German
The Curriculum
Curriculum Intent
MFL at Southend High School for Girls ignites a lifelong love of learning. In MFL we fully cover the range of the National Curriculum and the GCSE and A level specifications. It instils the value of languages as an academic subject and equips students with the emotional resilience and confidence to communicate with spontaneity and increasing levels of grammatical accuracy in a variety of different contexts, using a rich vocabulary. Students begin by giving and understanding information on a personal level and develop the ability to discuss wider international issues, abstract concepts and literature. Our students take opportunities to widen their horizons intellectually, culturally and geographically, liberating themselves from the dangers of insularity. MFL students reflect on and analyse their work. They are not afraid to take responsibility for their learning but set themselves ambitious targets to help them achieve their full potential. They develop the skills required to express themselves and understand both the spoken and the written word to a range of audiences with the aim of being able to access a diversity of authentic literature, film and music. Our ambition is that our students will view themselves as global citizens eager to embrace opportunities and experiences in the world of work and beyond wherever they may be found.
What does it feel like to be a student in the German Department?
Studying German at Southend High School for Girls is a challenging and rewarding experience. Every lesson you will encounter a variety of grammar, structures and vocabulary which on application will enhance your ability to express your ideas on an abundance of topics. You will be able to speak coherently and confidently and write creatively and accurately. You will compare and contrast your own language and culture and gain a deeper understanding of German in context. You will process language from a wide variety of sources and translate both ways.
Expectations are high and you will be encouraged to read widely in order to stimulate ideas and develop your creative expression, consolidating grammatical structures and acquiring a wide ranging and deepening vocabulary, enabling you to take part in discussions about wider issues and aspects of culture.
To complement the course, there are several language competitions which are available to all students in all years, for example the Have Your Say competition. The Black Forest residential in Year 8 provides the experience to practise what you have learnt, and in Year 9 take part in the pupil exchange with our partner school in Münster. In Year 12, you will also have the opportunity to visit to Münster for a work placement.
If you should leave the subject in Year 9 you will still go forth with a sufficient degree of linguistic competency to be comfortable in a German speaking environment and possess skills of significant benefit for the future. At GCSE you will be in a position to offer a high level of competency to any future employer or institution. In Year 13 and beyond, your command of German will be exceptional and suitable for employment in a German speaking environment in this country or overseas.
Journey
German Curriculum
At Southend High School for Girls we teach a curriculum that is ambitious and takes students on a learning journey beyond the National Curriculum for German. The SHSG German curriculum is what we believe will expose and challenge students to a cultural capital in German that is the best that has been thought and said in this subject.
The German curriculum is planned and delivered using the intellectual framework of the classical education model, the Trivium:
- Grammar (Knowledge and skills) knowledge, learning by heart, subject terminology, cultural capital
- Dialectic (Enquiry and exploration) debate, question, challenge, analyse, evaluate
- Rhetoric (Communication) essays, role plays, presentations
Year 7 – 9
Pre-requisite or helpful knowledge from Year 6 German ready to study in Year 7 if applicable
N/A
The topics below have been chosen as they reflect the ambitions of the National Curriculum, and as a Grammar school, also challenge students beyond the National Curriculum. They have been carefully sequenced in this order to build a student’s learning journey to achieve the aims of our MFL intent. Along the way students are assessed and topics will be revisited in assessments to keep each stage of this learning journey alive.
Year 7
Term 1
Topic 1
Family and Friends
Content
Greetings, name, age, birthday, alphabet, numbers, days of week and months, character and physical descriptions, family members, pets, colours, favourite things.
Grammar
- Gender of nouns
- Definite and indefinite articles
- Accusative case
- Present tense of regular verbs
- Giving opinions
- Connectives
- Irregular verbs haben and sein
- Qualifiers and intensifiers
Assessment
- Translate short passages into English and short sentences into German.
- Listening and reading skills about family and oneself.
- Speaking about family in a short presentation or answering a series of questions.
