German (Version 8.4)

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Context statement

The place of the German language and culture in Australia and in the world
German is an official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Belgium, Luxembourg and in South Tyrol in Italy.

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PDF documents

Resources and support materials for the Australian Curriculum: Languages - German are available as PDF documents. 
Languages - German: Sequence of content
Languages - German: Sequence of Achievement - F-10 Sequence
Languages - German: Sequence of …

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Foundation to Year 2

Foundation to Year 2 Band Description

The nature of the learners

Children enter the early years of schooling with established oracy skills in one or more languages and varying degrees of early literacy capability. For young students, learning typically focuses on their immediate world of family, home, school, friends and neighbourhood. They are learning how to socialise with new people, share with others and participate in structured routines and activities at school. Typically they have little to no experience of German language and culture.

German language learning and use

At this stage, games, music, movement, familiar routines, and imaginative activities such as role-plays provide essential scaffolding and relevant contexts for language development. Learners engage with the sounds, shapes and patterns of German through activities such as rhymes, songs, clapping and action games. They identify and use simple formulaic expressions, one- or two-word responses to prompts and cues, and non-verbal German communication strategies. They learn to write by tracing and copying, forming letters legibly. They learn to write words and simple sentences independently using modelled language, for example, by matching pictures with single words, labels or captions.

Contexts of interaction

The primary context of interaction is the language classroom, as learners interact with the teacher and with one another. Their use of German relates primarily to classroom routines and activities, draws on curiosity about the world around them, and engages their interest in play, movement and games.

Texts and resources

Learners engage with a variety of spoken, written and digital texts. They listen and respond to teacher talk, share ideas, and join in stories, songs, play and simple conversations. Physical, virtual and digital resources provide access to additional German language and cultural interactions, connecting learners’ social worlds with those of their peers in other German-speaking contexts.

Features of German language use

Learners become familiar with the sounds and rhythms of German, approximating the pronunciation and phrasing of single words and short phrases, including distinctive sounds such as ch, r, th, u and z, and diphthongs such as au, ei, eu and ie. They use simple basic sentence structures and familiar vocabulary for everyday functions such as greetings, asking and answering questions, responding to instructions, and participating in games, performances and simple shared tasks. They learn to write single words and simple phrases, noticing the use of the Eszett and how an Umlaut changes the sound of vowels. They notice similarities and differences between German and English. They use modelled language to produce their own short texts and to interact. They begin to notice that language behaves differently in different situations and that German speakers communicate in some ways that are different from their own. As they communicate about differences and similarities, they begin to understand that they are part of a connected world. This introduction to the reflective dimension of intercultural language learning begins to develop an understanding of culture.

Level of support

Support is provided through visual and tactile materials such as pictures, realia, objects and charts, and through the use of gesture and movement. The teacher provides prompts, cues, and opportunities for repetition and recycling to help learners identify and remember frequently used words and simple phrases. Learners rely on modelled language, scaffolded tasks, feedback and encouragement to build their language capability.

The role of English

Learners are encouraged to use German whenever possible, particularly when engaging in classroom interactions and routines. The teacher uses German as much as possible for instruction. English is used for explanation and discussion, allowing learners to communicate about differences and similarities they notice between German and their own language(s), to ask questions about language and culture, and to consider their experience of learning German.


Foundation to Year 2 Content Descriptions

Socialising

Interact and socialise with peers and teacher to exchange greetings and information about self and family, and express likes and dislikes

[Key concepts: self, family; Key processes: interacting, greeting, thanking] (ACLGEC103 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • exchanging simple greetings, thanks and good wishes using formulaic expressions, adjusting language to suit the situation, for example, Ich heiße ... und du? Guten Morgen! Auf Wiedersehen! Danke! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Frohe Weihnachten! Guten Appetit!
  • using simple statements to describe themselves and to express likes and dislikes, for example, Ich bin fünf. Ich wohne in … Ich mag … (nicht).
  • sharing ideas about people and belongings, for example, Mein Teddy heiβt … Das ist meine Schwester/mein Ball.
Participate in guided group activities using simple repetitive language in songs, rhymes, games and transactions

[Key concepts: play, performance, action learning; Key processes: participating, taking turns] (ACLGEC104 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • participating in songs, rhymes and chants by singing and using actions, for example, Kopf, Schulter, Knie und Fuß; 1, 2, Polizei
  • playing games such as Hatschi Patschi, Hier ist Platz, Lotto and Stille Post and using associated language, for example, related to turn-taking (Wer ist dran? Ich bin dran) and forming groups using numbers or colours (Blau ist hier; Gruppe 2 ist hier)
  • following a model to create a shared digital/online text, such as adding key information on a class invitation (Wann? Was? Wer? Wo?)
  • making choices in routine activities such as the selection of a song from the class songbook, for example, responding to the question Was singen wir heute?
Recognise and respond to instructions and questions about activities, games and classroom routines, and make polite requests

[Key concepts: roles, routines; Key processes: following instructions, participating, listening] (ACLGEC105 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • responding with actions/gestures to questions such as Wo ist … ? and instructions such as Bitte aufstehen, (Klasse 1)! Hände auf den Kopf! Alle zusammen! Achtung!
  • recognising and responding to simple questions, using supporting intonation and gestures, for example, Wer/Was ist das? Das ist ? Ist das … ? Nein, das ist ...
  • using German for everyday routines such as roll call (Hier bin ich) or naming the day of the week (Es ist Montag)
  • following simple directions supported by gestures to locate items in the classroom or playground, for example, links, rechts, auf dem Boden, hinter Peter, unter dem Tisch
  • responding to and making polite requests, for example, Ich möchte … , bitte. Bitte schön!

