Why learn German at A- level
Business: Knowing the language of your German business partners improves your relations and therefore your chances for effective communication and success. Science and Research: German is the second most commonly used scientific language. Germany is the third largest contributor to research and development and offers research fellowships to scientists from abroad. Communication: Developments in media, information and communication technology require multilingual communicators. A wide range of important websites are in German and worldwide, Germany is ranked number 5 in terms of annual publication of new books. Knowledge of German therefore offers you extended access to information. Opportunities to study/work in Germany: Germany awards a generous number of scholarships and other support to study in Germany. Working holiday visas are available for young foreigners from a range of countries, and special visas are offered to skilled workers and professionals.
1. German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. More people speak German as their native language than any other language in Europe. It's no wonder, since Germany's 83 million inhabitants make it the most populous European nation. But not only the residents of Germany speak German. It is also an official language of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. And it is the native language of a significant portion of the population in northern Italy, eastern Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, eastern France, parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Romania, as well as in other parts of Europe. While learning German can connect you to 120 million native speakers around the globe, remember that many people also learn German as a second language. It is the 3rd most popular foreign language taught worldwide and the second most popular in Europe and Japan, after English.
Germany has the 3rd strongest economy and is the #1 export nation in the world. Germany has the third largest economy in the world and is the economic powerhouse of the European Union. In 2007 -- for the 5th year in a row and depite the strength of the euro currency -- the Germans were world champions in exports. The country exported 940 billion US dollars worth of goods, just ahead of the US exports. From cars to machinery and industrial equipment, from pharmaceuticals to household goods, German businesses earn 1 in 3 euros through export, and 1 in 4 jobs depends on exports. The competitiveness and desirability of German products on the market are indicated by the country's substantial trade surplus, which reached 162 billion euros (209 billion dollars) in 2006 and continues to grow every year. And don't forget that Switzerland, another German-speaking country, has one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Knowing German creates business opportunities. Germany's economic strength equals business opportunities. Multinational business opportunities exist throughout the European Union and in the Eastern European countries, where German is the second most spoken language after Russian. Companies like BMW, Daimler, Siemens, Lufthansa, SAP, Bosch, Infineon, BASF, and many others need international partners. The Japanese, who have the 2nd most powerful economy in the world, understand the business advantages that a knowledge of German will bring them: 68% of Japanese students study German. If you're looking for employment in the United States, knowing German can give you great advantages. German companies account for 700,000 jobs in the United States, and US companies have created approximately the same number of jobs in Germany. All other things being equal, the job candidate with German skills will trump the one without such skills every time. Most surveyed companies in the United States would choose someone with German literacy over an equally qualified candidate.
Examination Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation Written examination: 2 hours 40% of the qualification 80 marks Section A: Listening (30 marks) A listening assessment based on a recording, featuring male and female German speakers. Students will respond to comprehension questions based on a variety of contexts and sources. Section B: Reading (30 marks) A reading assessment based on a variety of text types and genres where students will have to respond to comprehension questions. Section C: Translation into English (20 marks) An unseen passage to be translated from German to English.
Paper 2: Written response to works and translation Written examination: 2 hours and 40 minutes 30% of the qualification 120 marks Section A: Translation (20 marks) Students translate an unseen passage from English into German. Section B: Written response to works (literary texts) (50 marks) Students must write an extended response on either one or two of the literary texts listed in
Paper 3: Speaking Total assessment time: between 21 and 23 minutes 30% of the qualification Task 1 draws on vocabulary and structures across all four themes. Task 2 is based on independent research selected and carried out by the student. The research may be based on one of the themes or on the student’s own subject of interest related to the society and culture of the language studied. out the culture and society where the language is spoken.
