German

Course summary

We cover language and cultural topics over the two years and in addition to this we study film and literature. Studying German literature and film is new to most Sixth Formers and so we tackle each aspect gradually, allowing lots of time for understanding and discussion. In Lower Sixth, we look at extracts from the play Der Besuch der alten Dame and the film Das Leben der Anderen, set in the former East Germany. The study of this fascinating period in German history is an important part of the A Level course. In Upper Sixth we study the film Goodbye Lenin which is insightful and funny in equal measures and deals with life in the DDR after the fall of the Berlin wall. Die Verwandlung, our Upper Sixth novel and one of the most famous works ever written in German, tells the story of Gregor Samsa who wakes up one morning to discover his life has taken a most unusual twist. Throughout the course, there are opportunities to discuss, debate and express your opinions in German. There is also the opportunity to research an area of interest which forms part of the A Level oral test. Weekly lessons with the German assistant allow for consolidation of lesson work and also help to develop your spontaneity and conversational German. At A Level you broaden your skills in the language: as well as developing your listening, reading and writing skills, we introduce you to translating into and from the language.