German

As both English and German are Germanic languages, learning German can also help students improve their English skills, as there’s lots of crossover between the two.

With Germany’s thriving economy, knowing German is an invaluable asset for anyone interested in business, travel, or connecting with people across Europe. It’s not just a language; it’s a powerful tool for the future!

The emphasis at Key Stage 3 is making language-learning fun while gradually preparing pupils for their GCSE studies. Key Stage 3 German at Sheffield Girls’ is taught in a lively and engaging way to help every student to enjoy learning the language. For pupils entering Year 7 without any prior language-learning, our activities and curriculum caters to all levels of experience and confidence.

German language activities in class include:

• Roleplay
• Pair work
• Group work
• Short presentations
• Songs and plays
• Debates and discussions

We read authentic magazines, watch German films and generally encourage an interest in the cultural background of the German-speaking world, especially at Christmas and Easter when we celebrate German traditions.

GCSE German

We follow the Edexcel IGCSE curriculum, which is a linear course, finishing with final examinations. The topics are varied and we spend the entire course building structures little by little so that, by the end of Year 11, pupils are able to communicate spontaneously in German and achieve exceptional academic results. This means they are equipped to do their best in their examinations. GCSE German also equips them to spend time in German-speaking countries and prepares them thoroughly for A Level study.

Topics include: 

• Holidays
• Free time, hobbies and sports
• Family and friends
• School, jobs and future plans
• Technology
• TV and film
• Healthy living

Students have regular skills lessons and often use chromebooks in lessons to access listening material and authentic resources on online platforms. Pupils also benefit from dedicated individual time with our language assistants to develop their speaking skills spontaneously.

Our MFL Department is an energetic team of enthusiastic linguists. We are delighted to consistently achieve amongst the highest GCSE results in the GDST network.

Co-curricular Activities

• German Club – celebrates cultural traditions, music and drama
• Key Stage 3 and GCSE students enjoy residential visits to Germany which can include cultural excursions, language activities, and opportunities to perform or volunteer
• Our foreign language assistants run clinics to support girls at all stages of their learning
• Sheffield Girls’ hosts an annual Sheffield City Translation Bee with schools from right across the city
• Pupil Language Ambassadors lead activities throughout the year and run the Junior Language Club for Year 5 and Year 6 girls
• We celebrate National Languages Week every year in September with a range of activities and events