Informing

Identify key words and information in simple shared texts related to personal worlds

[Key concepts: literacy, text; Key processes: locating, matching, ordering] (ACLGEC106 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • recognising symbols, words and phrases of written German, for example, labels, titles and captions
  • recognising key words in stories, rhymes or songs, using intonation and visual cues such as gestures and facial expressions to assist understanding
  • demonstrating understanding by labelling, pointing, matching, clicking, dragging, drawing, miming, facial expressions and actions
  • locating specific words and expressions, for example, in spoken texts by clapping or raising hands, and in written texts by pointing to or highlighting the word(s)
  • ordering/matching items of information in relation to different texts, such as responding to questions about story, for example, Wer ist das? Er hat drei Brüder und wohnt in …
Convey factual information about self, family and possessions through pictures, labels, captions and short descriptions, using familiar words and modelled language

[Key concepts: identity, belonging; Key processes: naming, labelling, describing] (ACLGEC107 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • using key words and simple phrases to annotate a picture, diagram or photo for public display
  • contributing to a digital photo story on Meine Klasse, for example, writing and recording captions to own photos (Das bin ich. Ich heiße… und ich bin… Das ist meine Mami. Sie ist nett)
  • using simple sentence structures, familiar vocabulary, supporting resources and gestures to communicate about self and the immediate environment, for example, Ich bin im Kindergarten. Ich bin in Klasse 1. Das ist mein Kissen.
  • conveying aspects of shared knowledge about German language and culture, such as by pointing to places on a map or pictures of symbols or typical foods, for example, Das ist Deutschland. Die Flagge ist Schwarz-Rot-Gold.

Creating

Engage with a range of imaginative texts through action, dance, singing, drawing, shared reading and collaborative retelling

[Key concepts: imagination, performance, setting; Key processes: participating, responding] (ACLGEC108 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • responding to imaginative print and digital texts, such as stories, rhymes or cartoons, by performing excerpts of texts or creating their own texts, using repetitive actions, gestures and words/sentences, and sequencing pictures from the text to reflect the correct order of events
  • expressing a personal opinion of a text, for example, Das ist lustig/komisch/langweilig
  • drawing their favourite character or scene from stories, rhymes, songs or cartoons such as Schnappi and attaching/writing a simple evaluative statement, for example, … ist fantastisch. Ich mag …
  • performing the story of a book, for example, Wir gehen auf Bärenjagd, Der Baum und das Mädchen, Weißt du wie lieb ich dich hab?
  • reading or viewing English and German versions of a familiar print or digital text such as ‘Spot’/Flecki or ‘Bob the Builder’/Bob der Baumeister, and noticing similarities and differences
  • responding in German or English to questions about a text, for example, Wer ist das?; War das eine gute Idee?; Und dann … ?
  • contributing to a collaborative retelling of a text using prompts such as pictures, cut-outs or puppets
Express ideas and experiences in a variety of ways using familiar words and modelled language, such as through imaginative role-play, mime, drawing, oral discussion or scaffolded writing activities

[Key concepts: role-play, discussion, imagination; Key processes: performing, expressing] (ACLGEC109 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • using story maps to share an imaginative experience such as what they would eat over a week, for example, like the caterpillar in Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt, using digital technologies
  • creating and presenting own Big Books in German based on a familiar Australian text such as ‘Tiddalick’ or ‘Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree’
  • creating short dialogues, for example, between dolls, puppets and toys, using familiar modelled language

Translating

Share with peers and family what they know in German, identifying different words and expressions, moving between languages depending on the audience

[Key concepts: representation, difference; Key processes: noticing, comparing] (ACLGEC110 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • distinguishing between German and English in spoken and written form (Ist das Deutsch oder Englisch?), considering factors such as pronunciation, capitalisation of nouns, and the use of cursive script in some texts for children
  • comparing greetings and terms for numbers, family members and familiar objects in German, English and other known/common languages, and noting similarities
  • comparing the words on bilingual signs around the school, such as Spielplatz/playground, Schulkantine/tuckshop
  • interpreting/translating from German into English greetings and other learnt language items for new students or non-German speakers
  • teaching a family member some German, for example, greetings, how to play a German game or sing a German song
Create print or digital texts such as labels, posters, word banks and wall charts for the immediate learning environment in both German and English

[Key concepts: vocabulary, representation; Key processes: sorting, matching, noticing] (ACLGEC111 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • collecting German and English words that are similar or identical in spelling and have the same meaning but are pronounced differently, for example, Baby, singen, braun, Klasse
  • making and displaying labels for common objects in the classroom and home
  • compiling and displaying illustrated class German–English and English–German dictionaries or alphabet posters of classroom language and key vocabulary

Reflecting

Notice similarities and differences when using German compared to own language, such as how it feels, sounds and looks, and involves behaviours as well as words

[Key concepts: language, culture, difference; Key processes: noticing, comparing, observing] (ACLGEC112 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • recognising that some German language use is similar to English, such as greetings used according to the time of day and the formality of a situation, for example, Guten Morgen and Morgen! Tag! Hallo!
  • noticing similarities and differences in cultural practices and stating own reactions to the language used, for example, Das ist anders/gleich when noticing such things as how a child beginning school is celebrated in a German-speaking country with a Schultüte or how a German speaker wishes others luck with Daumen drücken
  • describing how it feels to use German, such as when singing a song or hearing German spoken by others, and noticing differences in behaviour, voice or body language when speaking German
  • comparing aspects of Australian and German children’s lifestyles, for example, ways of playing games, buying or eating food, interacting with family members and participating in school life
Express aspects of self, such as family, school/class, age and language(s), noticing how these are part of one’s sense of identity

[Key concepts: self, identity; Key processes: expressing, describing, noticing] (ACLGEC113 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • identifying self as part of a family, class or peer group, and representing these relationships in a variety of ways, such as through drawing pictures or by adding captions to photos
  • describing what languages they know and are learning, for example, Ich kann Englisch und Arabisch. Ich lerne Deutsch
  • eliciting and giving personal information that signals identity within home and school contexts, including age and appearance, characteristics, class and school, for example, Ich bin sechseinhalb.; Ich habe braune Haare. Ich bin in Klasse 1F
  • investigating the question ‘Where do I belong at school?’ by analysing and describing various ways that schools identify different groups within a school, such as by class levels (Foundation to Year 6), different classroom teachers, different play areas, wearing of school uniform, or changing rights and responsibilities

