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    German

    We aim to provide students with the expertise of practical communication and understanding of ideas through four key skills: Reading, writing, listening and speaking.

    At Beckfoot, students will study either German or French across Key Stage 3. Both languages follow the same scheme of learning. Students may then choose to continue studying the language at GCSE and A level too.

    We believe that learning a foreign language should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world, as well as providing opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes. In addition, we aim to help students learn new ways of thinking and access authentic materials (including access to culture, film and literature) in the original language. It should provide the foundation for further language learning, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.

    Enrichment

    We consciously thread schemes which provide cultural capital through our curriculum maps.

    All students deepen their knowledge of German, and are therefore familiar not only with German customs and traditions, but the customs and traditions of the world around them.

    Assessment

    In years 7, 8 and 9, internal assessments will take place throughout each year to monitor student progress and further inform teaching and learning. 

    At GCSE, students will be assessed in four written exams at the end of Year 11, with mocks and internal assessments over two years to monitor progress.

    KS4 Specification

    Careers

    We provide the the opportunity for students to discuss their future ambitions in the target language. We keep them up to date with the career opportunities that languages can provide and support them language learning outside of school.

    • Translator
    • Writer/Author
    • Teaching professional
    • Public Relations professional
    • Diplomat

    Curriculum Overview

    YearCycle 1Cycle 2Cycle 3
    Year 7

    All about me: Learning and using key sounds and letters of the German alphabet, as well as numbers and days of the week. Learning to talk about the characteristics of yourself and others.
    Family and pets: This scheme allows pupils to explore talking about their family and pets.

    Freetime: Students will learn to conjugate present tense verbs and express opinions about a range of free time activities.
    School: Students learn key vocabulary around the topic of school and give opinions about subjects.

    Retrieval/Cultural Capital: Students will complete a variety of comprehension, listening vocabulary and writing activities to reinforce their learning, while completing a mini topic about German speaking regions.

    Year 8

    Oracy: Revision of adjectives and opinions to describe a photo and give opinions on it to allow students to speak with increased confidence and better pronunciation.
    Holidays: This unit ensures students have a cultural insight into places in Germany.

    Media and Technology: Pupils will express views and opinions about books, TV shows, films and the internet.
    Healthy Living: Pupils will express opinions on a healthy lifestyle and what one should and shouldn’t do.

    School trips:  Students will learn key vocabulary to do with the house and home.
    Retrieval/cultural capital: Students will complete a variety of comprehension, listening vocabulary and writing activities to reinforce their learning, while discussing Berlins complex history and the causes and consequences of its division.

    Year 9

    Oracy: Revision of adjectives and opinions to describe a photo and give opinions on it.
    Music: This unit allows students the opportunity to explore German music using new vocabulary and grammatical structures to share their opinions and talk about preferences.

    Role models: Students have the opportunity to discuss who their role models are and why.
    Ambitions: The conditional tense is revisited here, with the students focusing on student ambitions.

    Childhood: This topic lays the foundations of key grammar to talk about childhood experiences.
    Retrieval/cultural capital: Students will complete a variety of comprehension, listening vocabulary and writing activities to reinforce their learning, while completing a mini topic relating to a cultural element of the German speaking world.

    Year 10

    Oracy: Students develop oracy skills and spontaneity when speaking – completing general conversation, role plays, photo card and reading aloud tasks.
    Free time and activities: Free time activities such as sport, live events, film and TV.

    Identify relationships with others: Family, descriptions and relationships with others.
    Environment, healthy living and festivals: Students will identify environmental problems, how they can stay healthy and festivals and German traditions.

    Where people live: Students will talk about their town/village/neighbourhood, discussing what there is to see and do and the weather. They will also describe their ideal town and use prepositions to say where things are.
    Travel and tourism: Talking about holidays in present, past and future and describing an idea holiday. Destinations, transport, accommodation, weather, activities and opinions.

    Year 11

    School and education: Talking about school – subjects, teachers, uniform, rules.
    Education and work: Students will discuss career wishes, plans, hopes and ambitions while recognisinng opportunities to work abroad

    Media, technology and celebrity culture: Students will discuss the pros and cons of the internet, social media and mobiles. Give opinions about famous people and how they influence young people.
    Oral exam preparation: Students will begin to prepare for their speaking exam.

    Exam period and revision covering all four key skills: Students will have ample opportunity to prepare for the listening, reading and writing exam.