German

Whatever plans you have for the future, a knowledge of German will increase your career options. For example, knowing the language of your German business partner improves relations and therefore fosters effective communication and global success.

Did you know that German is the second most commonly used scientific language? Many important websites are in German and Germany is also ranked within the top ten countries globally in terms of annual publication of new books. Knowledge of German therefore offers you extensive international connections for a broad spectrum of careers and interests, all of which are reasons why a German A level will give you the skills you will need to contribute to a multinational and multilingual society.

Method of assessment

You will not do an exam in the first year, instead you will be examined at the end of the second year of the course. There are 3 papers that you will be examined on:

Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing

Duration – 2 hours 30 minutes, 50% of total mark

  • Answering questions about and summarising the content of listening and reading texts in German from any of the course themes.
  • Translating a passage of at least 100 words from German into English. Translating a passage of at least 100 words from English into German. The content will be based on the course themes.

Paper 2: Writing

Duration – 2 hours, 20% of total mark

  • Students will answer an essay question in German for each of the two works they have studied.
  • Students will have a choice of question on each book/film. All questions will be in German and will require a critical and analytical response.
  • Approximately 300 words per essay.

Paper 3: Speaking

Duration – 21-23 minutes, 30% of total mark

  • The test will be in two parts.
  • Part 1 – lasting 5-6 minutes this will be a discussion about 2 different themes using cards to prompt the discussion. You will be given preparation time for this.
  • Part 2 will be the presentation and discussion of the student’s individual research project.

Topic areas covered (for year 12 & year 13):

Level: A level

Board: AQA

Lead teacher/head of department:
Mrs F Chase

Teachers:
Mrs F Chase (lead Teacher)
Mrs V Purdy

AS Content (year 1)

Core content:

  1. Aspects of German-speaking society
  • The changing state of the family (Familie im Wandel)
  • The digital world (Die digitale Welt)
  • Youth culture: fashion and trends, music, television (Jugendkultur: Mode, Musik und Fernsehen)
  1. Artistic culture in the German-speaking world
  • Festivals and traditions (Feste und Traditionen)
  • Art and architecture (Kunst und Architektur)
  • Cultural life in Berlin, past and present (Das Berliner Kulturleben damals und heute)
  1. Literary texts and films
  • Bernhard Schlink Der Vorleser
  • Das Leben der Anderen Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (2006)

A2 Content (year 2)

Core content :

  1. Multiculturalism in German-speaking society
  • Immigration (Einwanderung)
  • Integration (Integration)
  • Racism (Rassismus)
  1. Aspects of political life in the German-speaking world
  • Germany and the European Union (Deutschland und die Europaïsche Union)
  • Politics and youth (Die Politik und die Jugend)
  • German re-unification and its consequences (Die Wiedervereinigung und ihre Folgen)
  1. Literary texts and films
  • Bernhard Schlink Der Vorleser
  • Das Leben der Anderen Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck ( 2006)

Individual research project (IRP) :

Students must identify a subject or a key question which is of interest to them and which relates to a country or countries where German is spoken. They must select relevant information in German from a range of sources including the internet. The aim of the research project is to develop research skills. Students will demonstrate their ability to initiate and conduct individual research by analysing and summarising their findings, in order to present and discuss them in the speaking assessment.

Examples of IRP topics:

  • Sport in der deutschen Gesellschaft (Sport in German society)
  • A topic related to a personal interest such as ‘Der Nürburgring’ (The Nürburgring’), ‘Deutsche Hunderassen’ (German dog breeds), ‘Deutsche Computerspiele’ (German computer games),
  • An issue such as ‘Tierrecht in Deutschland’ (Animal rights in Germany), ‘Einwanderung in der Schweiz’ (Immigration in Switzerland)
  • Debatten zu Umweltfragen im deutschsprachigen Raum (Environmental debates in the German-speaking world)
  • Theater und Cabaret im deutschsprachigen Raum (Theatre and Cabaret in the German-speaking world)