German

Taught at Kenilworth School & Sixth Form

Exam Board: Edexcel 

Assessment Method:  

Paper 1: Listening, reading & translation – 40% 

Paper 2: Written response to works (literature & film) and translation – 30% 

Paper 3: Speaking (Stimulus Card & Independent Research Project) – 30% 

Why Should I Follow This Course? 

German is spoken by over 100 million people in Europe and is the language of business and science. Learning German at A Level will help you build on your communication skills as well as provide an excellent grounding in literature, film and cultural topics. It prepares you for life outside of school by giving you many transferable skills and confidence in speaking, writing, reading and listening. Learning how to discuss and debate in the target language is an excellent way of preparing for life at university and beyond. 

What will I learn? 

You will build on the grammar and topics covered at GCSE, with greater emphasis on cultural topics such as the environment, immigration, festivals and traditions. The language is taught through the four skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing. You will also study a film in Year 12 – Das Leben der Anderen – a drama which addresses the issues surrounding the lives of East German artists in the 1980s, and the role of the secret police in daily life. In Year 13 you will study an iconic play – Der Besuch der alten Dame by Friedrich Dürrenmatt – which covers the universal themes of love, greed and corruption. You will learn how to analyse the characters, themes and the cinematic and literary techniques used. The Independent Research Topic (IRP) is also an excellent way of honing your research skills on a topic which interests you. 

Where Will This Qualification Take Me? 

It will provide you with opportunities to find employment in companies with links to the German-speaking world and opportunities to study in Germany which many past students have done as part of their degree or as an industrial placement. Many national and international organisations such as the BBC, the UN, travel and tourism and a plethora of businesses recruit Germanists for their communication and other transferable skills. Our students have studied a very diverse combination of subjects at A Level which have benefitted them in their career (e.g. Drama, Physics, English) and show that German compliments many different courses of study. Many students go on to study a variety of subjects at university with German e.g. Chemistry or Economics and are likely to use their German skills well beyond their degree. Past students have ended up in careers at universities, teaching, translating, interpreting engineering and science. 

Entry Requirements:    Grade 6 or above at GCSE