Course Outline

The German program offered to grades 10–12 students is designed to lead to proficiency in the language processes of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It also offers students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of German grammar and to acquire some familiarity with German literature and other cultural and historical achievements. A German video series may be used to enhance the cultural and linguistic content of the program. German films, music videos, and songs also contribute to the learning of authentic material. Because of the age, interests, and academic background of the students who select German as a course option, the program usually progresses at a fairly rapid pace. This allows teachers to offer core program materials during the first two years, followed by a selection of paperbacks on literary and cultural topics during the final year.

While the student continues to develop basic skills in this German course through the appropriate use of program materials, he or she is now encouraged to practise analyzing grammatical structure. The reading program, which encourages approximation, fosters good reading habits by helping students grasp meaning from phrases and sentences rather than individual words. The use of the language is always stressed over the ability to quote rules or to translate. Both accuracy and fluency are encouraged in the oral use of the language, with the emphasis being on accuracy in these early stages.