German

Contact Details

Name

Position

Email
Ms. Rebecca Moitra Head of German Moitra@hendonschool.co.uk
Mr. Konstantinos Kalogirou Head of French & Teacher of German  KalogirouK@hendonschool.co.uk

 

Students begin their GCSE German course in Year 9 at Hendon. During Key Stage 3, they build strong foundations in the four key language skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – as well as essential vocabulary and grammar, which prepares them well for GCSE study.

The GCSE course enables students to further develop their linguistic skills while also deepening their understanding of Germany and other German-speaking countries in Europe. In addition to classroom learning, students benefit from a range of enrichment opportunities, which in previous years have included a German club, with film screenings and general cultural awareness. We have also taken students on many trips – both in this country and abroad, to a range of places, including Berlin, Munich, Salzburg the Black Forest and cross-curricular trips run with the French and Humanities departments, to France and Poland respectively, including a trip to Auschwitz, which had a profound effect on the students able to experience this. We are working to re-introduce these trips in the near future.

At Key Stage 4, we follow the AQA GCSE German (8662) specification. The qualification is assessed at the end of Year 11 through four exams, one in each of the core skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Each exam contributes 25% towards the final GCSE grade.

The course is structured around three key themes:

  • Theme 1: People and lifestyle
  • Theme 2: Popular culture
  • Theme 3: Communication and the world around us 

These themes are taught across Years 9 to 11, alongside regular opportunities to develop exam techniques and revisit core language and grammar, particularly in Year 11. Students are also assessed at the end of each unit in all four skills to monitor progress and support achievement.

Students are entered for either the Foundation tier (grades 1–5) or the Higher tier (grades 4–9), and must take all four exam papers at the same tier.

 

Curriculum Learning Journey:

  Autumn Spring Summer

Year 9

(start of GCSE course)

Theme 1 / Unit 1: Identity and Relationships with others.

 

Theme 2 / Unit 3: 

Marriage and Celebrity Culture.

 

Theme 3 / Unit 2: Media and Technology.

Theme 2 / Unit 1 (part 1): Free time activities.

Theme 3 / Unit 1: Travel and Tourism, including places of interest. 

End of Year revision.
Year 10

Theme 1 / Unit 2: Healthy Living and Lifestyle.

Theme 2 / Unit 2: Customs, Festivals and Celebrations.

Theme 3 / Unit 3 (part 1): Where People Live.

Theme 3 / Unit 3 (part 2): The Environment. 

Theme 1 / Unit 3 (part 1): Education & Work.

 

End of Year revision and mock exams.
Year 11 Revision for mock exams.  Revision and exam preparation. Revision and exam preparation.

 

For further information, please visit the AQA German website.

How to Prepare Effectively
Students make the strongest progress when they adopt consistent and focused revision habits. We recommend the following approach:

  • Revise little and often – short, regular sessions of 15–20 minutes each day are far more effective than last-minute cramming.
  • Prioritise core language – focus on learning and revisiting key vocabulary, as well as practising essential verbs across three-time frames (past, present and future).
  • Use a combination of resources – for example, Quizlet is excellent for vocabulary practice. This should be supported with regular exam-style practice to build confidence and technique.

Developing these habits over time will help students feel more confident and better prepared for their GCSE exams.

Useful Links

GCSE German 8662 | Specification | Specification At A Glance | AQA all course information 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zjgpg2p - for reviewing essential topic-specific vocabulary and grammar