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NSW School of Languages

NSW School of Languages

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German

Course overview

View or print a German language brochure (PDF 5419KB)

Stage 5

200 hour course

This course is designed for students who wish to study German in Years 9 and 10 as an elective subject. Students with no knowledge, some prior knowledge or background knowledge of German are eligible to study this course.

The course contains a variety of interactive learning activities which cater for all levels of knowledge. There are online tasks and worksheets which students need to submit weekly for marking. Regular weekly speaking lessons are also an integral part of the course. During these one-on-one lessons, students will develop their speaking skills and have the opportunity to discuss any queries about the coursework with their teacher. Face-to-face lesson days each term are organised so that students can meet their classmates and participate in active language learning activities at NSW School of Languages.

All learning materials are available in the e-learning class. It is not necessary to purchase additional resources. In each year there are 32 modules to complete, ranging in topics from hobbies and interests, celebrations, food, school, let’s party, holidays, careers etc.

100 hour course German

The 100 hour course is for Year 10 students who have not previously studied German. The students will gain an elementary knowledge of German through their work with the course materials and regular weekly lessons for speaking practice. Students will develop insights into the culture of German speaking countries through their coursework. Face-to-face lessons days are also organised for students to meet and interact with their peers at NSW School of Languages. Students who complete the 100 hour course, remain eligible for the Stage 6 Beginners course, dependant on meeting other criteria and this course is excellent preparation for the Stage 6 Beginners course.

Stage 6

German Beginners

This course is designed for students with very little or no knowledge of German. In the Year 11 Preliminary Course there are 23 Modules that guide and support students in their studies. All the materials for learning are available in the e-Learning class. Each Module consists of a variety of interactive learning activities and clearly states what work the students are required to submit to their teacher for marking. Weekly online speaking lessons with their teacher allow for speaking practice as well as opportunities to further discuss the coursework. Face-to-face lesson days are also organised for students to meet and interact with their peers at NSW School of Languages.

The Year 12 HSC Course contains 32 units to complete over the four terms. Additional enrichment and extension materials as well as links to German language learning sites are also available for all students in the e-learning class. This course focuses not only on the HSC syllabus topics but also heavily on HSC examination skills and techniques. 

German Continuers

This course is designed for students who wish to continue with their German studies after having completing German in Years 9 and 10. The course aims to further develop students’ language skills with a mixture of self-directed blended learning materials in the e-learning class. In the Year 11 Preliminary Course there are 30 Modules that guide and support students in their studies. In the Year 12 HSC Course students complete a total of 20 units. Students in the Preliminary and HSC courses are expected to complete a variety of interactive learning activities and submit written work to their teacher on a regular basis for feedback. Weekly online speaking lessons with the teacher are also a compulsory part of both courses whereby students can develop their German speaking skills. Face-to-face lesson days are organised for students to meet and interact with their peers at NSW School of Languages.

German Extension

This course is offered to Year 12 students who have successfully completed the Year 11 German Continuers Preliminary course at a high standard. The organisational focus of the course is based around the theme ‘The individual and contemporary society’. Students are provided with a wealth of support material to help them develop their skills in understanding and analysing the set text for study. Students will further develop their languages skills so that they are able to use German effectively to write texts related to the prescribed issues in the Extension course. Weekly online speaking lessons are compulsory for students so that they can develop their speaking skills for monologue presentations. Face-to-face lesson days are also organised for students to meet and interact with their peers at NSW School of Languages.

Course materials

Textbooks

The following is a list of learning materials which need to be purchased for the specified course. All prices are approximate. If a course is not listed, all materials are provided by NSW School of Languages in the e-learning class.

Textbooks can be ordered online at Abbey's Bookshop.

Stage 5 - 200 hour course

Year 9 & 10 German

There are no texts which need to be purchased for this course.

Stage 6 Courses

Year 12 German Beginners - HSC course

There are no texts which need to be purchased for this course.

Year 11 & Year 12 German Continuers course

There are no texts which need to be purchased for these courses.

The following is a list of suggested enrichment materials which students may like to purchase:

Genau Senior Student Book and Grammar booklet is approximately $76. Publisher Thomson Nelson. ISBN 9780170128315

This text can be purchased at Abbey's Bookshop.

Year 12 German Extension course

The prescribed text is tschick by Wolfgang Herrndorf. Approximately $35. ISBN 9783499256356

This text can be purchased at Abbey's Bookshop.

Dictionaries & other resources

All students should have a comprehensive language print dictionary. We recommend these dictionaries for the following courses:

Years 9 – 10 German & Years 11 - 12 German Beginners:

Oxford Essential German Dictionary (approximately $18)

German Continuers:

Oxford Compact German Dictionary (approximately $40)

Some other useful resources which students may like to purchase include:

German Grammar by Barrons (approximately $18)

German Grammar 11-14 by Olivier Grey & Trevor Stevens (approximately $39)

Syllabuses (from NESA)

Go the NESA syllabus downloads page for more information on the syllabus.