- Vocabulary learning assessments
Term 2
Topic 2
Hobbies and Free Time
Content
Sports, hobbies and pastimes, expressions of time, collecting things, use of technology, online activities, Television and Film.
Grammar
- Regular verbs
- Irregular verbs
- Adverbs gern/nicht gern
- Separable verbs
- Word order
- Future expressions of time
Assessment
- Listening, reading and translation, expressing likes and dislikes and justifying ideas. Conjugation of present tense verbs.
- Vocabulary learning assessments
Term 3
Topic 3
School
Content
School subjects, describing teaching staff, telling the time (analogue, digital and 24hr clock), school day and timings, classroom furniture, school rules.
Grammar
- Justifying opinions using weil
- Dative case
- Modal verbs
Assessment
- EOY examination
- Vocabulary learning assessments
Year 8
Term 1
Topic 1
Town and Local Area
Content
House, rooms, furniture, places in town, shops, regions and sightseeing, directions, future tense plans in town.
Grammar
- Accusative case
- Dative case with prepositions
- es gibt
- man (you,one,people)
- future tense
- imperative
Assessment
- Listening and reading skills based on town and local area.
- Speaking skills explaining what you will do in your local area.
Term 2
Topic 2
Holidays
Content
Past tense holidays, accommodation, travel, weather, holiday activities, holiday experiences, future holiday plans.
Grammar
- Prepositions mit, bei, auf, in
- Dative case
- Past, present and future tenses
- Simple past/imperfect tense
- Word order
Assessment
- Written account of a holiday. Listening and reading on holidays and travel.
Term 3
Topic 3
Daily life, health, diet and fitness
Content
Daily routine, breakfast, items of food and drink mealtimes and courses, food preferences, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, cultural differences in eating habits and diets.
Grammar
- Reflexive verbs
- Separable verbs
- Modal verb revision
- Tense practice
- Making comparisons
Assessment
- EOY examination
Year 9
Term 1
Topic 1
Role models, health, well being, achievement, musical tastes, clothes and fashion.
Content
Role models, parts of the body, illness and injuries, famous sportspeople, overcoming disability, tastes in music, weekend and casual wear, a music festival.
Grammar summary
- Revision of tenses
- Imperative
- Seit + present tense
- Irregular verb tragen
- Accusative case revision
- Subject pronouns
- Adjective endings and agreements
- wenn clauses
- word order
- um…zu…
Assessment
- 90-word essay on a role model
- Listening and reading peer assessed
- Translation into English and German
- Vocabulary learning assessments
Term 2
Topic 2
Hopes and aspirations for the future
Content
Challenging ambitions and extreme sports, part time work, holiday jobs, voluntary work, future study and job intentions.
Grammar summary
- Conditional tense
- Subjunctive to express conditional
- Dative and accusative case
- Revision of future tense
- Revision of modal verbs
Assessment
- 90-word essay on world of work
- Listening and reading peer assessed
- Translation into English and German
- Vocabulary learning assessments
- Speaking about what we like to do, and how this will influence our job choices
Term 3
Topic 3
Rights and responsibilities, reflecting on the past.
Content
What I can do at a certain age, the most important things for me, negotiating changes, environmental issues, the importance of happiness, childhood memories, comparing childhood to teenage years.
Grammar summary
- Superlative
- Simple past and imperfect tense of regular and irregular verbs
- Als + past tense
- Word order
- Um…….zu
- Modal verbs in the imperfect.
Assessment
- EOY Examination.
- Vocabulary learning assessments.
Achieving mastery in German – knowing and remembering even more than what is expected in a grammar school Year 7 curriculum
Our assessment practice at SHSG reflects on how successful students have been in knowing, remembering and doing more through the above topics. They are either emerging, developing or proficient in this journey throughout Key Stage 3.
To go beyond being proficient in what is expected of a German student in Key Stage 3 and achieve mastery in German, students will be able to apply grammatical knowledge, respond spontaneously and fluently to a wide range of questions, recognise a wide range of idioms and translate accordingly, and show a high level of accuracy in correct word order, tense formation and adjectival agreement. Students are also expected to use subject specific terminology.
