German
The German Advanced Level course at King Edward’s is aimed at keen, successful GCSE 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 or three teachers in the Lower Sixth. There is full access to IT facilities on the school’s network and the Internet. In addition, students are given time for 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 and the demand for independence expected of the more mature student.
The German A 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 A Level choice.
Skills Required
Grade 7 in German
The successful A 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 and regularly attending their individual speaking sessions with the German Language Assistant. Independence and commitment outside the classroom are a great help.
Topics Covered
Over the two year course, students will study the following:
Films studied:
- ‘Good Bye, Lenin!’
- ‘Der Besuch der Alten Dame’
Topics covered:
Aspects of German-speaking society: current trends
- Familie im Wandel
- Die digitale Welt
- Jugendkultur: Mode, Musik und Fernsehen
Artistic culture in the German-speaking world
- Feste und Traditionen
- Kunst und Architektur
- Das Berliner Kulturleben damals und heute
Multiculturalism in German-speaking society
- Einwanderung
- Integration
- Rassismus
Aspects of political life in the German-speaking world
- Integration
- Deutschland und die EU
- Politik und die Jugend
- Die Wiedervereinigung und ihre Folgen
Methods of Assessment
The two main areas of study during the German A Level are; social issues and trends and political, intellectual and artistic culture.
Paper 1: Listening, Reading & Writing
Students will listen to and read passages from a range of contexts and sources, and then answer questions in German. They will also translate from both German to English and vice-versa.
Paper 2: Writing
Students will answer two essay questions in German on a book and a film studied in lessons.
Paper 3: Speaking
This consists of two parts: a card-based discussion covering one of the themes studied and presenting and discussing an Independent Research Project.
Enrichment Opportunities
• Weekly German Club
• Access to film and literature outside of the curriculum
• Theatre/Cinema trips (this is dependent on appropriate titles being available in the academic year).
Meet the Staff
If you have a specific enquiry for the German Department, email german@kes.hants.sch.uk
| Mr R.D. Soames | Head of German |
| Ms. K.M. Clement MA | Head of French, Teacher of German and Spanish |
| Mr. A.M. Sinclair BA | Head of Languages, Teacher of French and German |
| Miss F Quinn | Teacher of German |