Systems of language

Recognise and reproduce the sounds and rhythms of spoken German, including distinctive sounds

[Key concepts: pronunciation, intonation; Key processes: listening, imitating, recognising] (ACLGEU114 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • building phonic awareness by recognising and experimenting with sounds and rhythms, focusing on those that are novel and initially difficult such as ch (ich or acht), u (du), r (rot) and z (zehn)
  • developing pronunciation, phrasing and intonation skills by singing, reciting and repeating words and phrases in context
  • developing familiarity with the German alphabet and sound–letter correspondence through singing das Alphabetlied, identifying and naming letters, tracing words, and playing alphabet and spelling games such as Ich sehe was, was du nicht siehst using initial sounds or Galgenmännchen
  • understanding that although German and English use the same alphabet there are additional symbols in German: the Umlaut to alter the pronunciation of particular vowels (ä, ö, ü) and the Eszett (β)
  • noticing that all nouns are capitalised in German
Understand some first elements of German grammar, such as simple verb forms, definite articles and pronouns, to identify and describe people and objects in the family and school domains

[Key concepts: word order, connections, gender; Key processes: noticing patterns, making connections, selecting] (ACLGEU115 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • noticing that German has multiple words for ‘the’ and ‘a/an’
  • identifying people, animals and things using an article and a concrete noun (der Lehrer, eine Freundin) or a pronoun (ich, du, er, sie, es, wir)
  • using the possessive adjectives mein/e and dein/e or a form of haben and an indefinite article to express a relationship to a person or object, for example, Das ist mein Bleistift; Ich habe einen Bruder
  • describing people, animals or objects using bin/bist/ist and an adjective, for example, Ich bin klein; Der Bär ist braun; Das Buch ist neu
  • understanding and describing actions using verbs such as gehen, kommen, machen, malen, lesen, schreiben, sehen, singen, spielen and wohnen
  • negating verbs and adjectives using nicht
  • understanding and using some question words and the intended/related answer in limited contexts, including was (an object), wer (a person), wie (manner), wo (a place), wann (a time) and wie viele (quantity)
  • understanding the location or origin of a person or object, such as hier, links and rechts, and prepositions such as auf, aus, hinter, in, neben and unter
  • gaining awareness of vocabulary referring to time, such as days, months, time of day (Morgen, Nachmittag, Mittag) and o’clock time, for example, Es ist drei Uhr.
  • gaining awareness of terms referring to quantities of people and things, including cardinal numbers (0–20) and mehr, viel/e, nichts and kein/e
Understand that language is organised as ‘texts’, which take different forms and use different structures and features to achieve their purposes

[Key concepts: structure, form; Key processes: noticing, recognising, comparing] (ACLGEU116 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • understanding that texts can be spoken, written, digital, visual or multimodal, and that they can be very short (Stopp!, or a hand gesture to signal Komm her!) or much longer
  • recognising that different types of texts have different features, for example, rhythm and repetition in action songs and rhymes
  • comparing similar texts in German and English, such as counting games or simple maps, identifying elements in the German texts which look or sound different
  • identifying familiar text types such as songs, rhymes, picture books, games, family trees and tables, and naming key features, for example, Titel, Seite and Bild

Language variation and change

Recognise that in German, as in English and other languages, there are different ways of greeting and interacting with people

[Key concepts: register, language conventions, social practice; Key processes: noticing, comparing] (ACLGEU117 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • recognising different forms of address and greeting, depending on time of day and the gender and social status of participants, for example, first names with peers (Tag, Luke!) and Guten Morgen, Frau Stein! for the teacher
  • recognising that there can be different forms of address for the same person, for example, Mama, Mutti, Mami, Mutter
  • understanding that the level of detail required can vary depending on the context, for example, Ich bin 5; Ich bin 6 Jahre und 3 Monate alt; Ich bin fast 7.
Recognise that Australia has speakers of many different languages, including German, and that German and English borrow words and expressions from each other

[Key concepts: multilingualism, culture, community; Key processes: observing, exploring, recognising] (ACLGEU118 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • exploring the range of languages spoken in Australia, including Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages, Asian languages and world languages
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
    • Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia
  • exploring the different languages used by their family or peers, for example, by creating a language map with greetings in each language represented in the class
  • recognising that German is an important world language spoken in many countries in the world apart from Germany, including Australia
  • recognising that English and other languages have borrowed German words, for example, Hamburger, Kindergarten and Glockenspiel, and that many words are shared across languages, for example, ‘computer’, ‘bus’, ‘taxi’ and ‘auto’

Role of language and culture

Notice that the languages people use relate to who they are and where and how they live

[Key concepts: place, culture; Key processes: noticing, exploring] (ACLGEU119 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Ethical Understanding
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • exploring the meaning of ‘culture’, how it involves visible elements, such as ways of eating or symbols such as flags, and invisible elements, such as how people live, what they value, and how they think about themselves and others
  • understanding that learning German involves ways of using language that may be unfamiliar, for example, using Guten Appetit before commencing a meal or using danke when refusing an offer
  • noticing expressions and terms that are used in Australian contexts, such as for foods, animals, sports and activities, for example, ‘sausage roll’, ‘Vegemite’, ‘joey’, ‘possum’, ‘Little Athletics’
  • understanding that gestures differ across cultures, for example, shaking hands is generally more common in German-speaking countries than in Australia and omission to do so may be considered impolite from a German perspective

Foundation to Year 2 Achievement Standards

By the end of Year 2, students interact with teachers and peers through action-related talk and play. They introduce themselves, exchange greetings and farewells, for example, Ich heiße … Auf Wiedersehen! and express likes and dislikes. When interacting, they use short formulaic expressions, for example, Morgen! Danke! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Frohe Weihnachten! Guten Appetit! and make simple statements, such as Das ist … Ich wohne in … Ich mag … They use repetitive language and respond to simple instructions when participating in games, shared activities and classroom routines. They use visual, non-verbal and contextual cues such as intonation, gestures and facial expressions to help make meaning, and reproduce some distinctive sounds and rhythms of spoken German, including ch, u, r and z. Students identify specific words and information, such as names of people, places or objects, in simple shared texts related to personal worlds. They convey factual information about self, family and possessions at word and simple sentence level. They respond to and create simple spoken and written texts, using modelled examples and formulaic language. They use short phrases and simple sentences to identify and describe people and objects in the family and school domains such as der Lehrer, eine Freundin, Das ist mein Stift, including some pronouns, for example, ich, du, er, sie, es, wir and possessive adjectives, mein/e, dein/e. They use nein and nicht for negation, and verb forms bin, bist and ist, with an adjective. Students explain the meaning and use of different German words and expressions, and create texts in German and English for their immediate learning environment. They identify similarities and differences between German and their own language(s) and culture(s), noticing that using a language involves behaviours as well as words.

