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German

 

Modern foreign languages continue to play an important role in understanding our world. The skills required by students when learning a foreign language are highly valued by employers. We strive to ensure that our students understand this key concept and in understanding it, become conscious of the importance of working hard to achieve results. 

We do not aim solely to equip our students with the skills they need to communicate in a foreign language, we aim also to help them to gain an understanding and appreciation of the cultural differences between our nations. 

Teaching staff:

  • Mrs J Laventine, Subject Leader 
  • Mrs N Wiessmann-Hubbard, Head of languages
  • Mrs V Ologunde, Head of Year 7

Trips and Visits:

  • KS4 Berlin trip in Summer term 
  • Languages in Industry career talks in autumn/winter term 
  • German Christmas market visit for KS3 in winter term 

Year 7

Summary of curriculum:

We follow the Stimmt 1 course in year 7. Students are provided with a vocabulary booklet. 
Main topics:
  • All about me 
  • Pets and family 
  • Free time 
  • School 
  • Travel 
Assessment throughout the year:
  • Regular vocabulary tests in lessons. 
  • Regular grammar mini-tests. 
  • Six extended written tasks. 
  • Three Common Assessment Tasks (CATs) on listening, reading and translation. 
How parents can support their son’s learning:
  • Buy a German learner’s dictionary with a grammar section. 
  • Allow regular access to www.languagesonline.org.uk 
  • Consistently reviewing his class work notes in German after the lesson, and before the next. 
  • Making sure he revises thoroughly before any vocabulary test as learning vocabulary is more difficult than it sounds! We advise using the LOOK-COVER-WRITE-CHECK method. 
Able and inspired opportunities:

All students are encouraged to pursue the Mastery and Leadership awards in German. Details of this are in all students’ planners and they are welcome to discuss their ideas with their class teacher at any time.  

Any student who achieves a Grade 9 in a CAT will receive the prestigious German Ambassador Award badge.  
Useful websites:

 

Year 8

Summary of curriculum:

We follow the Stimmt 2 course in Year 8. Students are provided with a vocabulary booklet. 
Main topics:
  • Holidays 
  • Media (music, books, television, film) 
  • Health 
  • School trips 
  • Going out with friends 
Assessment throughout the year:
  • Regular vocabulary tests in lessons. 
  • Regular grammar mini-tests.
  • Six extended written tasks.
  • Three CATs (listening, reading, translation). 
How parents can support their son’s learning:
  • Buy a German learner’s dictionary with a grammar section. 
  • Allow regular access to www.languagesonline.org.uk 
  • Consistently reviewing his class work notes in German after the lesson, and before the next. 
  • Making sure he revises thoroughly before any vocabulary test as learning vocabulary is more difficult than it sounds! We advise using the LOOK-COVER-WRITE-CHECK method. 
Able and inspired opportunities:

All students are encouraged to pursue the Mastery and Leadership awards in German. Details of this are in all students’ planners and they are welcome to discuss their ideas with their class teacher at any time.  

Any student who achieves a Grade 9 in a CAT will receive the prestigious German Ambassador Award badge.  
Useful websites:

 

Year 9

Summary of curriculum: We follow the Stimmt AQA GCSE course from years 9 through to 11. We spend a whole term on each topic. Students are provided with a vocabulary booklet and a GCSE speaking booklet.  
Main topics:

The first three chapters of the GCSE course are all familiar topics from KS3 but the level of linguistic complexity is elevated:  

  • School 
  • Free time 
  • Relationships 
Assessment throughout the year:
  • Regular vocabulary tests in lessons. 
  • Regular grammar mini-tests.
  • Six extended written tasks. 
  • Three CATs (listening, reading, translation). 
How parents can support their son’s learning:
  • Buy a German learner’s dictionary with grammar section. 
  • Buy a GCSE German revision guide (AQA). 
  • Allow regular access to a range of online resources (listed below). 
  • Ensure that his planner has been filled in correctly and homework completed. 
  • Consistently review his class work notes in German after the lesson, and before the next.
  • Make sure he revises thoroughly before any vocabulary test as learning vocabulary is more difficult than it sounds! We advise using the LOOK-COVER-WRITE-CHECK method. 
Able and inspired opportunities:

All students are encouraged to pursue the Mastery and Leadership awards in German. Details of this are in all students’ planners and they are welcome to discuss their ideas with their class teacher at any time.  

