A level language speaking help

[Soundofshuna]

I found a really useful thread on how to make the most of speaking lessons for A level but having planned to show it to DD I now can’t find it!

Can anyone help particularly with German?

Hi @Soundofshuna I'm an ex teacher of MFL and now tutor and conduct external speaking exams. German a speciality. Which board is it? And what sort of thing did you want to know?

It wasn’t anything specific ( they are WJEC/eduqas I think from looking) but I’d found a helpful thread talking about how to prepare for the speaking lessons and how to cross reference the topics for speaking with the in-depth study to make the best use of vocabulary learning but couldn’t find it again .My daughter is just starting in year 12 but is considering a German degree.

Ah Ok. I know AQA and Edexcel best but I think Eduqas is similar. I would suggest noting down all vocab and learning it as you go; makes it a lot easier to deal with the topic stimulus cards (I am kind of assuming they are a thing with Eduqas) in the speaking exam.

The IRP is a task for year 13 really, but no harm in thinking about possible topics now. There might be something that comes from a topic studied - eg AQA includes s topic on German art and architecture which tbf most 17yos hate but I think is great - you could do an in-depth study on a German artist who caught your fancy, for example.

I wonder whether she would find these items interesting - I think that they are suitable for her level. (I was going to suggest the German ones from the company Mary Glasgow, but it looks as though they are about to stop).

Languages Direct offers:

https://www.languages-direct.com/zusammen-magazine.html

https://www.languages-direct.com/audio-magazines/presse-und-sprache-from-germany-for-learners-of-german.html

I have a BA(Hons) in Modern Languages, my main language being German.

I've always found Hammer's German Grammar and Usage really useful.

I see that Routledge also publish 'Practising German Grammar'.

https://www.routledge.com/Hammers-German-Grammar-and-Usage/Durrell/p/book/9780367150266

https://www.routledge.com/Practising-German-Grammar/Durrell-Kohl-Kaiser/p/book/9781138187047

If she's near a branch of W H Smith at any point, it's worth popping in to see what is on their international shelf. Some branches carry Der Spiegel - she would find it challenging, but very interesting.

https://www.spiegel.de/

Those are all fantastic suggestions thank you! As a scientist language A levels are a mystery to me!

There are lots of free resources online to support topic work inc German language news websites. Best to access these once she’s started working on a topic.

Also she should be given a text book which should have plenty of material.