Recommended reading in German for Lower School (Years 7 – 9)
- Mary Glasgow magazines (Years 7-9)
- Songs and Artists
- Sporting events
- Cultural events – German festivals
- German Reading and Comprehension – Texts for Beginners
Useful websites, TED Talks and research for Lower School (Years 7 – 9)
- com for vocabulary learning
- Languages online
- Virtual tours of German speaking countries and famous museums and cultural landmarks.
- Goethe Institut ·
- Practise German free of charge – Goethe-Institut
- Get Top German Books and Films Online for Free | Goethe-Institut UK
German-specific language to master in Lower School (Years 7 – 9)
- All required technical terminology can be found in SHSG German KS3 Glossary of grammatical terms.
- All key vocabulary can be found under the appropriate units in Active Learn.
- Key concepts to understand for reading and listening. Phonics, prediction, reading for gist, summary.
- What is meant by ‘context’ when reading and deciphering German.
At Southend High School for Girls we teach a curriculum that is ambitious and takes students on a learning journey beyond the GCSE syllabus for German. The SHSG German curriculum is what we believe will expose and challenge students to a cultural capital in German that is the best that has been thought and said in this subject.
The German curriculum is planned and delivered using the intellectual framework of the classical education model, the Trivium:
- Grammar (Knowledge and skills) knowledge, learning by heart, subject terminology, cultural capital
- Dialectic (Enquiry and exploration) debate, question, challenge, analyse, evaluate
- Rhetoric (Communication) essays, speeches, performances, presentations
Pre-requisite or helpful knowledge from Year 7- 9 German to study GCSE successfully :
Regular and Irregular verbs in three time frames (Present, Past, Future), giving opinions with justification, using connecting words and conjunctions to expand simple ideas. Core vocabulary from KS3 about Family, Free time, School, Town and region, Food and drink. The majority of grammar is covered at KS3 but consolidated at KS4.
The topics below have been chosen as they reflect the demands of the GCSE and challenge students beyond these requirements, they have been sequenced in order to build a student’s learning journey to achieve the aims of our MFL intent. Along the way students are assessed and topics will be revisited in assessments to keep each stage of this learning journey alive.
Year 10
Term 1
Key stage 3 revision
Grammar
- Nouns
- Articles
- Cases
- Verbs
Theme 1
Topic 1
- Relationships with family
- Friendships
- Marriage and partnerships
Theme 3
Topic 1
- School
- Different types of school
- School day
- School life
Grammar
- Present tense regular and irregular verbs.
- Reflexive verbs
- Separable verbs
- Possessive adjectives
- Future tense
- Comparative and superlative adjectives
- Forming questions
- Direct and indirect object pronouns
- Imperfect/simple past
Assessment
- Listening and reading assessment.
- Writing assessment 90 word essay.
Term 2
Theme 2
Topic 5
- House and home
- Rooms and furniture
- Local area
- Local town
- Environmental issues
Theme 1
Topic 2
- Social Media
- Internet safety
Grammar
- Reflexive and separable verbs in perfect tense
- Word order
- Modes of address
- Adverbial phrases
- Reflexive and separable verbs in future tense
- Using adjectives as nouns
- Personal pronouns
Assessment
- Speaking photocard with additional questions.
- Reading and translation into English.
