German

The German Advanced level course at King Edward’s is aimed at keen, successful IGCSE students who wish to develop their existing knowledge of the language to a high degree of fluency and to explore a wide variety of aspects of the modern culture of German-speaking countries.

There is a strong emphasis on fluency and oral competence and authentic materials are used on topic areas that are chosen to be relevant to young people in a social, vocational, educational, literary or political context. Students receive tuition from two teachers in the Lower Sixth. There is full access to IT facilities on the School’s network and the internet. In addition, students are given time for Directed Study in which they are expected to undertake independent research. There is also a weekly lesson on an individual basis with a AQA specification We will be following the AQA specification for A Level German. Students will be encouraged to develop their linguistic knowledge and cultural understanding of the countries/ communities where German is spoken. There are two main areas of interest: social issues and trends and political, intellectual and artistic culture. These are divided into sub-themes and at the end of the course, there will be examinations to test speaking, listening, reading, translation and writing. The A Level course places greater emphasis on written style, tone and accuracy. Literary texts and German films are studied in preparation for the final examination units. Students will be required to language assistant to enhance oral competence. These arrangements allow for thorough coverage of all skill areas and flexibility in meeting the varied needs of the individual student.

The more complex grammatical structures required for the Lower Sixth Year are supplied in an intensive structured programme especially designed to bridge the gap between the less rigorous nature of GCSE/IGCSE and the demand for independence expected of the more mature student. research an area of personal interest related to the country/ community where German is spoken and this will be discussed in the final speaking examination. The successful Advanced level student will make full use of our excellent facilities and resources and will embrace all opportunities available in School: borrowing DVDs or library stock, taking part in study trips and perhaps making a contribution to the running of the Lower School German Club. Independence and commitment outside the classroom are a great

help.

The German Advanced level course is recommended for a variety of students: not only those who wish to make languages the focus of a Higher Education course but also for those who wish to study German in combination with other disciplines. For interested students this is a rewarding and stimulating Advanced level choice.