German
Willkommen - Welcome
Whatever plans you may have for your future after school, knowledge of German will increase your options. Learning German gives you a range of skills which can improve the quality of your education and your future. Learning German can help with the development of communication skills and general literacy because it encourages you to reflect on your knowledge of English and your skills in your native language.
With more than 155 million speakers worldwide, German is one of the easiest languages for speakers of English to learn because German and English belong to the same language family. This natural relationship guarantees progression and success right from the start. German is particularly close to the Scottish language due to common ancestors.
Learning German contributes towards your options in the world of work: travel and tourism, business studies, the hospitality sector, science and research are areas where knowledge of German will prove useful. As an academic subject, it stands you in good stead for any apprenticeship, college and university application.
S1 to S3 German
Pupils in S1, S2 and S3 will study various topics which will prepare them for successful progression into the senior phase: Family and Friends, Spare Time and Modern Media, School and Future Plans, German-speaking countries and cities, Holidays in Scotland and Abroad. The focus is on understanding language before pupils begin to develop talking and writing skills. A new aspect of the course is the consideration of the importance of transactional language, for example ordering food and drink, shopping dialogues and hospitality scenarios. Each year group will also do a film study which gives pupils an opportunity to enjoy a German film and apply skills they have developed in English literature studies.
S4 to S6 (Senior Phase)
In the senior phase, teachers and pupils work towards successful results in the national qualifications. Our department presents for National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.
The courses follow the SQA specifications which are broad and therefore allow for interesting and stimulating topics to be covered. At Higher and Advanced Higher level, personalisation and choice will be included to meet the needs of all learners.
All senior phase courses follow the same structure: Each course covers four contexts (Society, Learning, Empoyability, Culture) with a number of age-appropriate, motivating topics and sub-topics. Assessment will be on-going during class time to ensure learners feel supported and progress successfully in understanding and using the language. Each year group does a film study and a cultural focus on German society and recent German history. This allows the young people to transfer their skills from subjects such as English, Music, Art, History, Modern Studies and Geography to the German classroom.
