German

The Leaving Certificate syllabus in German aims to provide continuity and progression from the Junior Certificate programme in all four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The common syllabus for Ordinary and Higher Level consists of three broad components:

1. Communicative Proficiency:
   Communicative skills are developed through general conversation, discussion and role play. During Transition Year and 5th Year, students have the opportunity of partaking in our Tandem Language Learning Exchange programme.
   
2. Language Awareness:
   Students are made aware of how meaning is organised and conveyed by the structures and vocabulary of the German language and they develop an awareness of some stylistic aspects of the text. Language learning strategies are introduced and a degree of learner autonomy is fostered.
   
3. Cultural Awareness:
   The cultural awareness component introduces the student to the cultural, political and social diversity of the German speaking countries.

The use of a comparative methodology contributes to the students’ intercultural education.

The syllabus content is organised in units of themes such as Family, School, Travel, Health, Youth Topics, Social Issues and Entertainment to name but a few, and caters for a wide range of abilities.

Oral 25% 20%
Listening comprehension 20% 25%
Reading comprehension 30% 40%
Writing 25% 15%