Students identify ways that German sounds different to English but recognise that it uses the same alphabet. They identify some words that are written the same in both German and English but pronounced differently. They identify features of different types of texts. They give examples of words that German and English borrow from each other and from other languages, and identify different ways of greeting and interacting with people. They make connections between the languages people use and who they are and where they live. 


Foundation to Year 2 Work Sample Portfolios

Years 3 and 4

Years 3 and 4 Band Description

The nature of the learners

At this level, children are developing awareness of their social world and membership of various groups, including that of the German class. They have developed initial literacy in English, and this assists to some degree in learning German, such as writing in the Roman alphabet. They benefit from varied, activity-based learning that builds on their interests and capabilities and makes connections with other areas of learning.

German language learning and use

The development of oral proficiency at this stage continues to rely on rich language input in different modes and from different sources. Learners build active listening and comprehension skills, using contextual, grammatical, phonic and non-verbal cues. Language is authentic with some modification, involving familiar vocabulary and simple structures. The balance between listening and speaking gradually shifts as learners are supported to use the language themselves in familiar contexts and situations, exchanging simple ideas and information, and participating in predictable activities and interactions, shared tasks, performance and play. They continue to build vocabulary that can be adapted for different purposes, and to use simple grammatical forms with some accuracy to communicate in familiar contexts.

A balance between language knowledge and language use is established by integrating focused attention to grammar, vocabulary building, pronunciation, and non-verbal and cultural dimensions of language use with opportunities for purposeful communication.

Contexts of interaction

The contexts in which learners interact in learning and using German are primarily local – the classroom, school, home and community – with some access to wider communities of German speakers through audiovisual and digital technologies.

Texts and resources

Learners develop literacy skills and textual knowledge through supported engagement with a range of spoken, written, visual and multimodal texts. Imaginative texts (such as picture books, fairy tales, puppet plays, songs and digital games) involve the expressive and cultural dimensions of language. Procedural, informative and descriptive texts (such as recipes, annotated posters, and family and class profiles) show how language is used for a variety of purposes.

Features of German language use

Learners notice features of German communication such as the use of gestures, facial expressions and intonation patterns. They become familiar with the idea of grammatical gender and become familiar with how to use singular and plural forms. Learning German contributes to the process of making sense of their personal/social worlds that characterises this stage of learners’ development. As they encounter German language and culture they make comparisons with their own language(s) and culture(s) and consider their own ways of communicating. This leads to exploring concepts of identity, commonality and difference, and to becoming aware of themselves as communicators in particular cultural contexts and communities.

Level of support

This stage of learning involves extensive support. Form-focused activities build learners’ grammatical knowledge and understanding, developing accuracy and control in spoken and written German. Teachers provide models and examples; introduce language, concepts and resources needed to manage and complete the task; make time for experimentation, drafting and redrafting; and provide support for self-monitoring and reflection.

The role of English

Learners use German for classroom routines and structured learning tasks, and for listening to and viewing German texts. English is used for class discussions, such as noticing and discussing aspects of German language and culture; for comparing English and German languages and cultures; and for reflecting on the process of learning another language.


Years 3 and 4 Content Descriptions

Socialising

Share information with peers and teacher about aspects of their personal worlds such as friends, home, favourite objects and activities

[Key concepts: friendship, identity; Key processes: describing, expressing] (ACLGEC120 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • exchanging information about their siblings, homes, pets and activities, for example, Ich habe einen Bruder und zwei Schwestern. Wir haben einen Hund und vier Vögel. Kannst du gut schwimmen? Ich wohne in einer Wohnung und ich habe eine Katze.
  • using common responses to frequently asked questions or comments (sehr gut, das stimmt, ich auch, ich nicht, igitt!), imitating modelled intonation and stress patterns
  • asking and answering questions relating to concepts such as time, place, number, days of the week, months and seasons, for example, Wann spielst du Basketball? Wer hat im August Geburtstag? Wo spielst du Hockey? Wie viele Hobbies hast du?
  • exchanging simple correspondence such as notes, invitations or birthday cards in print or digital form
Participate collaboratively in shared class experiences and transactions

[Key concepts: participation, creativity; Key processes: exchanging, negotiating, planning] (ACLGEC121 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • creating a shared digital photo story after a class activity or event such as a visit to a German restaurant
  • following procedures and instructions with peers, for example, how to create a Hampelmann or Lebkuchenhaus
  • preparing a German item for a school performance, for example, Schnappi or Kleiner Hai song, Hänsel und Gretel play
  • conducting real or simulated transactions such as a ‘picture swap’ or choosing a present for a friend, for example, Lara mag Puppen. Was kostet die Puppe?
Participate in everyday classroom activities, responding to questions, instructions and requests, asking for clarification or assistance and making simple statements about own and others’ learning

[Key concepts: support, learning strategies; Key processes: requesting, clarifying, responding] (ACLGEC122 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • asking and responding to questions related to a learning activity or lesson, for example, Wie bitte? Ich verstehe das nicht. Welche Seite? Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch? Wie spät ist es? Bist du fertig?
  • apologising, making polite requests (including attracting attention), and asking for assistance and permission, for example, Tut mir Leid! Entschuldigung, Frau Lenz! Hilfe, bitte!; Darf ich bitte auf dieToilette gehen?
  • commenting on own and others’ learning, for example, Super! Tolle Arbeit! Gut gemacht!

