German

Aims

Our aim is to develop the ability to communicate effectively in the target language and to encourage our students to appreciate different cultures and ways of living. Students are taught by approachable, specialist teachers in a supportive environment, with a differentiated curriculum to ensure that the needs of all learners are met.

Teaching and Learning

All language lessons aim to practise the four skill areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Teachers adopt a variety of methods to suit the preferred learning styles of students and to ensure that all students engage and participate in their learning. All classrooms are equipped with Interactive Whiteboards and students are encouraged to work independently and collaboratively with other students in order to develop the skills needed in tomorrow’s workplace.

Assessment for learning

Students receive regular feedback from teachers on their progress and what to do next to improve. Learning outcomes are shared with students on a long and short-term basis so that students are aware of the skills they are aiming to achieve. Students are assessed regularly and take a final assessment towards the end of the academic year.

Home Learning

Girls are set homework on a regular basis, following the school homework timetable. Generally, there will be at least two written and one learning homework set per fortnight. A bilingual dictionary is an essential resource throughout your daughter’s career at Frances Bardsley and time is spent in class learning to use them so that your child can work independently.

Show my Homework – all home learning activities will be published by individual staff members on the Show My Homework website which can be found by following the link on the school’s homepage. Students and parents can access this through their accounts or by filtering the results. Staff will add copies of resources (if available) and links to videos and websites if applicable to the task. The amount of time indicated suggests how long students should spend completing the task.

Equipment

Girls are expected to bring their equipment to every German lesson. These include their exercise book, planner and pencil case.

Key Stage 4

German

Programme of Study

Students follow the AQA syllabus.

Specification number: 8668 for German (from September 2015)

Link to the specification website: WWW.AQA.ORG.UK

Year 9

Theme 1: Identity and Culture:

Me, my family and friends

Technology in everyday life

Free time activities

Customs and festivals in French/German-speaking countries/communities

Year 10

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest:

Home, town, neighbourhood and region

Social issues

Global issues

Travel and tourism

Year 11

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

My studies

Life at school/college

Education post-16

Career choices and ambitions

Accreditation Structure

You will receive regular feedback from teachers on your progress and what to do next to improve. Learning outcomes are shared on a long and short-term basis so that you will be aware of the skills you are aiming to achieve. Controlled assessment for speaking and writing will take place throughout Year 10 and 11 and will count toward 60% of your overall grade. You will also sit final examinations for reading and listening in Year 11, which will count toward 40% of your overall grade.

Note that year 9 will be starting the new GCSE and we are waiting for more information regarding the GCSE structure.

Unit

Assessment

Length

Weighting

Listening

Foundation: 35 min

Higher: 45 min

(including 5 min reading time)

25%

Speaking

Foundation: 7 – 9 min

Higher: 10 – 12 min

(and supervised preparation time of 10 – 12 minutes

25%

Reading

Foundation: 45 min

Higher: 1 hour

25%

Writing

Foundation: 1 hour

Higher: 1 hour 15 min

25%

Additional Information

Students in Year 10 and 11 get the chance to visit the German partner school Marienschule Opladen in Leverkusen/ Germany.

After school revision classes and clinics.

How Parents/ Carers can help

As parents you can help considerably by taking an interest in the language your daughter learns and by encouraging her to practise what she learns by explaining it to you. This does not require any knowledge of the language – your daughter's books will give you an overview of what she is studying. Vocabulary should be learnt off by heart so by testing your daughter you will help her to remember key words. Also encourage your daughter to the extra mile and use the websites below or read a German newspaper on line each week.

Key websites

http://www.linguascope.com/ – Lots of great games and activities. To log on: username – bardsley password (ask you teacher) do activities in both beginner and intermediate sections.

http://gut.languageskills.co.uk – Available for free before 9am and after 4pm. Lots of good exercises for revising vocabulary and grammar.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize – Lots of revision units specifically tailored towards the exam, separated into Foundation and Higher tiers. Mainly reading and listening questions.

http://www.s-cool.co.uk – Revision activities specifically tailored towards the exams. Better for Foundation than Higher.

https://www.duolingo.com/ Free app to have on your phone or computer great to revise vocabulary.

http://www.vocabexpress.com This is the website that you should use to learn and revise your vocabulary (homework will be regularly set on this)

https://www.doddlelearn.co.uk You will be also set homework on this website – you can revise your vocabulary and practise your listening and reading skills.

If you have any further questions about this course, to whom do I speak?

Frau Waxler – Head of German

Key Stage 5

German

Programme of Study

Students follow the AQA German syllabus.

Specification number: 7662

Link to the specification website: WWW.AQA.ORG.UK

Year 12

1. Aspects of German-speaking society

The changing state of the family
The digital world
Youth culture

2. Multiculturalism in German-speaking society

Immigration
Integration
Racism

One literary text or one film

Year 13

3. Artistic culture in the German-speaking world

Festivals and traditions
Art and architecture
Cultural life in Berlin (past and present)

4. Aspects of political life in the German-speaking world

Germany and the European Union
Politics and youth
German re-unification and its consequences

Two literary texts OR one literary text AND one film

Accreditation Structure

Entry requirements: You should have achieved grade A* – B in GCSE German

Year 13 – A level German

Unit	Assessment	Length	Weighting
1	Listening, reading and writing	2 hour 30 min	50%
2	Writing	2 hours	20%
3	Speaking	21 – 23 min (includes 5 min preparation time	30%