German

Curriculum

• Key Stage 3

Pupils move swiftly in one year through a broad selection of topics and attain a wide range of basic knowledge and confidence in the four skills: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

• GCSE

As for French (CCEA specification taught from September 2009 to Year 11).  Pupils in Year 12 also have regular conversation classes with the German assistant. 

• AS

In 2008, pupils have started the revised AS qualification following the CCEA specification.  Pupils study a broad spectrum of contemporary themes which are tested through Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing modules and have further opportunities to develop their presentation skills.  

• A2

The AQA German specification is continued. Pupils study a wide range of contemporary issues and further develop their competence and fluency in the four skills. Literary texts are studied at A2 level and conversation classes with the German assistant are timetabled in both years.

Pupils are taught by specialist teachers in subject-specific classrooms. An ICT Suite exists within the Modern Languages Department, to enhance and encourage interactive learning. Reading material in German is available, both within the department and in the school library, to promote further, independent study of the language.

Additional Information

• Through a pen-pal scheme, all pupils studying German have the opportunity to correspond with a young German speaker, thus having the opportunity to put into practice the skills developed within the classroom.
• We avail of Film and Study day opportunities offered to GCSE and A Level pupils by the Queen’s University of Belfast, the Goethe Institut and CILT.
• In previous years pupils have chosen to continue their study of German at university, including Oxford.
• German is promoted within school via the European Day of Languages in September.

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