What will students be learning in German this year?
Students begin their German course in Year 7. We will start at the very beginning with introductions and common everyday expressions, before introducing a range of other topics such as family, pets, where you live, countries, number and dates, hobbies and future plans, asking and answering questions, school life. From the beginning we teach the structures of the language and the relationship between sound and spelling, which is very regular in German. This empowers the students to understand the language and form sentences for themselves, rather than learning everything parrot-fashion. Lessons use a mix of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Songs, video clips, games and computer-based activities help to bring the language to life and impart a sense of German culture.
Building on the foundations laid in Year 7, students in Year 8 and 9 will broaden their vocabulary and learn a wider range of structures, so that they can build extended sentences, refer to past events and discuss future plans and dreams; ask and answer questions in greater detail and increased confidence. Specific topics covered include describing a past holiday, talking about favourite films, TV programmes and music, discussing the pros and cons of modern media, daily routine and healthy lifestyles, ordering food and drinks at a restaurants and cafés, discussing places in a town and what you can/ can’t do there, jobs and career dreams as well as role models and the reasons of learning languages. Building Cultural Capital is a crucial part of our German classroom. Therefore, we will be also learning about key cultural aspects in German-speaking countries such as First day of school traditions, Christmas Markets, St. Martins & Nikolaustag, New Year and Easter celebrations, Fasching, May Day and other festivals: explore German films, music and the world of cooking, famous people and current events. Whatever the topic, the aim is to equip students with the tools to confidently form language on their own and become versatile, fluent and eloquent linguists, ready to thrive, inspire and empower others in the future.
Expectations of students in German
There is one 1 hour lesson and one homework per week, which may be a reading comprehension, written exercise, preparation for a speaking task, learning vocabulary or grammar, or practice of a grammar point. This increases to 2 hours a week in Year 8 and 9. It is important to see learning homework as just as important as written ones. Students should be prepared to 'have a go' in lessons and not worry about making mistakes, as that is an important step in the learning process.
Written work is marked with the department's marking codes, which indicate to students the types of errors and how to improve it rather than the teacher simply writing in the correction; so, students learn how to correct their work and are expected to redraft it using these. They will normally be given the opportunity to do this and to ask any questions in lesson time. The codes are explained to the students and a copy placed in their books at the start of the year.
What are the major assessments this year?
There will be formal end of unit tests which will take place half termly and mini assessments in-between. They will address different receptive and productive skills as well as grammar. Each teacher will set ongoing grammar or vocabulary tests and will regularly assess and give feedback on written work. The end of year exam will include all topics and grammar covered and test all skills.
What will the current performance grade be based on and what does it mean?
Students are advised what they are expected to learn, what and how to prioritise and manage learning time effectively, how we best learn and what their targets are. They are invited to self-assess their progress towards these targets once a term and discuss this with teachers, who also look at unit test marks, homework and performance in class when deciding the termly assessment. The end of year exam will play an important part in determining the final grade, but we will look at the year's work and the overall assessments when deciding on the final grade.
What should my daughter do if she feels she is struggling in the subject?
She should speak about any concerns to her class teacher, who will give targeted support and advice and may suggest extra resources and strategies. Remember it is a normal part of the learning process to experience difficulties sometimes. Above all, keep practising, believe in herself and don't give up!
How can I support my daughter?
Taking an interest in what she is doing and showing that you value what she is learning makes a tremendous difference. It is not necessary for you to know any German yourself, although obviously it's great if you do. Otherwise asking her to explain what she has been doing in class, testing her on the vocabulary she has learnt, and looking through her book with her will help her consolidate her learning. Do encourage and praise her for her efforts and enjoy learning German together: by spending some extra time listening to German music, a podcast, watching a film in German or asking her to read aloud some short stories to you.
What kind of independent work should my daughter be completing?
It is good practice to spend a few minutes looking through the lesson notes as soon as possible after the class, and then again, a few days later, rather than forgetting all about it till the next lesson! Little and often is the key to language learning. Spaced learning is particularly effective when it comes to learning new vocabulary. It only takes a short but focused study time slots that will help keep the language fresh in her mind. We recommend a range of websites which your daughter can use for extra practice of the grammar and vocabulary and to learn more about German culture and expand her global and international awareness.
Whom can I contact for further advice and information?
Please feel free to contact your daughter's class teacher in the first instance, however Frau Lacey as Head of German is also available on vlacey@newsteadwood.co.uk