Themes Theme 1: Gesellschaftliche Entwicklung in Deutschland Theme 1 is set in the context of Germany only. This theme covers social issues and trends. • Natur und Umwelt :Umweltbewusstsein; Recycling; erneuerbare Energie; nachhaltig leben. • Bildung : Bildungswesen und die Situation von Studenten; Sitzenbleiben, Berufsausbildung. • Die Welt der Arbeit :Das Arbeitsleben in Deutschland und die Arbeitsmoral; deutsche Geschäfte und Industrien.
Themes Theme 2: Politische und künstlerische Kultur im deutschen Sprachraum Theme 2 is set in the context of German-speaking countries and communities This theme covers artistic culture (through music and festivals and traditions) and political and artistic culture (through media). • Musik Wandel und Trends; Einfluss der Musik auf die populäre Kultur. • Die Medien Fernsehen, Digital-, Print- und Onlinemedien; Einfluss auf Gesellschaft und Politik. • Die Rolle von Festen und Traditionen Feste, Feiern, Sitten, Traditionen.
Themes Theme 3: Immigration und die deutsche multikulturelle Gesellschaft Theme 3 is set in the context of Germany only. This theme covers social issues and trends. • Die positive Auswirkung von Immigration Beitrag der Immigranten zur Wirtschaft und Kultur. • Die Herausforderungen von Immigration und Integration Maßnahmen von Gemeinden und örtlichen Gemeinschaften; Ausgrenzung und Entfremdung aus der Sicht von Immigranten. • Die staatliche und soziale Reaktion zur Immigration Rechtsextremismus; politische Annäherung an Gastarbeiter, Immigranten und Asylbewerber; die öffentliche Meinung.
Themes Theme 4: Die Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands Theme 4 is set in the context of Germany only. This theme covers political culture. • Die Gesellschaft in der DDR vor der Wiedervereinigung Arbeit; Wohnungswesen; kommunistische Prinzipien; das Verhältnis zum Westen. • Ereignisse vor der Wiedervereinigung Der Zusammenbruch des Kommunismus; der Fall der Berliner Mauer. • Deutschland seit der Wiedervereinigung Migration von Ost nach West; Arbeitslosigkeit in der früheren DDR; Auswirkungen auf Schulen in Deutschland.
Literary texts ● Andorra, Max Frisch, 1961 (play) ● Der Besuch der alten Dame, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, 1956 (play) ● Der kaukasische Kreidekreis, Bertolt Brecht, 1944 (play) ● Der Vorleser, Bernhard Schlink, 1995 (novel) ● Die Entdeckung der Currywurst, Uwe Timm, 1993 (novella) ● Die neuen Leiden des jungen W., Ulrich Plenzdorf, 1972 (novel) ● Die Verwandlung, Franz Kafka, 1915 (novella) ● Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum, Heinrich Böll, 1974 (novel) ● Ich fühl mich so fifty-fifty, Karin König, 1994 (novella) ● Sansibar oder der letzte Grund, Alfred Andersch, 1957 (novel) ● Sommerhaus, später und andere Erzählungen, Judith Hermann, 1998 (short stories) ● Stern ohne Himmel, Leonie Ossowski, 1958 (novel) ● Tonio Kröger, Thomas Mann, 1903 (novella)
Films ● Almanya - Willkommen in Deutschland, dir. Yasemin Samdereli (2011) ● Das Leben der Anderen, dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (2006) ● Das Wunder von Bern, dir. Sönke Wortmann (2003) ● Der Untergang, dir. Oliver Hirschbiegel (2004) ● Der Wald vor lauter Bäumen, dir. Maren Ade (2003) ● Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei, dir. Hans Weingartner (2004) ● Die Welle, dir. Dennis Gansel (2008) ● Good Bye, Lenin!, dir. Wolfgang Becker (2003) ● Lola rennt, dir. Tom Tykwer (1998) ● Nirgendwo in Afrika, dir. Caroline Link (2001) ● Rosenstraße, dir. Margarethe von Trotta (2003) ● Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage, dir. Marc Rothemund (2005)
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