Informing

Obtain and process information from peers and texts related to personal, social and natural worlds

[Key concepts: community, family, friends; Key processes: reading, listening, selecting, organising] (ACLGEC123 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • gathering information about a fellow student or German speaker relating to family, home, interests and abilities, and compiling the information in a modelled format, such as Steckbrief
  • obtaining information about lifestyles in German-speaking countries (homes, schools, climate, pets, geography) from shared and independent reading of simple digital texts
  • collecting information about different animal species (Haustiere, Wildtiere, Waldtiere, australische Tiere), and creating a display with names and appropriate adjectives, for example, Der Löwe ist mutig und stark.
  • identifying points of information in short spoken texts with some unfamiliar language, for example, the name and number on a recorded phone message, the age of a child interviewed, some items on a recorded shopping list
  • comparing information about activities and practices across cultures, for example, reading, viewing or listening to texts related to aspects of school life such as timetables, canteen menus, extracurricular activities and sports
  • working in groups to obtain and use factual information from texts related to other learning areas, for example, completing a simple science experiment, naming countries and significant land features, or recording distances using geography skills
Present information in modelled spoken and written texts relating to personal, social and natural worlds

[Key concepts: family, friends; Key processes: describing, presenting, collating] (ACLGEC124 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • introducing family members and friends, identifying relationships and cultural backgrounds (Das ist mein Opa. Er kommt aus China.), using simple descriptive language and supporting resources to enhance meaning
  • collecting information about one another’s likes, dislikes or interests, using checklists, surveys or question cues to present a class profile, chart or database, for example, Lieblingstiere, Lieblingssport, Lieblingsserie, Lieblingsmusik
  • selecting information gained from print, visual or digital texts to design a class book or digital display, for example, details of animals and their habitats and/or food from a zoo website or a children’s documentary film about wild animals (Der Affe wohnt im Dschungel)

Creating

Respond to imaginative print and digital texts in a variety of ways such as by acting out events, identifying favourite elements and making simple statements about characters

[Key concepts: character, events; Key processes: describing, retelling] (ACLGEC125 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • using modelled structures and picture prompts to retell the basic plot of a narrative, or making simple summary statements, for example, Shrek und Fiona sind im Schloss.
  • creating a profile of a favourite character from a text, including features such as Name, Alter, mag/mag … nicht, Aussehen and Bild
  • creating a timeline of the main events of a story using pictures, words and/or simple sentences
  • using a thinking tool to respond to an imaginative text in various ways, such as describing what emotions they feel listening to the story, for example, Das macht mich glücklich/traurig/nervös
  • acting out a text with a repetitive plot and/or dialogue, for example, Das Rübenziehen
Create imaginative texts such as simple plays, poems and stories, using formulaic expressions and modelled language as well as simple visual supports

[Key concepts: fantasy, entertainment, amusement; Key processes: performing, creating, presenting] (ACLGEC126 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • collaborating to create and perform a new version of a traditional or contemporary text, for example, the script of a play for the German fairy tale Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten
  • creating and performing a puppet play involving a German character and an Australian character, such as die Maus (Die Sendung mit der Maus) meeting Bananas in Pyjamas or an Igel meeting an echidna, using modelled German language
  • using digital technologies to create and illustrate short imaginative texts designed to amuse or entertain, such as Mein Traumhaus (Ich wohne in einem Schloss. Mein Schloss ist sehr alt, groβ und schön) or fantasy stories featuring imaginary creatures
  • producing and presenting illustrated or multimodal texts using a modelled structure, for example, an acrostic poem based on their first name or Elfchen

Translating

Compare aspects of German and English language, such as vocabulary, sounds and rhymes, and cultural information, and share with peers and family

[Key concepts: meaning, interconnection; Key processes: comparing, interpreting, explaining] (ACLGEC127 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • comparing and matching key words in German and English, such as names for German-speaking countries and some cities (Deutschland/Germany, Wien/Vienna) and animals
  • listening to the way animal sounds are represented in German, such as in Das kleine Küken animation, and comparing them with English and other languages, for example, Ein Hahn macht, kikeriki, ein Hund macht, wau wau
  • sharing an item relating to German language and culture through the school newsletter, at an assembly or in a library display, such as an Ostereierwettbewerb and Osterbaum, or electronically displaying links to digitally produced student items such as movies or photo-text collages
  • comparing the Australian and German ways of writing a postal address, for example, in German the Hausnummer appears after the street name and the Postleitzahl appears before the suburb/town
Produce texts such as signs, class word lists and picture dictionaries in both German and English for the classroom and school community

[Key concepts: vocabulary, translation; Key processes: labelling, matching, translating] (ACLGEC128 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • making and using individual word lists, and print and digital dictionaries, for example, using digital tools
  • producing classroom signs such as Bitte mach die Tür zu! Hier sind die Scheren/Klebestifte/Stifte!
  • creating bilingual texts for the classroom or school community, such as posters, library displays or online newsletter items

Reflecting

Notice and describe what looks or feels similar or different to own language and culture when interacting in German

[Key concepts: communication, difference, respect; Key processes: noticing, comparing, describing] (ACLGEC129 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • recognising that there are similarities and differences between German and English ways of showing politeness, for example, the use of family names after Frau and Herr, responding to danke schön with bitte schön, shaking hands
  • noticing how own language use influences expectations about German language use, for example, wanting to use one word for ‘you’, and not expecting to capitalise all nouns
  • considering how aspects of own language might be understood from a German perspective, for example, culture-specific expressions such as ‘school assembly’, ‘kick a footy’, or eating ’brekky’
  • noticing that there are alternative ideas and ways of interacting to those offered by one’s own language and culture
  • exploring how language is linked to a place, time and people, and what they do together, for example, by examining the meanings and associations they make with words and expressions such as zu Hause, Pausenbrot and Spielplatz
Describe their own experiences of learning and using German and explore their sense of identity, including elements such as family, cultural heritage and friends

