German

Course summary

In terms of employment prospects, the ability to speak a foreign language is becoming increasingly advantageous. In almost any profession, a facility with at least one other major European language is a vital asset and, most particularly in the world of the professional musician, where the concept of the ‘global village’ is a very real one, the ability to communicate verbally as well as musically is an invaluable skill. Moreover, the study of a foreign language beyond GCSE gives a deeper understanding of the history, culture and traditions of the country concerned and will offer invaluable insight into the minds of great European composers and the development of music in Europe. Our A-level courses also aim to develop the student’s powers of analysis, ability to structure arguments effectively and knowledge of current affairs. The A-level language courses build upon the skills acquired for GCSE, seeking to deepen understanding of the structures of the languages as well as dealing with the social, political and cultural issues affecting much of modern Europe. The foreign language is used as much as possible in the classroom and students should aim to spend some time during the course in the country where the language is spoken. Popular and tailor-made five-day study trips to Berlin and Paris are offered in the Sixth Form in February half-term, giving students the chance to explore many of the set A-Level topics for German and French. Lessons continue to combine and further the four basic language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, with greater emphasis on grammatical accuracy than at GCSE, and using authentic materials in the form of foreign-language websites, DVDs, news broadcasts and both adult and teenage literature. The culture of Germany, France and other countries where these are spoken will also be looked at in greater depth.