The UK trades with over 200 countries worldwide.
UK businesses need people with language skills, so being able to speak other languages is a skill that gets you ahead in the global job market.
A communicative approach to learning puts emphasis on the spoken language, which is practiced in pair and group work. The skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing are developed through the use of video, recorded and printed materials and ICT.
Department Facilities:
3 specialist rooms, all with projectors and interactive whiteboards
19 networked PCs in a shared computer suite
All students in years 7,8 and 9 receive two lessons of German per week.
In year 7, pupils are taught in mixed-ability form groups.
The course book is ‘Echo 1’ and pupils study the topics of :
1. Greeting and introducing oneself
2. School
3. Family and friends
4. Free-time
5. Home
6. Towns and Countries
In year 8, pupils are placed in sets according to ability.
The course book is ‘Echo 2’ and pupils study the topics of :
1. Holidays
2. Shopping
3. After-school
4. Health
5. Going out
6. A school exchange
In year 8, pupils continue in these sets.
The course book is ‘Echo 3 red’ for upper sets and ‘Echo 3 green’ for lower sets and pupils study the topics of :
1. Media
2. School
3. The future
4. Global issues
5. People
6. German project
At the end of Year 9, pupils sit an Asset Languages examination at either Breakthrough or Preliminary level, which results in pupils being issued an OCR Grade 1 – 6 certificate in Year 10.
In year 8 students have the opportunity to take part in a trip to the Mosel-Rhein area of Germany.
Students are able to go on to take German or Urdu as an optional GCSE subject in years 10 and 11. Spanish, Chinese and Japanese are available through the ‘Travel to Learn’ programme in association with New College.
For Listening and Reading (each worth 20% 0f the final marks) pupils follow 4 common topic areas:
• Out and about
• Customer service and transactions
• Personal information
• Future plans, education and work
For Speaking and Writing (each worth 30% of the final marks) there are 5 controlled assessment themes:
1. Media and culture
2. Sport and Leisure
3. Travel and Tourism
4. Business, work and employment
5. The fifth theme is a centre-based option
Extra Curricular Activities offered
In year 8 students have the opportunity to take part in a trip to the Mosel-Rhein area of Germany.
In Year 10 pupils studying German have the opportunity to take part in a trip to the Cologne Christmas markets.
Dept Staff:
Mrs Liz Upton (Head of Department) – German
Mrs Silvia Bastow – German
Mrs Sarah Marston-Jones – German
Mr Qamar Maqsood i/c Urdu