[Key concepts: self, family, friends; Key processes: exploring, comparing, identifying] (ACLGEC130 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • comparing own experiences of learning German with peers’, and imagining what aspects of English a German speaker might find challenging and why
  • participating in an online discussion about learning and using another language, reflecting on the experience of becoming bilingual (or, in the case of some learners, plurilingual), and considering what advantages this brings and whether it impacts on identity
  • comparing learning a language at school with another context for learning a language, such as at home, at community language school or on holiday
  • communicating about identity and language use within the family context, such as positioning self within the family and identifying own and family members’ heritage, for example, Ich bin Australier/-in. Mein Opa kommt aus Griechenland.
  • identifying family traditions and possessions that stem from another culture, such as opening presents on Christmas Day or Heiligabend, learning folk dancing, or having a German grandparent’s name

Systems of language

Experiment with the pronunciation of vowel sounds, letter combinations and intonation patterns, and recognise and write high-frequency words and expressions in familiar contexts

[Key concepts: pronunciation, intonation, accents; Key processes: distinguishing sounds, recognising, practising] (ACLGEU131 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • recognising and practising short and long vowel sounds, initial consonants and blends, for example, ja, rot, singen, Sport, Winter, zwei
  • recognising and using the Umlaut and Eszett to pronounce and write familiar German words
  • understanding that intonation patterns create different meanings, as in the distinction between statements, questions and exclamations (Du bist acht. Du bist acht? Du bist acht!)
  • encoding and decoding familiar German words using alphabetic knowledge of single letters, consonant clusters (sch) and vowel combinations (au, ei, eu, ie), applying learnt memory aids such as ‘when E and I go walking, the second one does the talking’
Notice and apply elements of German grammar such as gender and singular/plural forms, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns and word order in simple spoken and written texts

[Key concepts: word order, connections, syntax, cases; Key processes: noticing patterns, making connections] (ACLGEU132 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • recognising the link between a noun’s gender and its definite/indefinite article and nominative pronoun in relation to people, for example, der Bruder, ein Bruder, er
  • using the nominative and accusative indefinite articles to denote an unspecified person or object, for example, Rotkäppchen hatte einen Korb.
  • comparing pluralisation of nouns in German and English, and using die for plural nouns in German, for example, der Apfel/die Äpfel
  • describing a relationship using a possessive adjective, for example, mein/e, dein/e, sein/e, ihr/e
  • understanding and using pronouns to refer to people, for example, ich, du, er, sie (singular); wir, ihr, sie (plural); Sie heißt Anna. Sie heißen Ben und Sarah.
  • using the correct verb form associated with a noun or pronoun or combination thereof, for example, Die Lehrerin singt ein Lied; Herr Schwarz trinkt Kaffee; Sie spielt Tennis; Mein Freund und ich sprechen Englisch.
  • using present tense forms of irregular verbs such as haben and sein and recognising similarities to the English verbs ‘to have’ and ‘to be’
  • describing capabilities and preferences using limited forms of the modal verbs können and mögen, for example, Ich kann gut schwimmen. Er mag Cricket. Wir möchten eine Party machen.
  • understanding and describing current and recurring actions using verbs such as essen, fliegen, fressen, laufen, leben, schwimmen, sprechen and trinken
  • understanding and describing past events using the simple past tense of familiar verbs such as war, hatte, ging, sah, spielte and machte
  • joining words, phrases and sentences using und, oder and aber
  • understanding the meaning of and using common time phrases and cohesive devices, for example, gestern, heute, dann and zuerst
  • understanding and formulating questions using subject–verb inversion, for example, Magst du Sport?
  • understanding and using a range of question words and the intended/related answer, for example, woher, welcher and wie viel
  • locating events in time with regard to days, months, seasons and ‘half past’ time, for example, Ich spiele im Winter Fußball. Die Schule beginnt um halb neun.
  • describing location formulaically using prepositional phrases such as im Wasser, in der Luft, auf dem Land, neben dem Tisch or auf der linken Seite
  • using ordinal numbers to give the date, for example, Heute ist der dritte Juli. Er hat am siebten August Geburtstag.
  • referring to quantities of people and things (including money) using cardinal numbers up to 100
Identify the purposes of familiar personal, informative and imaginative texts such as maps, calendars and fairy tales, and explain how particular features of such texts help to achieve these purposes

[Key concepts: text function, structure, features of texts; Key processes: classifying, comparing, explaining] (ACLGEU133 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • classifying a range of digital and other texts such as fairy tales, recipes, instructions, advertisements, greeting cards, maps or songs according to their purpose(s) (such as to entertain, describe or instruct), discussing and justifying choices in English
  • comparing wall calendars from a German-speaking country and Australia in terms of structure, public holidays, pictorial representation of seasons, and cultural influences
  • identifying and comparing the features of different types of texts, such as a cookery book, a picture storybook or a comic
  • discussing the structure of shared reading texts, identifying sentences, questions, answers and greetings (Satz, Frage, Antwort and Gruß), and recognising how different textual elements such as title, layout, script and images combine to make meaning

Language variation and change

Recognise some of the common variations in German as it is used in different contexts by different people

[Key concepts: variation, register; Key processes: noticing, comparing, exploring] (ACLGEU134 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • noticing that the teacher uses different words for ‘you’ when addressing one or more students, for example, Setz dich, Peter! Setzt euch, Kinder!
  • comparing ways in which language changes according to purpose and text type, for example, differences in amount of language, tone and layout between a dialogue and a list of instructions
  • investigating the different names used to address the one person in various contexts (‘James Brown from 3M’, ‘Jimmy’, ‘mate’, ‘kid’), and considering when, by whom and why different names are used, reflecting on the effect a name choice can have on shaping the relationship between the speakers
  • exploring questions such as why we have greetings and what different greetings tell us, for example, time of day, relationship with the speaker, and background of the speaker
Recognise that German and English are related languages and that German is an important European and global language

[Key concepts: global language, culture, identity; Key processes: identifying, exploring, researching] (ACLGEU135 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • exploring some similarities between Germanic languages, such as Dutch, English and German cognates
  • recognising that German is an official language of the ‘DACHL’ countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein) as well as in Belgium, Luxembourg and South Tyrol
  • finding examples of German used at home or in the community and creating a class collection or display, for example, products, labels or words used in English language advertisements, shop signs, recipe books or menus

