GERMAN

Why languages are taught

1. Useful – communication, holidays, visits, need language for a job, closer links with the culture, business, trade, industry.

2. Intellectual – awareness of language.

3. Culture – broader horizons, appreciation of other people’s country, way of life.

4. Enjoyment – enjoy learning a language.

Aims

1. Develop the ability to use German effectively for the purpose of practical communication.

2. Foster understanding and awareness of German speaking countries, their people and their way of life.

3. Encourage attainment of linguistic competence at different levels.

4. Form a sound basis of the skills , language and attitudes required for further study work and leisure.

5. Offer insights into and understanding of the nature of language and language learning.

6. Offer enjoyment, a sense of achievement and intellectual stimulation.

7. Encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages and a sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilisations.

Objectives

1. Based principally on understanding and communication in the written and spoken language.

2. Four skills are required – listening, reading, speaking and writing, all of which carry equal weighting, based on maximum use of the target language.

3. All four skills are dealt with within the topics and settings as laid down by the NEAB syllabus for GCSE and the attainment targets and programmes of study for National Curriculum.

4. The material used for these skills should be authentic and of real use to the learner.

5. The tasks encountered in assessment and examination should be valuable outside the classroom and be realistic and preparatory for real tasks.

6. Beyond the courses chosen the use of other materials should be essential radio and TV programmes, video and satellite recordings, plays, films, projects work, readers, newspapers, magazines, I.T. and visits to Germany.

7. Above all the teaching should be flexible to create a more natural, spontaneous approach to the language.

German in the Curriculum

German is taught throughout Year 7 on a par with French, according to the demands of the National Curriculum. All pupils have the opportunity to study two foreign languages. This continues through to Year 9 at the end of which options are made. Those pupils who choose not to continue with German as their NC language should have acquired simple skills in:

a) Listening (travel information, weather and sports reports).
b) Reading (signs, labels, simple letters).
c) Speaking (simple conversations).
d) Writing (letter about self, holiday).

Use of Computer

We now have a Language Lab, which is primarily used by the languages department. This is located in room 67, with room 65 available if we take in larger groups. At the start of each year the Languages department organise the room bookings, which we need for each year group. We start with year 13 and work down. In the main the lower year groups get less time in the rooms, partly because it cannot be fitted into the bookings, and also because there is less material available to use with the groups.

General Internet use for texts from years 7 – 13.

Year 7:

PC work with texts and artwork.
Internet for research: towns and geography.
Games – ‘Fun with Texts’.
Simple data-basing.

Year 8 :

As above, also Internet for specific research.
Use with ‘Unterwegs’ and ’10 German Games’.

Year 9:

As above
CD-Rom work using Unterwegs, Teacher’s pet, Global German, Fun with Texts.
Games on floppy disk to reinforce vocab and specific topics.
Virtual language lab with Foundation level listening comprehensions
End of the year for Project work ‘Das bin ich’

Year 10:

Various CD-Rom packages for reading and grammar practice.
Past Listening exams from OCR recorded onto the system

Year 11:

Internet for research.
CD-Rom and PC work.
Past Listening exams from OCR recorded onto the system
For coursework for Module 3

Year 12 & 13:

Internet research for oral and coursework components.
CD-Lesen.
Authentik Materials for Listening practice.

Curriculum Years 7 – 11

Years 7 & 8 (Alle einsteigen 1)

Topics covered: All the areas of experience are dealt with in the course of the following topics:

Language points:

Year 9 (Alle einsteigen 1)

Topics covered:

Language points:

Years 10 & 11 (Alle einsteigen 2)

Topics covered:

Module 1:

My World
Self, Family and Friends
Interests and Hobbies
Home and Local Environment
Daily Routine
School and Future Plans

Module 2:

Holiday time and Travel
Travel, Transport and Finding the Way
Tourism
Accommodation
Holiday Activities
Services

Module 3:

Work and Lifestyle
Home Life
Healthy Living
Part-Time Jobs and Work Experience
Leisure
Shopping

Module 4:

The Young Person in Society
Character and Personal Relationships
The Environment
Education
Careers and Future Plans
Social Issues, Choices and Responsibilities

Language points:

Years 12 & 13 teaching and learning styles

‘A’ level resources

Topic material packs from former Oxford board – in box files in store cupboard

Marking scheme – according to A level grading system A – E

Departmental structure and organisation

Head of department – Hans Trevers

2nd in department – Phil Neale

German is taught from year 7 to all the classes on a par with French. In years 7 – 9 the language is taught to a whole form, there is no setting. In years 7 -9 each class has 2 lessons per week. Each lesson lasts 50 minutes.

In the spring term of year 9 pupils make their options. Each pupil has to choose one foreign language at least, either French or German, but can opt to take both, if he wishes after consultation with his language teachers. In 2003 – 2004 pupils were allowed for the first time to drop both languages, if the Language department agreed to their request.

From year 10 the pupil continues with one or both languages to GCSE. In general pupils are divided into two groups for German, numbers dictating the size/number of groups. Dual linguists are taught as a separate group where possible to facilitate progress, but this has to alternate with the French department. Each group has 3 x 50 minute lessons per week. Providing that the groups are timetabled together, setting is possible at this stage. However, this rarely happens. This also allows for the two language staff to swap classes to allow classes to allow for variation of style and technique, but also to move pupils if requirements dictate.

In years12 and 13 German is combined with a vary varied range of materials. An interesting feature of the past few years is the combination of language with science subjects. This is due in part to the greater to the popularity of combined subjects at university. The ‘A’ level candidates have 6 x 50 minute lessons per week.