Course Content

  1. Social issues and trends
  2. Political and artistic culture
  3. Grammar Options
  4. Works: Literary texts and films

Lesson Structure

Teaching in small groups, normally with two different teachers.

Regular contact with Foreign Language Assistant for extended speaking practice.

Opportunities to travel to Germany.

Assessment Pattern

Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing

2 hours 30 minutes • 100 marks • 50% of A level

  • Listening and responding to spoken passages from a range of contexts and sources. All questions are in German, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in German (30 marks)
  • Reading and responding to a variety of texts written for different purposes, All questions are in German, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in German (50 marks)
  • Translation into English; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks)
  • Translation into German; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks)

Paper 2: Writing

2 hours • 80 marks in total • 20% of A level

  • Either one question in German on a set text from a choice of two questions and one question in French on a set film from a choice of two questions or two questions in German on set texts from a choice of two questions on each text. Students are advised to write approximately 300 words per essay.

Paper 3 Speaking

21-23 minutes including 5 minutes preparation time • 60 marks in total • 30% of A level Questions

  • Individual research project. One of four themes. Aspects of German speaking society: current trends, Aspects of German-speaking society: current issues, Artistic culture in the German-speaking world, Aspects of political life in the German speaking world
  • Discussion of a sub-theme with the discussion based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). The student studies the card for 5 minutes at the start of the test (25 marks)
  • Presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9–10 minutes) of individual research project (35 marks)

Extra Information

Language learning is about communication and students will participate in group discussions, make presentations and will have opportunities to develop I.T. skills. The study of a major European language complements any other subject.