German at A-Level
Students are allocated 5 lessons per week and in addition they have 1 lesson per week with the German assistant. Students follow the WJEC syllabus.
Which topics are studied at A-Level?
Students will study a number of topics with reference to German speaking countries as well as in a wider global context.
At AS:
Leisure and lifestyles:
Travel and tourism, sport, hobbies, entertainment, customs, traditions, healthy living - health and nutrition, diet and exercise; unhealthy living - drugs, aids, smoking, alcohol etc.
The individual and society:
Relationships and responsibilities, gender issues, youth culture (values, peer groups, fashions and trends etc.), education, vocational training and future careers
At A2:
Environmental issues:
Pollution, global warming, transport, energy, nuclear energy,
Social and political issues:
EU, multi-culturalism, racism, immigration, social exclusion and integration, terrorism, world of work, (employment, commerce, globalisation, minimum wage, single European market, Euro etc)
The Guided Studies option:
In addition, part of the A2 course will involve studying one film and one book from a prescribed list. This year we are studying Goodbye Lenin and Der Besuch der Alten Dame.
The film will be discussed in the oral examination (GN3) and the
book will be examined through an essay on the GN4 paper.
How is A-Level assessed?
At AS there are 2 units:
GN1 - Oral (Conducted by an external examiner) (20%)
GN2 - Listening, Reading and Writing (30%)
These units are assessed in the Summer term of Year 12.
• It is possible to re-sit the GN2 paper at Christmas in Year 13 and again in the Summer of Year 13.
• It is possible to re-sit the GN1 paper in the Summer term of Year 13.
At A2 there are 2 units:
GN3 - Oral (Conducted by an external examiner) (20%)
GN4 - Listening, Reading and Writing (30%)
These units are assessed in the Summer term of Y13.
So why study German at A level?
Speaking German will improve your job prospects, not just in Germany but at home and wherever you are. Germany is the most important trading partner for many European and non-European countries.
Businesses are eager to recruit people with language qualifications. In many companies a foreign language will be the deciding factor when two candidates have similar qualifications. Graduates with German have the best employment prospects after the medical professions.
Knowledge of German is a real asset for students and scientists. If you can read German, you have access to a whole world of research findings in all areas of modern science.
As a citizen of the EU you have the right to live, work or study in Germany or Austria. You will also be able to use your German in many of the countries that recently joined the EU such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
Understanding and speaking German will enable you to gain a much deeper insight into the history and culture of the heart of Europe. 
Which trips are on offer at A-Level?
Year 12 pupils attend a "Wales in Europe" event in City Hall in February, where they are able to sample new languages, attend grammar workshops and even learn Salsa dancing!
Year 12 also visits Chapter Arts Centre each year for a showing and workshop of a current German film.
Year 12 & 13 can also take part in the visit to the Cologne Christmas Markets.