Role of language and culture

Make connections between culture and language use, for example, by identifying vocabulary and expressions that reflect cultural values, traditions or practices

[Key concepts: connections, values, traditions; Key processes: identifying, describing] (ACLGEU136 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Ethical Understanding
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • comparing terms across German-speaking cultures, for example, Liebchen/Liebling, mein Schatz, Spitznamen
  • recognising that language carries cultural ideas, for example, Sommerbeginn, which is officially 1 December in Australia but 21/22 June in Europe; hitzefrei (‘heat-free’), referring to the practice of dismissing students early from school if a certain temperature is reached or forecast; or Wald, the setting in many German fairy tales
  • recognising character traits and values, such as those of animal characters in German stories, for example, the wolf in Rotkäppchen, and comparing them with familiar Australian stories
  • learning how to communicate about culture and language using terms such as ‘meaning’, ‘difference’ and ‘behaviour’
  • discussing parallel expressions such as ‘G’day’/Tag, ‘morning tea’/Kaffeepause and ‘Bless you’/Gesundheit

Years 3 and 4 Achievement Standards

By the end of Year 4, students interact with teachers and peers in classroom routines, action-related talk and play. They respond to instructions and use formulaic expressions to interact, ask questions, seek assistance, and make statements related to their personal worlds, for example, bitte schön; Ich bin dran; Welche Farbe? Wie viele Geschwister hast du? Mein Lieblingsspiel ist Lotto. They reproduce German short and long single vowel and diphthong sounds, including Umlaute, and Eszett, and initial consonants and blends, for example, Post/los, mein, die, Bruder/Brüder, heißen, ja, rot, singen, Sport, Winter, zwei. They answer questions related to their personal worlds with factual information, and respond to imaginative texts by identifying favourite elements, sequencing main events and producing short scaffolded summaries. They create short, simple sentences from modelled language and use coordinating conjunctions, for example, und, aber, oder, to compose short original texts. They use some forms of common regular verbs in the present tense, (for example, heißen, kosten, spielen, wohnen), some irregular verb forms, (for example, bin, bist, ist, sind, hast, hat), and limited forms of modal verbs, (for example, kann, mag, möchte, muss), simple past tense verbs, (for example, hatte, ging, war) and the accusative case, (for example, Ich habe einen Hund.). They respond to and use interrogatives, such as was, wann, wer, wie, wie viele, wo and some ja/nein questions. They refer to time, manner and place using familiar words and phrases, for example, morgen, sehr gut, im Wald. They compare aspects of German and English language and culture that are reflected in texts they have viewed, listened to or read and they create texts in German and English for the classroom and school community. They identify ways in which culture influences aspects of communication in routine exchanges such as greetings, and describe their own sense of identity, including elements such as family, cultural heritage and friends.

Students identify German as an important European and global language and give examples showing how it is related to English. They differentiate statements, questions, imperatives and exclamations according to intonation, sentence structure and punctuation. They identify the purpose of the Eszett and show how the Umlaut alters the pronunciation of particular vowels (ä, ö, ü). They identify single letters, some consonant clusters (sch) and vowel combinations (au, ei, eu, ie). They identify the audience and purpose of familiar personal, informative and imaginative texts. They give examples of how language use varies according to the participants, purpose and context of an exchange. They give examples of how language and culture are intrinsically linked, and identify cultural values, traditions or practices that are conveyed in words and expressions they and others use.


Years 3 and 4 Work Sample Portfolios

Years 5 and 6

Years 5 and 6 Band Description

The nature of the learners

At this level, students are expanding their social networks, experiences and communication repertoire in both their first language and German. They continue to need guidance and participate in structured, collaborative tasks that both recycle and extend language. They are gaining greater independence and becoming more conscious of their peers and social context, and of the world around them. They are noticing additional similarities and differences between German language and culture and their own.

German language learning and use

Learners use German with one another and the teacher for an increasing range of purposes: exchanging information, expressing ideas and feelings, and functioning within a German learning environment. They are able to work increasingly independently, but enjoy working collaboratively as well as competing with one another. Learners’ ability to communicate within familiar contexts is developing in terms of fluency and accuracy. Their pronunciation, intonation and phrasing are more confident, and they control and access wider vocabulary resources and use an increasing range of strategies to negotiate meaning. Shared tasks develop social, cognitive and language skills, and provide a context for purposeful language experience and experimentation. Focused attention to language structures and systems, literacy skills development, and exploration of cultural elements of communication are conducted at least in part in German. Learners use digital technologies to support their learning in increasingly independent and intentional ways, such as exchanging resources and information with one another and with young people of the same age in German-speaking communities, accessing music and media resources, maintaining blogs and other web pages, creating presentations, and participating in social networks.

Oracy development at this level includes active listening to a range of input from different sources and building more elaborated conversational and interactional skills. This involves turn-taking, ‘reading’ language for cultural and contextual meaning, building on others’ contributions, and making appropriate responses and adjustments. Learners begin to engage in debate and discussion. Individual and group oral presentation and performance skills are developed through researching and organising information; structuring, rehearsing and resourcing the content of presentations; and selecting appropriate language to engage particular audiences.

Contexts of interaction

The contexts in which learners interact in learning and using German are sometimes extended beyond the classroom, school, home and community as they have some access to German speakers and cultural resources in wider contexts and communities such as through the use of digital technologies.

Texts and resources

Literacy development involves increasingly independent engagement with a wider range of texts. Learners use a range of cues and decoding strategies to assist comprehension. They make connections between ideas, contexts and language within and between texts. Learners are able to provide simple summaries of and responses to texts. They begin to produce clearly structured original texts for different audiences and purposes. With support they are able to edit their own written work for common grammatical and orthographic errors.

