German

Why study this subject?

The study of German in the Sixth Form is a portal into a new world: building on the foundations established during the IGCSE course, you will become an increasingly fluent communicator both orally and on paper as well as a specialist on the culture of Germany and German-speaking countries. The study of a language in the Sixth Form is ideal for students who aspire to be prepared for an increasingly international world. The course will suit those who enjoy communicating as well as those who enjoy the close study of how language works. An interest in other cultures is important, as is a keen eye for detail.

What skills will you develop?

You will develop a number of the most sought-after key transferable skills: the ability to summarise, debate, evaluate and express opinions in a foreign language across a range of topics, including current affairs, social issues and the Arts; the ability to analyse literature and film; and the ability to make sophisticated responses, structuring your ideas in a convincing and coherent way. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to pursue an area of personal interest, leading to an examined Independent Research Project.

What are the key elements to the course?

In both years, the emphasis is on helping you develop the four skills which are assessed in the A Level papers at the end of the course: the ‘active’ skills of writing and speaking German, as well as the ‘passive’ skills of reading and listening comprehension. You will develop these four skills through the study of a range of topics which will expose you to different registers of the language. The topics which feature on the A Level course will help you broaden your understanding of the contemporary society, history and politics of the German-speaking countries. In addition, the literature and film elements of the course will allow you to develop analytical skills and a greater familiarity with German culture.