Year 9 & 10 German
German is an elective subject beyond Year 8 at Berwick Secondary College. At Year 9 & 10 students are given the opportunity to participate in cultural experiences which enhance their learning of the language.
Year 9 German
Oral, aural and writing skills are further developed and grammatical aspects extended in this course. Students use the “Feuerwork 2” textbook and workbook in developing their macro skills through the following topics:
- Germany, its people and customs
- Going on holidays
- Food in Germany and Australia
- Leisure activities and travelling
- Clothing
- Celebrations
- Berlin - the German Capital
- Other German speaking communities
- Theatre, films and entertainment
Students’ progress is monitored through several points such as reading comprehension, listening and writing tasks within the “Feuerwork 2” workbook. Short vocabulary tests are conducted regularly and each topic is concluded by an end-of-unit-test.
Students are also encouraged to participate in the ACER Assessment of Language Competence tests.
Year 10 German – Course Overview
German language is an elective subject in year 10 and is studied for the whole year. Students who choose to do German in year 10 usually aim to continue on in years 11 and 12. Resources and activities developed and used by staff at Berwick Secondary College are available here for your use.
The Year 10 German course is deals with everyday life situations aimed at teenagers. Grammar is studied extensively in the context of the topics covered by the course, to prepare students for the demands of VCE German. The topics covered involve students in:
- Giving information about themselves, their families and asking this of others
- Describing physical attributes and moods
- Giving information about where they live and asking this of others
- Expressing an opinion of where they live
- Sport
- Talking about jobs and about their hopes and plans for the future
- Talking about school (giving and seeking information about the school)
- Going on holidays and travelling
Excursions/Activities
Students engage in various communicative activities in lessons to help develop their ability to communicate in German with confidence. Computer-based exercises and activities and internet activities are an integral part of the course. Lessons make use of various learning technologies including interactive whiteboards and computers. A range of texts are used throughout the course including film, audio tapes, CDs, short stories and articles, to ensure that students are exposed to a variety of language and contexts.
Assessment
Students complete three major pieces of written assessment each semester. Throughout the semester, they also sit short vocabulary and grammar tests. Students prepare for and perform oral assessment tasks in a range of contexts including interviews, role-plays and unscripted tests. At the end of each semester, students will sit an examination which will test each of the four language skill areas – listening, speaking, reading and writing.