Any student who achieves a Grade 9 in a CAT will receive the prestigious German Ambassador Award badge.  
Useful websites:

 

Year 10

Summary of curriculum:

We follow the Stimmt AQA GCSE course from years 9 through to 11. We spend a whole term on each topic. Students are provided with a vocabulary booklet and a GCSE speaking booklet. 
Main topics:
  • House and home 
  • A city break 
  • Holidays 
Assessment throughout the year:
  • Regular vocabulary tests in lessons. 
  • Regular grammar mini-tests. 
  • Six extended written tasks. 
  • Two CATs (listening, reading, translation). 
  • One set of full GCSE mock exams (listening, reading, writing and speaking) in June. 
How parents can support their son’s learning:
  • Buy a German learner’s dictionary with grammar section. 
  • Buy a GCSE German revision guide (AQA). 
  • Allow regular access to a range of online resources (listed below).
  • Ensure that his planner has been filled in correctly and homework completed 
  • Consistently review his class work notes in German after the lesson – and before the next. 
  • Make sure he revises thoroughly before any vocabulary test as learning vocabulary is more difficult than it sounds! We advise the LOOK-COVER-WRITE-CHECK method. 
Able and inspired opportunities:

All students are encouraged to pursue the Mastery and Leadership awards in German. Details of this are in all students’ planners and they are welcome to discuss their ideas with their class teacher at any time.  

Any student who achieves a Grade 9 in a CAT will receive the prestigious German Ambassador Award badge.  
Useful websites:

 

Year 11

Summary of curriculum:

We follow the Stimmt AQA GCSE course from years 9 through to 11. We spend a whole term on each topic. Students are provided with a vocabulary booklet and a GCSE speaking booklet. 
Main topics:
  • World of work 
  • Global and social issues 
Assessment throughout the year:
  • Regular vocabulary tests in lessons. 
  • Regular grammar mini-tests. 
  • Six extended written tasks. 
  • Two CATs (listening, reading, translation). 
  • One set of full GCSE mock exams (listening, reading, writing and speaking) in December. 
  • GCSE speaking exams take place in April and May 
How parents can support their son’s learning:
  • Buy a German learner’s dictionary with a grammar section. 
  • Buy a GCSE German revision guide (AQA). 
  • Allow regular access to a range of online resources (listed below). 
  • Ensure that his planner has been filled in correctly and homework completed 
  • Consistently review his class work notes in German after the lesson, and before the next. 
  • Make sure he revises thoroughly before any vocabulary test as learning vocabulary is more difficult than it sounds! We advise the LOOK-COVER-WRITE-CHECK method. 
Able and inspired opportunities:

All students are encouraged to pursue the Mastery and Leadership awards in German. Details of this are in all students’ planners and they are welcome to discuss their ideas with their class teacher at any time.  

Any student who achieves a Grade 9 in a CAT will receive the prestigious German Ambassador Award badge.  
Useful websites:

 

Year 12

Summary of curriculum:

The study of German to A Level is delivered at our partner school Handsworth Boys. It is a popular choice for those students wishing to learn the language for its own sake or to complement other A Level subjects. Students work in small groups and follow the Edexcel syllabus. 
Main topics:
  • Nature 
  • Education  
  • Work 
  • Music 
  • Media 
  • Festivals and traditions  
Assessment throughout the year:
  • Regular vocabulary tests  
  • Regular grammar tests 
  • Regular written assessments or essays 
  • Regular speaking assessments 
  • Mock exams 
How parents can support their son’s learning:
  • Remind your son to regularly review his class work notes in German after the lesson, and before the next. 
  • Ensure he revises effectively for vocabulary tests and before exams. 
  • Keep an eye on his diary to ensure he is completing work on time and to a high standard. 
  • Liaise with his class teacher if you have any concerns.  
Able and inspired opportunities:

All students are encouraged to pursue the Mastery and Leadership awards in German. Details of this are in all students’ planners and they are welcome to discuss their ideas with their class teacher at any time.  
Useful websites:

 

Year 13

Summary of curriculum: The study of German to A-level is delivered at our partner school Handsworth Boys. It is a popular choice for those students wishing to learn the language for its own sake or to complement other A-level subjects. Students work in small groups and follow the Edexcel syllabus. 
Main topics:
  • Immigration 
  • Integration 
  • Racism 
  • East Germany (DDR) 
  • The reunification of Germany 
  • Germany after the fall of the Wall 
Assessment throughout the year:
  • Regular vocabulary tests  
  • Regular grammar tests 
  • Regular written assessments / essays 
  • Regular speaking assessments 
  • Mock exams 
How parents can support their son’s learning:
  • Remind your son to regularly review his class work notes in German after the lesson – and before the next 
  • Ensure he revises effectively for vocabulary tests and before exams 
  • Keep an eye on his diary to ensure he is completing work on time and to a high standard 
  • Liaise with his class teacher if you have any concerns. 
Able and inspired opportunities:

All students are encouraged to pursue the Mastery & Leadership awards in German. Details of this are in all students’ planners and they are welcome to discuss their ideas with their class teacher at any time.  
Useful websites:

 

 

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