an independent boarding school for girls 11-18
German
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A balance of fun and learning, trips and dedication means the German department is a happy, productive and successful environment in which to work and learn. German is taught through a wide-range of modern teaching methods, inspiring not only pupils, but their teachers too. Small classes enable each girl to get the attention she needs to achieve her potential and enjoy conversing in such an important European language.
German can be studied from Lower IV (Year 8) to Upper VI (Year 13). Up until IGCSE (taken in Upper V), we use the ‘Logo!' course, which introduces the language in a colourful and varied way. This is supported by an extensive bank of professionally compiled as well as staff produced ICT materials. All girls studying languages have weekly access to our language laboratory and this enhances both linguistic and ICT skills.
Topics are studied through exercises developing all four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing), supplemented by the rigorous teaching of grammar. As a result, girls are using structures and vocabulary well beyond the course requirements from an early stage. This makes them highly competent linguists, easing the transition from GCSE to A Level, as well as from the Sixth Form to further study of the language at University level.
Sixth form language work is based on the exciting and challenging new AS/A2 specification from AQA. We work from the latest Nelson Thornes A-Level text books. These have been written to support the new exam specification, complete with tailor-made Internet-based materials, so that students can learn, revise and consolidate topics both in class and in their own time, with instant feedback. For the AS, themes made familiar at GCSE are revisited in more depth, and pupils begin to move their focus from themselves to the wider world. Key areas for study are: family and relationships, media, healthy lifestyle and contemporary culture. More challenging subjects for debate and discussion are introduced at A2 (the environment, multi-cultural society and contemporary social issues), enabling pupils to express their opinions maturely, on an extensive range of complex issues.
At WAS we include a cultural component in the course, even though none is required at AS level. Thus, in the Lower Sixth, we study inspiring texts involving youth in the Nazi period, ranging from the factual ‘Die Weiße Rose' (Inge Scholl) about a student resistance group in 1942/3 Munich to ‘Jugend ohne Gott' (Ödön von Horváth), a fictional tale examining the views and behaviour of school children during the era. Our aim is to encourage pupils to empathise with these stories and learn that the experiences and attitudes of the time were not as uniform and conformist as one is often led to believe.
At A2 level, candidates are required to be able to speak and write about two cultural topics relating to German speaking areas. One of these is taught in class “Die Trennung und Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands” (the division and reunification of Germany). The other topic is one of the candidate's own choosing from the following: an author; a dramatist or poet; a painter/director/architect; a German speaking region or community. We encourage students to select their second cultural topic so that they can pursue an area of personal interest and develop the research skills and independent thinking required at University. Nevertheless, they are well supported and guided by the class teacher and their progress is closely monitored.
The AQA examination at AS now entails:
Unit 1: Listening, Reading and Writing
Candidates answer a range of questions based on 5 minutes of heard material and on a selection of written texts. They also respond in writing to a question based on one of the AS topics (from a choice of three).
Unit 2: Speaking Test
Candidates discuss a target-language stimulus card based on one of the AS topics and take part in a conversation covering three further AS topics (the first of which is selected by them).
The AQA A2 examination now entails:
Unit 3: Listening, Reading and Writing
Candidates answer a range of questions based on 6 minutes of heard material and on a selection of written texts. They respond in writing to a question based on one of the A2 cultural topic areas.
Unit 4: Speaking Test
Candidates present and defend a point of view based on a target language stimulus card from one of the A2 topic areas and take part in a conversation based on the two cultural topics they have studied.
Candidates aspiring to study German at University have an enrichment lesson (a UPL or University Preparation Lesson) once per week.
Finally, German is well supported outside the classroom. All girls sitting GCSE, AS and A2 have a weekly conversation class with a native speaker to enhance their oral skills. A-level students have a weekly session in the language laboratory to watch the German news (and listen to the latest German music hits). Staff can offer advice to girls who wish to go on a study holiday to Germany to improve their language. A school organised language and culture trip to Bavaria is also planned in the near future.
Staff say:
Teaching German to such enthusiastic pupils is exciting, challenging and thoroughly enjoyable – what more can one hope for from a teaching career?
Pupils say:
I find German übercool. (A LV pupil)
It is truly inspirational to study the language of a great nation whose writers, musicians, scientists and politicians have been a major force throughout modern history. (A Sixth Form pupil)
Some useful websites: http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/rgshiwyc/school/curric/Hotpotatoes/index.htm
http://www.deutsch-lernen.com/, http://www.goethe.de/, http://german.about.com/