, with ample revision in September. The big new concept is the formation of the past tense (both imperfect/simple past and present perfect), which is introduced by talking more about holidays, leisure, eating and health, travel, and arranging meetings). We continue to practise the same skills as in year 8 (vocabulary tests, listening, reading, speaking, writing), but tasks get gradually longer and more complex. Assessment also takes place in the same manner as in year 8, culminating in the five different papers for the end-of-year exams. At some point in the Spring Term, you will be asked with which language(s) – Spanish and/or German – you want to continue at GCSE level. German has always proved to be a popular choice.
GCSE
Examination board: AQA
GCSE German, like most other subjects, is a two-year course that follows on naturally from KS3. It is therefore not possible to do GCSE German without the necessary prior knowledge. The current course in German consists of three broad themes, each consisting of four topics:
- Identity and Culture (Family & friends, Technology, Free time, Festivals)
- Local, national, and global areas of interest (Home region, Social issues, Global issues, Travel & tourism),
- Current and future study and employment (My studies, Life at school, Education post-16, Jobs).
In order to be able to succeed at this level, students need to have a clear idea about verb endings, tense formations, and word order. Moreover, you know a wide range of vocabulary, and begin to develop a thorough understanding of more complex grammatical structures. This will enable you to speak and write at greater length and in more depth, as well as to identify more detailed information when listening to or reading in the target language. Furthermore, there are also translation tasks (from German to English, and from English to German). All these skills will be examined in four papers (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing & Translation) at the end of year 11, with each paper worth 25%.
Year 10: Textbook Stimmt GCSE, plus Workbook Stimmt GCSE Grammar & Translation, plus Departmental booklet. Six lessons per fortnight, one of which is usually in the MFL IT Suite.
We start with some revision regarding the aforementioned concepts, but this is, naturally, a step up. Texts become longer and more demanding, where students are gradually guided towards more independence and higher cognitive skills, by dealing with more unfamiliar vocabulary and settings. This will ensure more spontaneous and varied use of language, rather than pre-learnt phrases in familiar situations. You will also get a taste of authentic German texts, such as songs, films, short poems, and extracts from novels. All types of verbs (stem-changing, separable, reflexive, modal) in different tenses (now including conditional and subjunctive) are reinforced and extended throughout the course. Whilst the course is geared towards achieving the best possible grade at the end of year 11, it is also meant to compare and contrast cultures, to be fun, to be thought provoking, to challenge, to inspire, to encourage, to dare.
Assessment is as in KS3, with regular little tests and exercises. It is still mostly topic-based, but written work and oral tests are already marked against GCSE criteria, especially in the end-of-year exams, where you will be expected to deal with real past papers.
Year 11: You will use the same three resources as in Year 10. Six lessons per fortnight, one of which is usually in the MFL IT Suite.
We continue with our two-year journey, with the focus now more firmly on the November Mock exams, where another set of past papers in each skill area (i.e. Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) is served. The vast majority of students are expected to improve by one or two grades compared to the end-of-year exams in Year 10, and therefore work at Higher Tier. However, based on the mock exam results, we may look into the possibility of Foundation Tier for a small number of students.
Success at exams is knowing the expectations (laid out in the mark schemes), and completing a paper under timed conditions, with no outside help. This is precisely where the focus lies this year. It is more about fine tuning, adding more impressive vocabulary, increasing the level of complexity and accuracy, and expressing and justifying ideas more convincingly and coherently, with a certain flair and authority.
Apart from regular shorter, topic-specific tests and exercises, assessment is through sets of past papers in the first two terms (November and March) in all four skills areas, each counting 25%. For Speaking and Writing, there are three parts in either (Role Play, Photo Card, General Conversation, and short written response, extended written response, translation from English to German, respectively), which need a fair amount of practice. All exams are marked by the exam board.
Whilst this year is, naturally, about the best possible preparation for a successful GCSE grade, we continue to explore German culture through film, music, literature, and paying closer attention to current affairs in the German-speaking world.
Sixth Form
IB courses are all two-year courses, and are offered at three different levels: ab initio, Standard Level, and Higher Level. All three courses cover these five broad themes:
- Identities: lifestyles, health and wellbeing, beliefs and values, subcultures, language and identity;
- Experiences: leisure, holidays and travel, life stories, rites of passage, customs and traditions, migration;
- Human ingenuity: entertainment, artistic expressions, communication and the media, technology, scientific innovation;
- Social organization: social relationships, community, social engagement, education, the working world, law and order;
- Sharing the planet: the environment, human rights, peace and conflict, equality, globalization, ethics, urban and rural environment.
