GERMAN (PEARSON)

A Level Course Outline

Why choose Edexcel A Level German?

Languages broaden the mind and broaden horizons, both in terms of employability and personal growth. They should therefore appeal to all students and the Edexcel A-level in German has been developed to inspire students to have an appreciation of the language, literature, film and culture of the German-speaking world.

Inspiring and engaging Themes

The qualification features popular and thought-provoking themes as well as content that provides clear links to some of the most fundamental and interesting aspects of the culture of German speaking countries and communities.

Popular literary texts and films

A rich choice of literary texts and films are available to study, which includes contemporary and more classical titles, together with authentic source materials from Germany and the wider German-speaking world.

Rewards creativity

The assessments place an emphasis on spontaneity and grammar, as well as providing plenty of opportunities for students to apply their knowledge independently and creatively. Clear mark schemes encourage students to develop ideas and use language to persuade and analyse and give critical responses in their writing and speaking.

Clear and coherent structure

The qualification has a straightforward structure with four engaging themes: 1. Social Issues and Trends in Germany (the environment, the world of work and education); 2. Culture in German speaking society (music, media and the role of festivals and traditions); 3. Immigration and multiculturalism in Germany; and 4. Germany before and after Reunification. The four themes are studied alongside two works (either two literary texts, or a one text and one film) and are assessed through two externally-examined papers and one teacher assessment (the oral exam).

Manageable content

Content is manageable and appropriate, so that students can be confident that they have enough time to cover what they need to at the appropriate depth.

Continuous progression and Assessment

The exam content builds on the understanding developed at Key Stage 4 and gives students the opportunity to learn and apply important transferable skills in critical thinking and analysis, enabling them to make a smooth transition to the next level of study. If a two year A Level course is being taken, then Themes 1 and 2 and one literary work or film are studied and examined in the first year and Themes 3 and 4 and the second literary work, or the film, are studied in the second year. All four themes are then assessed in the final A Level examination.

German (EDX) A level Specification

Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation

Written examination: 2 hours
40% of the qualification
80 marks

This paper draws on vocabulary and structures across all four Themes. Students are not permitted access to a dictionary during the examination.

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

This paper draws on the study of two discrete German works: either two literary texts, or one literary text and one film. The literary texts listed include a range of classic and contemporary novels, a series of short stories and plays. All of the films are feature length. This paper includes a translation exercise and two essays on either two literary texts, or one literary text and one film (students must not answer questions on two films). Students are not permitted access to a dictionary or any documentation relating to the works during the examination.

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 Students select one question from a choice of two for each of their chosen literary text(s). If a student answers questions on two literary texts then they do not complete section C.

Section C: Written response to works (literary text or films) (50 marks)
Students who answer only one question from a literary text in Section B must now write an extended response on one of the film listed. Students select one question from a choice of two from their chosen film.

Paper 3: Speaking
Internally conducted and externally assessed

Total assessment time: between 21 and 23 minutes, which includes a single period of 5 minutes' formal preparation time
30% of the qualification
72 marks

Task 1, c.6 mins, (discussion on a Theme)
Students discuss one Theme from the specification based on a stimulus containing two different statements.

Task 2, c.12 mins, (presentation and discussion on independent research)
Students present a summary of the key findings of the written sources they have used for their research and answer questions on this. They then have a wider discussion on their research.

Core Textbook
Edexcel German for AS and A Level
Hodder Publications
ISBN-10: 1471858235

Further reading
http://www.dw.com/en/learn-german/s-2469, www.spiegel.de, https://www.zdf.de/, https://www.goethe.de/ins/gb/en/sta/lon.html, www.ard.de, http://www.ardmediathek.de/tv, www.dw.de