German – the most widely spoken native language in Europe – will open doors to Germany, the biggest economy of the EU and fourth largest worldwide. Home to numerous international corporations and on the front line of new technologies, German ranks second as a scientific language worldwide and is a must-have subject for musicians and historians.
Students opting to take German in Lower IV (Year 8) really connect with this completely different, fun and refreshingly new language, with its logical pronunciation and spelling. Students build on their prior foundations in French and Latin, but German’s Anglo-Saxon roots mean that there is no risk of confusion with French – and plenty of overlap with English!
Students at The Abbey make impressive progress to IGCSE, IB and A Level, thanks to dynamic, fun lessons and an engaging introduction to the history, culture and traditions of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The teaching team and language assistant are an effective blend of native and non-native speakers who share their enthusiasm through song, film and extra-curricular activities, ranging from painting Easter eggs to celebrating Karneval, eating “spaghetti ice-cream” and watching films.
Learning German is also ideal preparation for the study of other languages such as Russian, Chinese or Arabic at university.
Beyond the classroom
Outside the classroom, educational visits are planned to Berlin, Munich, Vienna and the Christmas Market in Aachen to give students the opportunity to apply their language skills and experience German culture first-hand.