AS/A LEVEL GERMAN

WHAT IS THE COURSE ABOUT?

• Families and relationships – what is important for young Germans?
• Environmental issues – are the Germans world champions as far as the environment is concerned?
• Drugs, smoking and health issues – are they important issues in Germany?
• Military service – who does it and why?
• What about sport and leisure? Learn about the benefits for Germany of the World Cup held there in 2006; investigate young people’s leisure activities and the kinds of sports they do
• Is Germany a multi-cultural society? Where do the migrants living in Germany come from and are they well integrated?

This is a stimulating and challenging course, highly respected by all universities and useful preparation for a wide variety of careers.

The AS course will take you well beyond GCSE, giving you a thorough grounding in the German language, grammar and structures so as to enable you to research and discuss a wealth of topics such as those above. A Level then takes you on to debating all sorts of contemporary issues from Crime and Punishment, Abortion and Cloning to the importance of the European Union and environmental policies in the German-speaking world. All that and much more in a course that combines linguistic skills with analytical thinking. Self-reliance skills and adaptability are developed by those who participate in exchanges with a German school. A Level German is a highly rewarding and enjoyable course.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY THE COURSE?

• You have enjoyed learning German for GCSE
• You are keen to develop your skills in German and to learn how to use the language in a wider range of situations.
• You are interested in finding out more about how the language works and are keen to learn new words and structures
• You are interested in the life and culture of Germany, Austria and Switzerland

USEFUL SKILLS & INTERESTS

• You are interested in learning a language
• You find other countries and the lives of their people fascinating
• You have a good memory for words and phrases and have a curiosity about how the language works

COURSE STRUCTURE & CONTENT

You develop your language skills throughout the course and build up your ability to use grammatical structures and a wider vocabulary. This language work is based on certain topics.

Year 1

• Leisure and Lifestyles, including healthy living, travel and tourism, entertainment and traditions
• The Individual and Society, including gender issues, relationships and youth culture

Year 2

You will also study two topics from the world of cinema, literature or region

• Environmental issues including pollution and global warning
• Social and political issues including the role of the media, racism, immigration and terrorism 

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

The AS and A Level courses are each assessed by two Units, one of which on each occasion is an oral unit, whilst the other tests listening, reading and writing skills. In A Level this includes assessment of your research into the social and cultural background.

COURSE COMMITMENT

You will have approximately four hours and thirty minutes of classroom time. We expect you to work outside of your timetabled lessons for at least an extra four hours per week plus during two identified private studies periods within your college timetable. All students will also have the benefit of a weekly conversation class with a native German assistant. Constant revision of vocabulary and verb tenses is an essential part of private study time in addition to set homework tasks.

EXCHANGE VISITS

Here at Prior Pursglove we regularly have exchange visits to France, Germany, Spain and Italy and we have links to schools in Aix-en-Provence in France, Troisdorf in Germany, Valladolid in Spain and Ischia in Italy and as a student of languages you will have the opportunity to visit the country of the language(s) you are studying. During your visit you will stay with a host family, attend college and you may also have the opportunity to do work experience there, too. There will be places of interest in the region and joint activities with your host families. Students find that these exchanges improve their language skills and extend their knowledge of the country in which they are staying. In addition, many of them make new friends with whom they keep in touch after the exchange through email links or by talking to them over the Internet. Exchanges are also useful in preparing for oral units or coursework. Costs are generally around £180 – £220, but support funding may be available to help students who have financial difficulty.

COURSE COSTS

You will receive the main course books on loan from the college, but you are invited to buy yourself a Grammar Workbook, currently £6, for use in class and at home. You are also invited to buy a German language magazine to expand on your skills.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

To enrol on this course you will need to have met the standard college entry requirements of five GCSE’s grade C or above. Including a grade C or above in German and English Language.

PROGRESSION ROUTES

You can progress from AS to A Level in German. You could then progress to university where German can be studied as a main subject or in combination with a wide range of other subjects such as Business, French, European Management or Physics. We currently have ex students at a variety of universities studying German along with another language or with Business, Mathematics and a wide variety of other subjects.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you require further information please contact Alison Dodds, Department Manager.