The Crossley Heath School
German
Here at The Crossley Heath School, we really value languages and language learning. German is taught from Yr7 through to Yr13; however, it is compulsory for students to continue to learn at least one Modern Foreign Language at Key Stage 4 with German being one of those on offer. German is spoken by over 130 million speakers and, due to the size and importance of its economy, is one of the most commonly used languages in business. At a time of considerable political change in Europe and against the back-drop of a national decline in language learners, we give every single Crossley Heath student the chance to learn a foreign language and to recognise the wide-ranging benefits which learning a foreign language brings.
Language learning significantly enhances communication skills. We promote pair and group work and develop in our students the ability to express themselves clearly and listen to others. We aim to build the confidence in our students so that they feel happy to converse with native speakers when on foreign visits or holidays. Students are also encouraged to work independently and use their initiative to solve problems by making connections German and English. Therefore, through learning the German language, students also have an improved understanding of English.
Through our study of topics such as Festivals and Traditions, we foster an understanding of different cultures and an appreciation and tolerance of difference. We require students to take risks and to work outside of their comfort zone, for example by talking to our foreign intern students, by taking part in our foreign language talent show or by participating in our highly successful exchange programme.
These skills are valued by universities and employers. Languages are used and can be helpful in lots of different jobs not only translation, interpreting or teaching. In fact, many employers reward people with language skills with extra salary because they know they are essential in today’s international business world. Therefore, we aim to dispel the myth that English is enough.
Grammar is taught explicitly from the start of Year 7, as our objective is to ensure that students can use the language accurately but also manipulate it creatively. Lessons are engaging and are taught by highly-skilled and enthusiastic subject specialists who are passionate about languages. Teachers use a range of activities including games, songs and languages websites to suit different abilities and learning styles. Lessons are conducted in German and students are expected to communicate with each other and their teachers in the language. The four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are practised as well as translation skills and, later, the ability to paraphrase and summarise. Students enjoy learning German at The Crossley Heath School, succeed highly in their exams and value the opportunities these subjects provide.
German at Key Stage 3
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Introduction to Germany and German Greetings and say name Alphabet Numbers and say age Countries and say where you live Classroom phrases Favourite things Your possessions Likes and dislikes Hobbies Pets Genders and articles Present tense verb endings (regular verbs) Present tense of verbs ‘sein’ and ‘haben’ Possessive adjectives Question words |
Pets Family members Larger numbers Descriptions of family members Months and birthdates Sports Hobbies Online activities Pronouns Plurals of nouns Modal verb ‘können’ Adjective endings Adverbs ‘gern’ and ‘nicht gern’ Irregular verbs Word order – verb inversion |
School in Germany School subjects Days of the week Telling the time Describing teachers Describing the classroom Give opinions Describe your school Say what you can eat in the canteen Verb second idea Possessive pronouns Prepositions and the dative case Modal verb ‘dürfen’ |
| Year 8 | Talk about what you did on holiday Ask questions relating to holidays Form the perfect tense with ‘haben’ and ‘sein’ Dative case with ‘mit’ Word order – ‘TMP’ |
Give opinions on types of TV programmes, films, books. Ask questions about the past Qualifiers Modal verbs |
Talk about breakfast and traditional German food Understand recipes Healthy lifestyles Describe dinner parties Understand rules in a youth hostel Daily routine Places in the town and directions Traditional festivals in German-speaking countries Dative and accusative Imperative Future Tense Adjectival endings Reflexive and separable verbs |
| Project 1 (Term 1) | Project 2 (Term 1 & 2) | Project 3 (Term 2) | Project 4 (Term 2 & 3) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 9 | Role Models Create a presentation on a German-speaking role model. Present, Perfect and Future tenses |
Create a time capsule of your ambitions. Conditional tense Um…zu clauses |
Write a storybook for a child. Imperfect tense (+als) Superlative |
Create a tourist brochure for a German-speaking country. Subordinating conjunctions Modal verbs Comparative and superlative Word order |
GCSE curriculum
Legacy - Until 2025
Our objective for GCSE is to enable students of all abilities to develop their German language skills to their full potential, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts with confidence.
We firmly believe in the benefits that learning a language can bring; it is a skill for life and something students should enjoy and find rewarding.
The course covers three distinct themes. These themes apply to all four question papers.
Students are expected to understand and provide information and opinions about these themes relating to their own experiences and those of other people, including people in countries/communities where German is spoken. Students are also taught grammatical skills throughout the course to enable them to communicate clearly.
