Course Description
The focus of the course for both Standard Level and Higher Level will be on communication skills and an appreciation of the society and culture of German speaking countries. The course has three integrated components: language, texts and cultural awareness. The primary aim of this two year course is to enable students to extend their communicative skills and to promote an understanding of written and aural language from a wide range of authentic contexts.
Course Content
Students will learn how to express personal ideas and opinions in a wide range of situations and on a variety of topics with fluency and (when speaking) spontaneity. They will acquire a broad vocabulary and develop knowledge of the structures needed to convey more complex ideas accurately and in a variety of styles. Grammatical structures will be taught regularly, alongside topics. Students will be encouraged to express their opinions orally through interviews, role plays, debate and presentations. In written form students will be required to write in several different styles, including letters, e-mails, reports, magazine articles and diary entries, showing sensitivity to their audience and an ability to express their ideas effectively.
Students will develop the language and skills to enable them to understand authentic material in different registers, by using texts, audio passages and film.
Students will develop an awareness and understanding of people from German speaking countries. This will in turn help them to develop an appreciation of the different perspectives of people from other cultures, reinforcing awareness of the relationship between language and culture. Material used will be from a range of authentic sources, including foreign films, interviews, literary texts, cartoons, songs etc.
Topics studied include aspects of daily life, leisure and entertainment, communication and media, education and training, society, the environment, science and technology and political issues.
Assessment
Internal Oral Assessment - 30 %
This will consist of individual oral (15%) and interactive oral activities (15%).
Externally assessed written examinations - 70%
Paper 1: 40% - Text-handling (90 minutes)
Paper 2: 30% - Written Production (90 minutes)
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(updated March 2009)