German

 The Edexcel A-Level German course follows on from the GCSE in concentrating on and developing communicative language skills, with many of the same topics covered.

COURSE CONTENT

Equal weighting is given to speaking, reading, writing and listening to German and there is an opportunity to study, in detail, two aspects of life in German-speaking counties. These special topics are chosen from a list supplied by the Examining Board. All four language skills are covered in the examination and the oral examination includes discussion on a topic chosen by the student from an extensive list.

In order to gain fluency in German, students must be prepared to put in a great deal of work both at home and in the classroom. They will need to achieve a thorough understanding of the structure of the language and to show an interest in developments in German-speaking countries. In class, students will work with up-to-date materials (tapes of news programmes, videos, newspapers and magazines) in order to become familiar with the German-speaking world.

Students have the opportunity to take part in the College exchange programme with our twin town, Bad Vilbel, and are encouraged to visit German-speaking countries independently, either as a tourist, or as part of the work experience programme. There is also the opportunity for students to attend Update courses run annually by Salford and Manchester universities. Students regularly attend film shows at the Cornerhouse cinema and the University in Manchester. Opportunities to visit various areas of Europe are frequent, and students are encouraged to consider careers within the wider European Union framework, rather than just in Britain.

CAREER PROSPECTS

The importance of Germany within the European Union makes the study of German an increasingly popular option. The course will give students the ability to express themselves in and successfully manipulate German at a time when these skills are increasingly in demand in the commercial world, especially now so many companies in Britain are German-owned. It will also develop those skills necessary to embark on one of the wide range of courses currently available at higher education, which includes a foreign language, e.g. travel, tourism, the Civil Service, diplomacy, business management and the law. Many of our students are going on to study law and a language, and to universities which participate in the ERASMUS scheme, where they spend part of their degree course studying at a university elsewhere in Europe.