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Topic 1: Me, my family and friends
• Relationships with family and friends
• Marriage/partnership
Topic 2: Technology in everyday life
• Social media
• Mobile technology
Topic 3: Free-time activities
• Music
• Cinema and TV
• Food and eating out
• Sport
Topic 4: Customs and festivals in German-speaking countries/communities
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region
Topic 2: Social issues
• Charity/voluntary work
• Healthy/unhealthy living
Topic 3: Global issues
• The environment
• Poverty/homelessness
Topic 4: Travel and tourism
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Topic 1: My studies
Topic 2: Life at school/college
Topic 3: Education post-16
Topic 4: Jobs, career choices and ambitions
Assessment
GCSE French/German has a Foundation Tier (grades 1–5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4–9). Students must take all four question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.
Paper 1: Listening (25% of GCSE)
Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language. Questions in English and French/German
35 minutes (Foundation Tier),
45 minutes (Higher Tier)
Paper 2: Speaking (25% of GCSE)
Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes. The test comprises 3 tasks: Role-play, Photo card, General conversation
7–9 minutes (Foundation Tier) + preparation time
10–12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time
Paper 3: Reading (25% of GCSE)
Understanding and responding to different types of written language. Questions in English, questions in French/German, a translation from French/German into English
45 minutes (Foundation Tier),
1 hour (Higher Tier)
Paper 4: Writing (25% of GCSE)
Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes
1 hour (Foundation Tier),
1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier)
Foundation Tier
Question 1 – write a message in French/German
Question 2 – write a short passage in French/German
Question 3 – translation from English into French/German
Question 4 – structured 90 word writing task in French/German
Higher Tier
Question 1 – structured 90 word writing task in French/German
Question 2 – open-ended 150 word writing task in French/German
Question 3 – translation from English into French/German
Examinations After 2016
The Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in German allows students to develop their ability to communicate in German in both speech and writing. They will study language within a variety of thematic contexts relevant to their age and interests and will develop a greater awareness of the culture of German-speaking communities and countries.
Students will need to develop and use their knowledge and understanding of German vocabulary and grammar progressively through their course of study.
Subject aims
The aims of this qualification are to:
- provide a coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study.
- develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards, German and to recognise the
- importance of languages.
- provide a strong linguistic and cultural foundation for students who go on to study languages at a higher level post-16.
- develop students’ ability and ambition to communicate independently in speech andnwriting with speakers of the language for authentic purposes.
- develop students’ ability to communicate independently about subjects that are meaningful and interesting to them
- build students’ confidence and broaden their horizons, enabling them to step beyond familiar cultural boundaries, develop new ways of seeing the world, and better understand relationships between the foreign language and the English language.
- enable students to become familiar with aspects of the contexts and cultures of the countries and communities where the language is spoken.
Thematic contexts
The vocabulary in this qualification enables students to communicate across a range of engaging and relatable thematic contexts, which are relevant to their current and future needs.
We asked students and teachers about the subjects that were meaningful and interesting to them, and selected the following six broad thematic contexts to provide a focus for the teaching and learning of the vocabulary and grammar listed:
- My personal world
- Lifestyle and wellbeing
- My neighbourhood
- Media and technology
- Studying and my future
- Travel and tourism
Qualification at a glance
The qualification consists of:
- three externally-examined papers assessing separately listening, reading and writing
- one speaking assessment set by Pearson and conducted by a teacher.
All assessments are marked by Pearson.
The focus for the content of questions and tasks will be drawn from the listed thematic contexts (see Thematic contexts section on pages 11-13).
Each paper is available at Foundation or Higher tier. Students must be entered for a single tier across all papers.
Paper 1: Speaking in German (*Paper code: 1GN1/1F and 1H)
Internally conducted and externally assessed:
Foundation tier: 7-9 minutes plus 15 minutes’ preparation time; 50 marks
Higher tier: 10-12 minutes plus 15 minutes’ preparation time; 50 marks
25% of the qualification
Students are assessed on their ability to speak using clear and comprehensible language for a range of audiences and purposes, in different contexts, which are relevant to their current and future needs and interests. There are three consecutive tasks:
Task 1: Read aloud (12 marks)
Read aloud a short text and undertake a short, unprepared interaction relating to the text. In the read aloud task itself students will be assessed on their pronunciation and in the short interaction that follows students will be assessed on their communication. The task card will be allocated by Pearson.
Task 2: Role play (10 marks)
Undertake a transactional role play, in a setting taken from the defined list on page 20.
The task card will be allocated by Pearson.
Task 3: Picture task (12 marks) with conversation (16 marks)
Students select their thematic context for Task 3 in advance of the assessment. Students select one option from a choice of two of the six thematic contexts. The two options will be randomly generated by Pearson. The task card will be allocated by Pearson.
Describe a picture stimulus, related to the selected thematic context. Students have a choice of two pictures on the stimulus card. Answer two compulsory questions related to the subject matter of the picture, then move on to a short unprepared conversation developed from the same thematic context.
