GERMAN
The German Advanced Level course at King Edward’s is aimed at keen, successful IGCSE students who wish to develop their existing knowledge of the language to a high degree of fluency and to explore a wide variety of aspects of the modern culture of German-speaking countries. There is a strong emphasis on fluency and oral competence and authentic materials are used on topic areas that are chosen to be relevant to young people in a social, vocational, educational, literary or political context. Students receive tuition from two teachers each teaching five or six periods per fortnight in the Lower Sixth. There is full access to IT facilities on the School’s network and the internet. In addition, students have one period per fortnight of Directed Study in which they are expected to undertake
independent research. There is also a weekly lesson on an individual basis with a language assistant to enhance oral competence. These arrangements allow for thorough coverage of all skill areas and flexibility in meeting the varied needs of the individual student. The more complex grammatical structures required for the Lower Sixth Year are supplied in an intensive structured programme especially designed to bridge the gap between the less rigorous nature of GCSE/IGCSE and the demand for independence expected
of the more mature student. The successful Advanced Level student will make full use of our excellent facilities and resources and will embrace all opportunities available in School: borrowing DVDs or library stock, taking part in an exchange programme or a study trip to Berlin, Vienna or another German-speaking city and perhaps making a contribution to the running of the German Magazine Club. Independence and commitment outside the classroom are a great help.
AQA specification We will be following the AQA specification for A Level German. Students will be encouraged to develop their linguistic knowledge and cultural understanding of the countries/ communities where German is spoken.
There will be a requirement to research an area of personal interest related to the country/ communities where German is spoken and this will apply to all specifications.
The Department of Education has specified two main areas of interest: social issues and trends and political, intellectual and artistic culture. These are divided into sub-themes and at the end of the course, there will be examinations to test speaking, listening, reading and translation and writing.
The German Advanced Level course is recommended for a variety of students: not only those who wish to make languages the focus of a Higher Education course but also for those who wish to study German in combination with other disciplines. For interested students this is a rewarding and stimulating Advanced Level choice.
The A level course places greater emphasis on written style, tone and accuracy. Literary texts and German films are studied in preparation for the final examination units.
Head of Department: Mr KR Jepson - krj@kes.hants.sch.uk
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