German

Why study German?

1. German is the most widely spoken language in

Europe. More people speak German as their native language than any other language in

Europe. It is also the third most popular foreign language taught worldwide and the second most popular in Europe and Japan, after English.

2. Germany has the third largest economy in the world and is the economic powerhouse of the

European Union. From cars to machinery and industrial equipment, from pharmaceuticals to household goods, German businesses are major exporters. The competitiveness and desirability of German products creates a need for German speakers. Numerous employers both within the UK and in other countries around the world fill their vacancies with candidates who can speak this hugely important business language.

Adding German to a pupil’s CV will give a significant advantage when it comes to jobhunting.

3. German-speaking countries have a rich cultural heritage. Germany is often referred to as the land of “Dichter und Denker” – of poets and thinkers. And rightly so, because German contributions to the arts and human thought have been nothing short of profound.

Philosophy and the sciences would also be unthinkable without the contributions of German speakers. The philosophies of Kant, Hegel,

Marx, Nietzsche and numerous others have had a lasting influence on modern society. The psychologists Freud and Jung forever changed the way we think about human behaviour.

Scientists from the three major Germanspeaking countries have won dozens of Nobel prizes in physics, chemistry, and medicine.

Knowing German makes it possible to access the works of these people in their original language. Anyone interested in these fields automatically expands their understanding by knowing German.

Course content

A Level German builds on the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing that pupils have already acquired at GCSE or equivalent. Through the study of topic areas, they develop language skills as well as their understanding of people and culture in German-speaking countries.

Effective language learning skills are crucial and there is a strong emphasis on the daily learning of new vocabulary and practising various grammar structures. Regular listening and reading are also vital in the language learning process, as the more pupils are exposed to authentic texts and audio sources, the better their command of the language will become.

Pupils study a film in the first year of A Level (Good Bye Lenin!) and read and analyse a literary text in the second year (die Verwandlung by Franz Kafka). Both are fantastic works full of interesting ideas to unpick and discuss.

The oral examination includes a discussion of an individual research project. This gives pupils an opportunity to identify and research an area of particular interest.

Assessment

Examination board: AQA

Assessment is by external examinations in the second year: • Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing (including translation tasks) 40% • Paper 2: Critical response to literary texts/film 30% • Paper 3: Oral Examination, including discussion of research project 30%

Who can give me more information? Mrs Blewitt

s.blewitt@sherborne.com