German

Course summary

It is now commonplace for proficiency in languages to be sought among employers. More and more professions require you to work in a multilingual environment and there are few companies who do not have customers, if not branches, abroad. Just have a look at some higher education prospectuses and you will see how many of them combine science, ICT, engineering, management and business studies with languages. Consider the advantages you will have if you have the ability to speak another language, coupled with a sound understanding of the politics and culture of the country or countries concerned. Not just travel companies, but also business, finance, technology, media, creative and science-based professions are all increasingly looking for graduates who can offer a range of skills including language proficiency. German is the smart choice. Leaving aside the exciting opportunities to live and work in a German-speaking country, the CBI, the UK’s premier business lobbying organisation, considers German as one of the most useful foreign languages for organisations in the UK. We also recap all grammar points from GCSE as well as introducing more advanced grammar points to help you through your A Level studies. We use authentic materials from German media including newspaper and website articles, as well as film and news video clips. Our German assistant will also help you to improve your confidence and ability in spoken German in order to prepare you for the oral exam. Students will also study one film and one literary text. Recent examples include Goodbye Lenin – a black comedy about the fall of communism, The Lives of Others – an Oscar winning film about the actions of the East German Secret Police. Books have included ‘Der Vorleser’ (The Reader) by Bernhard Schlink and Die Verwandlung (Metamorphosis) by Franz Kafka. CAREERS Students who have studied this subject have gone on to study Modern Languages at Oxbridge, as well as other subjects including International Relations, Business and Finance, International Law, or German as part of a Joint Honours Degree