Paper 2: Listening and understanding in German (*Paper code: 1GN1/2F and 2H)
Written examination:
Foundation tier: 45 minutes, including 5 minutes’ reading time, 50 marks
Higher tier: 60 minutes, including 5 minutes’ reading time, 50 marks
25% of the qualification
Students are assessed on their understanding of standard spoken German by one or more speakers, across a range of formal and informal contexts, and in familiar and unfamiliar settings.
Section A: Listening (40 marks)
Students respond to multiple-choice, multiple-response and short-answer open response questions.
All questions are set in English and students produce all responses in English.
Section B: Dictation (10 marks)
Students are assessed on their ability to transcribe spoken German into written German.
They will be rewarded for their accuracy of spelling based on their knowledge and understanding of the sound symbol correspondences (SSCs) listed in the specification in
Paper 3: Reading and understanding in German (*Paper code: 1GN1/3F and 3H)
Written examination:
Foundation tier: 45 minutes, 50 marks
Higher tier: 60 minutes, 50 marks
25% of the qualification
Students are assessed on their understanding of written German across a range of formal and informal contexts, and in familiar and unfamiliar settings.
Section A: Reading and Understanding (40 marks)
Students respond to multiple-choice, multiple-response and short-answer open response questions based on these texts.
All questions are set in English and students produce all responses in English.
Section B: Translation into English (10 marks)
Students translate a passage from German into English, with instructions in English.
Paper 4: Writing in German (*Paper code: 1GN1/4F and 4H)
Written examination:
Foundation tier: 1 hour 15 minutes; 50 marks.
Higher tier: 1 hour 20 minutes; 50 marks.
25% of the qualification
Students are assessed on their ability to communicate effectively through writing in German for different purposes and audiences. Students are required to produce responses of varying lengths and types to express ideas and opinions in German. The instructions to students are in English.
Foundation Tier
- Question 1: picture-based task (8 marks)
- Question 2: one of two open-response questions, set in formal context (14 marks)
- Question 3: one of two open-response questions, set in informal context (18 marks)
- Question 4: translation into German (10 marks)
Higher Tier
- Question 1: one of two open-response questions, set in informal context (18 marks)
- Question 2: one of two open-response questions, set in formal context (22 marks)
- Question 3: translation into German (10 marks)
A recommended word count is specified for each open-response question.
A-level curriculum
Studying German at A-level enables students to develop their linguistic skills alongside their understanding of the culture and society of the countries where German is spoken. Students study technological and social change, looking at the multicultural nature of German-speaking society. They will study highlights of German-speaking artistic culture, including art and architecture and will learn how Germany’s political landscape was formed. Students will explore the influence of the past on present-day German-speaking communities. Throughout their studies, they will learn the language in the context of German-speaking countries and the issues and influences which have shaped them. Students will study texts and film and will have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice.
Assessment tasks will be varied and cover listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
The course consists of 2 main topic areas: Social issues and trends + Political and Artistic Culture.
A-level students will study the grammatical system and structures of the language during their course. They also study one novel and one film.
Topic Area 1: Social issues and trends
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)
Multiculturalism in German-speaking society
• Immigration (Einwanderung)
• Integration (Integration)
• Racism (Rassismus)
Topic Area 2: Political and artistic culture
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)
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)
Literary texts and films
Students study one novel (Der Vorleser) and one film (Good Bye Lenin!)
Assessments
Paper 1
This examines the topic work (Social issues and trends + Political and Artistic Culture).
Listening exam, Reading exam, Translation into English, Translation into German
• Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
• 50 % of A-level
Paper 2
This examines the study of the novel and the film. Students write 2 essay of approximately 300 words each in German on the book and the film
• Written exam: 2 hours
• 20 % of A-level
Paper 3: Speaking
Speaking exam:
i) Discussion of a sub-theme with the discussion based on a stimulus card
ii) Presentation and discussion of individual research project
• 30 % of A-level (conducted by the teacher)
The enriched curriculum
Teaching and learning is underpinned by a range of extra-curricular activities and experiences for students across Years 7-11:
- Year 10 German exchange trip to Aachen.
- Year 12 Berlin trip.
- Y12/13 trip to Manchester Christmas markets.
- Study Days for German A-Level at universities.
- Speaking and listening practice with native speakers (intern students) from Paderborn University.
- Opportunity to volunteer to run The Language Café and demonstrate resources on Open Evening (11+ and sixth-form).
- Calderdale Linguafest – a talent competition for Years 7 and 8 launched in June 2019.
- Linguascope online resource for KS3-4 – a fun resource for practising and enhancing vocabulary and listening.
- Pearson Active Learn – online resource to accompany the KS3 text books to enable students to practise the skills, vocab and grammar in each topic.
- Kerboodle – digital text books and online resources for KS4 and KS5.
- Quizlet – online vocabulary learning
The Crossley Heath School