Term 3
Theme 1
Topic 2
- Technology usage
- Mobile phones
Theme 1
Topic 3
- Music and film
- Television and Cinema
- Eating out
- Freetime activities
- Extreme sports
Theme 2
Topic 4
Grammar
- Simple past/imperfect
- Wenn, wann and als
- Separable and reflexive verbs in all tenses
- Modal verbs
- Word order
Assessment
- PPE
- Speaking role play and photocard
Year 11
Term 1
Theme 1
Topic 4
- Celebrations
- Customs and traditions
- German Festivals
Grammar
Time, manner, place word order
Personal pronouns
Revision of perfect tense
Theme 2
Topic 4
- Holidays and travel
- Tourism
- Sightseeing
- Hotel facilities
- Holiday reviews
Grammar
- Pluperfect
- Imperfect tense
- Conjunctions
- Revision of prepositions and cases
- Relative clauses
Assessment
- Speaking role play and photocard
- PPE 1
Term 2
Theme 3
Topic 2
- University and work
- Career choices
- Types of jobs
- Ideal career
Theme 2
Topic 6
- Global environmental issues
- Homelessness
- poverty
- Charity work
- Voluntary work experience
- Previous lifestyles
- Health issues
Grammar
- Prepositions seit and vor
- Infinitive constructions
- Use of Subjunctive
- Subordinating conjunctions
- Zu + infinitive
- Genitive case
- Grammar Revision
Assessment
- PPE2 and full speaking test
Term 3
Topic
Revision
Assessment
Public Examinations
Achieving outstanding outcomes in German – knowing and remembering even more than what is expected in a grammar school GCSE Curriculum
Our assessment practice at SHSG reflects on how successful students have been in knowing, remembering and doing more through the above topics.
To achieve outstanding outcomes in German as a student in Year 11 and achieve grade 9 in German, students should
- develop their ability to communicate confidently and coherently in speech and writing, conveying what they want to say with accuracy
- express and develop thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently
- listen to and understand clearly articulated, standard speech at near normal speed
- deepen their knowledge about how language works and enrich their vocabulary in order for them to increase their independent use and understanding of extended language in a wide range of contexts
- demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where the language is spoken
- develop language-learning skills both for immediate use and to prepare them for further language study and use in school, higher education or employment
Cultural Capital in Year 10-11 German
- German speaking world – The modern German speaking world.
- German Festivals
- Global issues in the German speaking world (environment, social issues)
Useful websites and independent learning
- Quizlet.com
- This is Language
- eRevision
- BBC bitesize
- AQA website and use of past papers
- planetwissen.de (reading texts)
- ARD.de (live TV and radio)
Language to master in Middle School German (Years 10 – 11)
Expanding KS3 knowledge of 3 time frames to include tenses:
- Imperfect/simple past
- Future tense
- Perfect tense + past particple
- Conditional
- High-frequency language and topic specific language
At Southend High School for Girls we teach a curriculum that is ambitious and takes students on a learning journey beyond the A level syllabus for German. The SHSG German curriculum is what we believe will expose and challenge students to a cultural capital in German that is the best that has been thought and said in this subject.
The German curriculum is planned and delivered using the intellectual framework of the classical education model, the Trivium:
- Grammar (Knowledge and skills) knowledge, learning by heart, subject terminology, cultural capital
- Dialectic (Enquiry and exploration) debate, question, challenge, analyse, evaluate
- Rhetoric (Communication) essays, speeches, performances, presentations
Pre-requisite or helpful knowledge from Year 11 German to study A level successfully
Sound knowledge of grammar and a broad vocabulary base is required. All revision and preparation work set over the summer should be completed.
Adjustments from the Pandemic for years 12-13 if applicable?
Focus on listening and speaking.
The topics below have been chosen as they reflect the demands of the A level syllabus and challenge students beyond these requirements, they have been sequenced in order to build a student’s learning journey to achieve the aims of our MFL intent. Along the way students are assessed and topics will be revisited in assessments to keep each stage of this learning journey alive. The topic coverage is shared between the two teachers and in the final term of year 12 one teacher will cover the novel whilst the other covers the film. Students will also begin the year 13 programme at the end of year 12.
Year 12
Term 1
Topic 1
Family in Change
- Relationships within the family.
- Marriage and partnerships
- Different types of family
Grammar
- Present tense verbs
- Perfect tense
- Word order and formation
Topic 2
The digital world
- The internet
- Social networks
- The digitalisation of society.