1) Ab initio: for beginners, so no prior knowledge is required (if you dropped German in Year 9, you also qualify!). Five lessons per fortnight. As you have already mastered at least one MFL GCSE, you are expected to transfer many linguistic skills, leading to a level somewhat higher than GCSE in less than 24 months.
Assessment: as with GCSE, all four skill areas are examined at the end of the two-year course:
Paper 1: Productive skills (Writing – 2 tasks, 70 – 150 words). 1 hr. 25%
Paper 2: Receptive skills (Listening and Reading, three texts each). 1 hr 45 mins. 50%
Internal Assessment (Speaking) – A conversation with the teacher, based on a visual stimulus, followed by discussion based on additional themes. approx. 8 minutes. 25%
2) Standard Level (SL): Ideally, you have at least grade 6 at GCSE German (or equivalent). Five lessons per fortnight. You will learn to discuss demanding topics and challenging ideas for different purposes. This means you will learn to distinguish between different registers (slang, colloquial, formal).
Assessment: as with GCSE, all four skill areas are examined at the end of the two-year course:
Paper 1: Productive skills (Writing, choice of three, 250 – 450 words). 1 hr 15 mins. 25%
Paper 2: Receptive skills (Listening and Reading, three texts each). 2 hr. 50%
Internal Assessment (Speaking) – A presentation based on a visual stimulus, followed by a discussion on that theme, followed by a conversation based on additional themes. 12-15 minutes. 25%
3) Higher Level (HL): Ideally, you have at least grade 7 at GCSE German (or equivalent). Eight lessons per fortnight. Like in SL, you will learn to discuss demanding topics and challenging ideas for different purposes, but study the themes in more depth. This means you will learn to distinguish between different registers (slang, colloquial, formal). You will also read two pieces of literature in Year 13, which form the basis of the oral exam. At the end of the course, you should be able to speak German fairly fluently, and be well prepared to live and work in a German-speaking country.
Assessment: as with GCSE, all four skill areas are examined at the end of the two-year course:
Paper 1: Productive skills (Writing, choice of three, 450 – 600 words). 1 hr 30 mins. 25%
Paper 2: Receptive skills (Listening and Reading, three texts each). 2 hr. 50%
Internal Assessment (Speaking) – A presentation based on a literary extract (choice of two), followed by a discussion on that work, followed by a conversation on one or two of the five themes mentioned above. 12-15 minutes. 25%
Extra-curricular activities and opportunities
Vienna trip
This biannual trip to one of the most beautiful and attractive cities in Europe is open to students in years 11, 12, 13. During your five or six days in Vienna, you will usually have lessons in the mornings with a reputable language school, followed by a wide range of cultural experiences in the afternoon and evening, such as visiting museums and galleries (including the Hunderwasser-Haus), see a play or a film, visit the UN city and a castle, and the famous Prater parc. You will also have plenty of free time to explore Vienna’s stunning architecture and Kaffeehauskultur, enjoying Sachertorte or Linzer Torte, authentic Wiener Schnitzel, plus many other delicious specialities.
Oxford German Olympiad
Oxford university offers this national competition (for individual or group entries) every year on broad themes like the Alps, the River Rhine, friendship, or Germans and Germany abroad. Since 2015, we have been very successful in this competition; virtually every year, several students have either won or were runners-up in their respective categories, leading to an invite to a ceremony at Oxford. This presents a unique opportunity for dedicated and creative students to explore new horizons and boost not only their confidence, but also their CV.
ukgermanconnection
This organisation, as the name suggest, strives to bring together young people from both nations. It is supported by the British Council and its German equivalent, the Goethe-Institut. It provides opportunities for students to become ambassadors, where you meet other like-minded teenagers from across the UK and Germany to discuss projects on history, politics, environment, pen-pal projects, and much more. They also offer fully or partially-funded trips to Germany: GCSE students can spend a week or two in Bavaria, and sixth form students can spend a whole month in Germany, including Berlin. Several students have been selected over the last decade, absorbing German culture first hand, bringing back wonderful memories, and making friends for life.
German lunch-time club / Deutsch AG
Once a week, we offer this club for all students (you don’t have to study German) who are interested in all things German, from help with homework or extending grammatical knowledge to explore Germanic songs, games, or competitions. You usually get rewarded with great chocolate and biscuits.
Other
There are other ways to expand your interests and broaden your horizons, such as national competitions from certain websites (e.g. thisislanguage.com) or universities (e.g. translation), regional competitions (e.g. SWAT = South West Academic Trust), or internal competitions (e.g. creating a poster or short film). It has also become tradition to bake Germanic Christmas cookies in December with sixth formers; always fun, always delicious (well, at least edible).
