German

GCSE course

We follow the AQA full course 4668 to GCSE in German. The course is designed for beginners or for those who already have some knowledge of the language. The small groups mean that the material can be adapted to provide the support each individual needs to attain a top grade at the end of the two years. Speaking and writing the language are each worth 30% of the final GCSE and are assessed by controlled assessments and reading and listening are each worth 20% and are assessed by an exam at the end of the course. Many people find that the logical German grammatical rules are easy to apply and the interactive aspects of the course help pupils gain confidence quickly. Able linguists should relish the opportunity to learn the language of a country with which we do so much trade and which is widely sought after by employers.

Lower Fifth (Year 10)

There is a revision section at the start of each topic area, so that those who are new to German have the opportunity to master the basics before moving into the main topic area. Well presented vocabulary sections and interactive grammar practice help pupils to develop their language skills quickly and easily. There are two main topic areas. The first one deals with lifestyle and includes topics such as healthy living, social issues and equality and relationships with family and friends. The second topic deals with leisure and deals with shopping, fashion and holidays. In the second part of the year pupils are introduced to both the past and the future tenses, so that they have a good level of competence by the end of the first year of their course.

Upper Fifth (Year 11)

The course continues with the final two topics. The first discusses where we live and also looks at some German customs and traditions and finishes by looking at some environmental issues. The second topic starts by comparing life in German and English schools and then looks at areas such as stress and finally moves to the world of work and job applications.

All controlled assessments are undertaken in the Upper 5^th, when the pupils have gained a broad enough command of the language to do themselves justice in the tasks. The open ended tasks allow pupils to personalise the work and make it relevant to themselves.