Introduction
Curiosity and personal interest can be an important motivation to study German, but certainly with Germany playing such a major role on the European and world stage, German language proficiency can prove to be a powerful skill in our society. Germany is the world’s second largest exporter and its economy ranks number one in Europe and number four worldwide. German is the second most commonly used scientific language in the world and subsequently, knowledge of the German language opens up many job opportunities in a wide range of fields, including business, science, engineering and the arts. Even today’s worlds of music, film and philosophy have been influenced by the German-speaking world and knowledge of the language opens doors to a world of Germany’s unique heritage and culture.
Level
The German curriculum at Ecole Jeannine Manuel offers a rich and diverse programme allowing pupils to gain an excellent understanding of the German language and introduces students to many aspects of German culture. The focus goes far beyond the functional view of language and aims to provide intellectual and linguistic challenges in order to stimulate students fully. In addition to communication and presentation skills, creativity and imagination are highlighted. Whilst there is a significant emphasis in Middle School on teaching the language itself – as well as the fundamentals of German grammar-, students in Upper School will study in more depth a range of aspects of German society, history, literature and current affairs.
Course Objectives
Pupils progress through the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and can obtain a Certificate in Upper School offered by the Goethe Institut (B1 level) or study German as part of their OIB qualification.
The course is designed to ensure that students:
- Develop linguistic expertise in German ( up to level B1)
- Understand and respond to spoken and written texts from a variety of authentic sources
- Speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity
- Write at varying lengths, for different purposes and audiences, using language effectively
- Discover German history (for example pupils in 3e learn about the cold war and the German reunification ), German cuisine ( pupils in 5e learn how to do a Kaiserschmarrn and how to bake Christmas cookies), German geography (pupils in 4e discover important sights of Berlin), German film ( We watch Goodbye Lenin, Das Leben der Anderen, Nirgenwo in Afrika & Die Welle)
- Discover and develop an understanding and appreciation of German literature (we read Die weiße Rose by Inge Scholl in 2nde), poems and German current affairs
All four major skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) are practised with an emphasis on speaking. We follow a communicative approach that promotes interaction. In lessons students engage in interactive language activities, roleplays, paired work activities, interviews, games, and interactive digital learning. Memorising vocabulary, writing essays and giving presentations are an integral part in the learning process (as well as having fun!).
Resources
We use a very diverse range of materials including textbooks, language websites and authentic materials. Audio-visual and ICT resources are a key aspect of lessons and students have access to a wide range of authentic magazines, newspapers as well as listening materials and numerous online resources.
Timetabling
Year 8 – Year 12: three 45 minutes lessons each week.
Assessment
Pupils from Year 8 – Year 11 will have a range of formative and summative assessments throughout the year such as essays, oral presentations and classwork and two exams during the ‘compositions groupées’.
Year 12 and Year 13 students study German (LVB) as an integral part of their OIB course.
Homework
Homework will be set weekly: 30 mins for Middle School and 45 mins for Upper School
Reference Material
- WIR Lehrbuch 1,2 & 3 Ein Grundkurs Deutsch für junge Lerner, Klett-Verlag 2016
- Gute Fahrt 3 NEU, Nathan
- Gute Fahrt 3 NEU, Cahier d’activités, Nathan
- Hab Spaß! Allemand 4e Année (A2>B1)
- Grammatik Plus, Worksheets, LCP
- Zeitgeist, Grammar Workbook, OXFORD
- Deutsch im Einsatz, IB Lehrbuch, Cambridge University Press 2015
- Fokus NEU, Brodas, book and workbook
- Wort für Wort, A-level vocabulary
- FANTASTISCH! Lycee, Allemand 1re textbook & digital textbook
- Hannas Tagebuch, Junge Lektüren (A2)
- Sophie Scholl- Die weisse Rose, film by Marc Rothemund and book by Inge Scholl
- Audio visual and online material by Schuber-Verlag, Deutsche Welle, Goethe-Institut
- Doodle Learn German
- https://www.doddlelearn.co.uk/german/
- Linguascope German https://www.linguascope.com/