Year 8

Aims:
The aim is for students to start their study of German through listening, speaking, reading and writing the language. The emphasis throughout is on oral communication underpinned by a clear grammatical progression.

Content: All students follow the course book ‘Echo Express 1'.

Topics covered include:

• Self
• Family
• School
• Free-time
• Food and drink

Students are provided with a vocabulary book.

Grouping Arrangements:
Students are grouped in sets according to ability.

Homework:
All students receive one homework each week of about 30 minutes duration. Usually, this involves a mixture of types of task (typically, some vocabulary learning and some written work).

Assessment:
All four language skills are tested termly in a formal assessment. Continuous assessment is an integral part of teaching. Students track their own progress by using a grid in their exercise book.

Additional Information:
We advise that students purchase a German-English dictionary and recommend the Collins ‘Easy Learning Dictionary Plus Grammar' which we use in lessons. Students are responsible for bringing both exercise book and vocabulary book to each lesson. We ask that students pay £1 if vocabulary books are lost in order to cover the cost of a replacement.

Year 9

Aims:
The aim is for students to build on their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in German. The emphasis throughout is on oral communication underpinned by a clear grammatical progression.

Content:
All students follow the coursebook ‘Logo 2'. This follows on from ‘Logo 1' which is studied in Year 8. Topics covered include:
• The weather
• The past tense
• Health
• Travel
• Shopping
• Food & drink
• Talking about the future

Students are following a new ASSET LANGUAGES COURSE which focuses on skills and creativity.

Grouping Arrangements:
Students are grouped in sets according to ability. Students have two lessons of German per week.

Homework:
All students receive one homework each week of about 30 minutes duration. Usually, this involves a mixture of types of task (typically, some vocabulary learning and some written work).

Assessment:
All four language skills are tested throughout the year and pupils chart their progress in skill areas using their progress grids. On successful completion of three assessments in a skill area pupils will receive a certificate to celebrate their achievement at their level.

Additional Information:
We advise that students purchase a French-English dictionary and recommend the Collins ‘Easy Learning Dictionary Plus Grammar' which we use in lessons.

Years 10/11

The aim is for students to continue their study of German through listening, speaking, reading and writing the language. The emphasis throughout is on communication underpinned by clear grammatical progression. Each skill is worth 25% of the total GCSE marks. The writing skill is assessed by written coursework, which is done throughout the GCSE course.

All students of German follow the course book Logo 4. These are supplemented by other materials as appropriate. They study a wide range of topic areas, all of which are included in the GCSE examination.

Students are taught in groups according to their options and have two or three hours a week of teaching time.

All students receive homework each week.Usually, this involves a combination of tasks (typically, some vocabulary learning and some written work).

All four language skills are tested in regular assessments. Additionally, students must complete written coursework tasks, for which they are prepared in class. The preparation and writing of coursework starts at the end of the Autumn Term in Year 10. At the end of Year 11, all students take the Edexcel GCSE examination in their chosen language(s).

We advise that students purchase a German-English dictionary and recommend the Collins ‘Easy Learning Dictionary Plus Grammar', which we use in lessons. Students are responsible for bringing both exercise book and course book to each lesson. At the end of Year 11, course books are returned. We ask that students pay £14 if books are lost, in order to cover the cost of a replacement.

Examination board: German Edexcel 1231