Year 9 German
Brief summary of the syllabus:
During Year 9 pupils build on their work from Year 8 achieving a fuller knowledge of the language. The textbook used is Na Klar! 2 which includes 12 units in line with the GCSE topic areas. The textbook is supplemented by worksheets and grammar extension exercises in preparation for the Key Stage 3 examination at the end of Year 9 when all four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are assessed using National Curriculum levels 1 - 8. Teaching strategies used are the same as for Year 8 and not only focus on National Curriculum levels but also begin the groundwork necessary for the GCSE course.
What skills and attributes are being developed and examined?
As in Year 8 pupils will become more competent language-learners, developing further their language skills:
- Listening: Understanding and responding in more detail to longer and more complex passages in German, made up of familiar and unfamiliar language spoken at normal speed
- Speaking: Initiating and taking part in structured conversations and rôle-plays
- Reading: Understanding the gist of longer passages in German and answering specific questions on the text
- Writing: Producing longer passages of a creative nature in German, applying grammar rules successfully
- Developing further cultural awareness
What can parents expect to see in class work generally and in homework specifically?
Class work and homework include a great variety of different exercises and tasks. Vocabulary lists, gap-fill exercises, matching-up exercises, grammar drill tasks, letters and working with longer creative passages are all part of a modern languages lesson.
Homework is set once a week and takes the form of a writing and/or learning task. The regular learning of vocabulary is paramount and will be tested once a week. Pupils are expected to present their work neatly and accurately. In the course of the year a file of computer-processed work is kept to be used later in Key Stage 4.
What can parents do to help at this stage in this subject?
- Create a suitable environment for homework and show interest in their child's study of German
- Check in the homework diary that homework is being done and to an acceptable standard
- Support their son by purchasing additional materials such as a dictionary (Collins Easy Learning German Dictionary), language-specific computer software and magazines
- Encourage their son to take part in the study trips to Germany
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Setting and Course Schedule:
Setting takes place three times a year, after each end-of-term examination. Setting is based on the half-term test scores averaged out. In borderline cases the following are taken into account:
- Oral performance
- The ability to recognise and apply grammatical concepts
- The ability to deal with the unpredictable
- Standards of homework and class work
- Vocabulary test scores
- Overall effort and commitment
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Tests:
There will be five half-term tests in German, and the results from these tests will determine the setting arrangements for Year 9. The half-term tests will be mainly on the units covered during that particular half-term period, although parts of previous units might re-appear. Each half-term test covers listening, reading and writing, and the summer test also assesses speaking skills. The final test coincides with the SATS tests and is a Foundation Tier GCSE paper enabling boys to get a taste of the standard of work to come at Key Stage 4.
| TOPICS | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|
All about me
Clothes & appearances
Food and shopping
Media | My area
The environment
Health
Going abroad | Personal characteristics
Work
Booking holidays
Tourism |
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Pupil Target-setting:
Subject teachers provide oral and written feedback on both homework and class work, and boys must look over their work carefully to see how they can improve. Action points will be outlined in exercise books and boys must incorporate these into their target-setting for the subject. In order to increase vocabulary, pupils should aim to learn a few words every night and keep a record of them
It is important to remember that vocabulary cannot be learnt at the last moment, but that it is a continual process from day one of the course. Pupils should aim to use structures of a more complex nature and apply grammar rules particularly in their writing.
| WAS DU HEUTE KANNST BESORGEN, DAS VERSCHIEBE NICHT AUF MORGEN! | DON'T PUT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW, WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY |
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Revision:
It is important to revise regularly and to follow a routine! Revise a little at a time and often. You cannot cram languages for an examination.
In a skill-based subject like German, where your performance is measured, you will improve your performance by practice. The regular learning of vocabulary is paramount and pupils will be tested on new words once a week. Regular lesson review will increase the chances of doing well in examinations.
ÜBUNG MACHT DEN MEISTER = PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
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Level description:
By the end of Year 9, the performance of the great majority of pupils should be at National Curriculum levels 6 and 7:
| | Attainment Target 1: LISTENING | Attainment Target 2: SPEAKING | Attainment Target 3: READING | Attainment Target 4: WRITING |
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| Level 6 | Pupils show understanding of short narratives & extracts of spoken language, drawn from a variety of topics, which include familiar language in unfamiliar contexts. They cope with language spoken at normal speed and with some interference & hesitancy. They identify and note main points & specify details, including points of view, and they need little repetition. | Pupils initiate and develop conversations that include past, present and future actions & events. They are beginning to improvise & paraphrase. They use the target language to meet most of their routine needs for information & explanation. Although they may be hesitant at times, pupils make themselves understood with little or no difficulty. | Pupils show understanding of a variety of texts that include familiar language in unfamiliar contexts. They identify & note main points & specific details, including points of view. They scan written material, such as magazines, for stories or articles of interest, and select books or texts that are appropriate to their competence to read independently. They are becoming more confident in deducing the meaning of unfamiliar language, using context & grammatical understanding. | Pupils write in paragraphs, using simple descriptive language, and refer to past, present & future events. They use both formal & informal styles of writing, such as when keeping a diary, booking accommodation & scripting dialogues. Although there may be some mistakes, the meaning is usually clear. |
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| Level 7 | Pupils show understanding of a range of material that contains some complex sentences & unfamiliar language. They understand language spoken at normal speed, including brief news items & non-factual material taken from radio or television, and need little repetition. | Pupils give and justify opinions when discussing matters of personal or topical interest. They adapt language to deal with some unprepared situations. They speak with good intonation & pronunciation. Their accuracy is such that they are readily understood. | Pupil show understanding of a range of material, imaginative & factual, that includes some complex sentences & unfamiliar language. They make use of new vocabulary & structures encountered in their reading to respond in speech or in writing. They use reference materials as appropriate. | Pupils produce pieces of writing of varying lengths on real & imaginary subjects. They link sentences & paragraphs, structure ideas & adapt previously learnt language for their own purposes. They edit & redraft their work, using reference sources to achieve greater accuracy, precision & variety of expression. |
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Opting for GCSE German
Before the end of Year 9 boys will be required to choose a language for GCSE. German is a popular choice for GCSE and can be taken as the sole language or in combination with French. However, the latter is only recommended for excellent linguists. German as a qualification at GCSE level and beyond will certainly enhance job prospects.
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