Grammar
- Time, manner, place
- Prepositions and cases
- Near and definite future
Topic 3
Youth culture, music and TV
- Fashion and image
- The significance of music for young people
- Role of television
Grammar
- Pronouns
- Cases with verbs
- imperative
Assessment
- Reading and translation both ways assessment
- Topic Test Assessment Listening, Reading and translation Peer and teacher marked
Term 2
Topic 4
Festivals and Traditions
- Roots and origins of festivals in Germany.
- Social and Economic significance of traditions.
- Diversity of festivals in German speaking countries
Grammar
- Passive voice
- Imperfect/simple past
- Separable and inseparable verbs
- Reflexive verbs
Topic 5
Art and Architecture
- Influence and role of architecture
- Art and architecture in everyday life
- Art and architecture in past, present and future.
Grammar
- Subordinate clauses
- Comparatives and superlatives
- Pluperfect tense
Assessment
- Speaking presentation(2min) IRP markscheme.
- Topic Test Assessment Listening, Reading and translation Peer and teacher marked
Term 3
Topic 6
Cultural life in Berlin past and present.
- Influence of political events on the city of Berlin.
- Role of culture in Berlin.
- Aspects and challenges of life in a multicultural city.
Grammar
- Adjectival endings
- Infinitive constructions
- Imperfect subjunctive in conditional clauses
- Watch and study the film “Good Bye Lenin”
- Read and study the book “der Vorleser”
Assessment
- PPE1
Year 13
Term 1
Theme
Multiculturalism in German-speaking society
Topic 1
Immigration
- Reasons for migration
- Advantages and disadvantages of immigration
- Migration policies
Grammar
- Weak nouns
- Adjectival phrases
- Adjective endings
Begin Individual research project (IRP) for speaking examination
Topic 2
Integration
- Promoting integration
- Barriers to integration
- Positive and negative experience of migrants
Grammar
- Possessive and interrogative adjectives
- Subjunctive in indirect speech
- Word order
Topic 3
Racism
- Victims of racism
- Origins of racism
- Fighting against racism
Grammar
- Relative and interrogative pronouns
- Present and future tense revision
- Subjunctive in indirect speech.
Assessment
- EB Style Assessment 20/09 – 24/09
Term 2
Theme
Aspects of political life in the German speaking world
Topic 4
Germany and the European Union
- The role of Germany in the EU
- Advantages and disadvantages of the EU for Germany
- Impact of EU expansion on Germany.
Grammar
- Revision of perfect, imperfect, and pluperfect
- Da+ preposition
- Future perfect tense
Topic 5
Politics and Youth
- How young people engage in politics
- Priorities for youth politics
- Young people and the role of pressure groups
Grammar
- Revision of passive
- Modal particles
- Variation in word order for emphasis
Topic 6
Reunification and the consequences
- Events leading to reunification
- Contrast the desired and actual outcomes of reunification
- Compare the cultural identity of the old and new federal states.
Grammar
- Pluperfect subjunctive in conditional sentences
- Revision of Cases
- Conditional with imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive
Assessment
PPE1 03/01- 14/01
PPE2 07/03-11/03
Term 3
Exam preparation
- Revision and practice for speaking, listening, reading, writing, translation and essay paper.
Assessment
- A2 Examination
Achieving outstanding outcomes in German – knowing and remembering even more than what is expected in a grammar school GCSE Curriculum
Our assessment practice at SHSG reflects on how successful students have been in knowing, remembering and doing more through the above topics.
To achieve outstanding outcomes in German as a student in Year 13 and achieve an A*-A grade in German, students should demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary and complex language and a highly accurate application of grammar. Delivery is fluent in speech and writing and the students provides evidence of wider reading and research.
Cultural Capital in Year 12-13 German
All topics furnish the student with cultural knowledge specific to German speaking countries and regions.
The individual research project.
Wider reading is essential within each topic area.
Useful websites and independent learning
www.ard.de
www.planetwissen.de
www.zdf.de
www.goetheinstitut.de
Language to master in Upper School German (Years 12 – 13)
- All tenses, the case system and word order and all elements listed within each chapter.