Features of German language use

Learners increase their range of German vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar and textual knowledge. They use present tense forms of regular
and irregular verbs, including some modal verbs and common separable verbs, and use plural forms of nouns and possessive adjectives. They add detail and expand simple sentences by using adverbs, phrases and some conjunctions. They move between statement, question and imperative forms and use simple negative constructions. They develop metalanguage to comment on grammar and vocabulary. As they use German to interact in different situations and to engage with different resources, learners develop an understanding of how language and culture influence each other. They learn to recognise how language features and expressions reflect cultural values and experiences, for example, language variation relating to age, gender, and relationship between participants, and how grammatical forms or vocabulary choices can affect the ‘meaning’ that is made, for example, using informal or formal forms of address, or using adjectives expressing approval or disapproval. This leads to considering their own ways of communicating and using language, and to thinking about the construction of personal identity and the notion of multiple identities.

Level of support

While learners work more independently at this level, ongoing and systematic scaffolding, feedback and review support the interactive process of learning. Modelling and scaffolding are incorporated into task activity. Support materials include models, stimulus materials, and resources such as word charts, vocabulary lists, dictionaries and electronic reference resources.

The role of English

While the use of German in the classroom increases at this level, the use of English for discussion, reflection and explanation ensures the continued development of learners’ awareness of the nature and function of language generally as well as of their own emerging intercultural capability. Using both German and English in the classroom develops a sense of what it means to be bilingual.


Years 5 and 6 Content Descriptions

Socialising

Interact using descriptive and expressive language to share information about daily life, relate experiences and express feelings

[Key concepts: school, home, routines, relationships; Key processes: listening, describing] (ACLGEC137 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • exchanging information with peers and adults (online, in writing or face-to-face) about daily routines and leisure activities, using modelled language associated with time, sequence and location, for example, Ich stehe um 7.30 Uhr auf. Dann frühstücke ich. Ich schwimme und surfe oft.
  • expressing feelings (Wie geht’s? Es geht mir nicht gut. Ich bin krank.) using adjectives (aufgeregt, glücklich, nervös, sauer, traurig)
  • using communication strategies such as active listening skills, turn-taking cues, and requests for clarification or more detail to support interaction, for example, Und du, was meinst du? Stimmt das? Warum?
  • describing key friends or family members, using simple descriptive and expressive modelled language, for example, Das ist mein Bruder. Er ist sehr sportlich und intelligent. Er spielt sehr gern Fuβball und liest gern Comics. Ich liebe meinen Bruder.
  • recounting social and cultural experiences with family and friends, for example, Wir haben eine Reise nach Neuseeland gemacht. Unser Campingplatz war direkt am See und wir sind jeden Tag geschwommen.
  • apologising and expressing concern or sympathy to friends and family members, for example, Tut mir Leid. Schade! Du Arme(r)!
Participate in guided tasks such as planning and organising events and completing transactions

[Key concepts: collaboration, organisation, responsibility; Key processes: organising, planning, budgeting] (ACLGEC138 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • organising and conducting collaborative activities, for example, a Deutsch macht fit session for a younger class, or designing badges or bilingual posters on healthy eating or recycling (Trinkt lieber Wasser!; Recycelt eure Dosen!)
  • participating in real or simulated transactions such as buying food, for example, Ich nehme ein Käsebrötchen. Was kostet ein Eis? Das macht 6,50 Euro.
  • participating in sourcing goods and services, such as budgeting for virtual shopping expeditions, consulting online catalogues and websites, comparing prices and value, and discussing intended purchases, for example, Dieses Handy ist zu teuer. Der Hut passt dir gut.
  • exchanging and comparing currencies, for example, converting Euro or Schweizer Franken into Australian dollars
Use simple questions, statements and responses to participate in and support classroom interactions and learning activities, and to indicate understanding and monitor own learning

[Key concepts: process, progress, outcome; Key processes: discussing, monitoring, reflecting] (ACLGEC139 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • politely asking peers to do something and responding to requests, for example, giving and receiving things (Gib mir itte den Stift! bitte schön; danke schön)
  • discussing and creating shared class rules and procedures, for example, Dürfen wir auf dem Boden sitzen? Wir müssen immer aufpassen.
  • checking on progress during learning tasks or activities, using comments and questions such as Kein Problem! Das schaffen wir. Was machst du jetzt? Verstehst du das?
  • sharing ideas about the experience of learning and using German, and comparing what they can and cannot do, for example, Ich kann gut sprechen, aber ich finde das Lesen und Schreiben schwierig.

Informing

Gather, compare and respond to information from different sources relating to social and natural worlds

[Key concepts: environment, lifestyles, relationships; Key processes: researching, collating, reading, viewing] (ACLGEC140 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • collecting and comparing information from a range of informative print media and digital texts on topics related to social and environmental issues, for example, family life, schooling in different cultural contexts, endangered animals, or innovative technology
  • obtaining information from simple texts such as advertisements or features in teen magazines to share impressions of the lifestyles of young German speakers in different contexts
  • viewing subtitled video clips on different German-speaking communities, identifying key facts and features, and recording new vocabulary and expressions for use in shared texts
  • compiling information from a survey of peers and adults on social behaviours and reporting on results, for example, mode of transport to school/work (zu Fuβ, mit dem Rad/Bus/Auto) and how environmentally friendly it is, or preferred modes of communication (Hast du ein Handy? Wie oft telefonierst/simst du? Wie oft schaust du einen YouTube clip an?)
    • Sustainability
  • viewing a news item or short documentary about a festival in a German-speaking country, such as die Basler Fasnacht or Karneval in Köln, describing and giving an opinion on the main aspects, for example, Ich finde die Fasnacht in Basel super. Ich mag die Masken und die Musik. Aber ich möchte nicht um 4 Uhr aufstehen.
Convey information and opinions in different formats to suit specific audiences and purposes, selecting appropriate print and multimodal elements

[Key concepts: youth issues, audience; Key processes: representing, transposing, comparing] (ACLGEC141 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • analysing and presenting the results of a class survey, for example, by creating a poster or digital presentation using graphs showing what foods students buy and/or would like to be able to buy at the school canteen (27 Schüler kaufen Süßigkeiten. 34 Schüler wollen andere Getränke.)
  • writing a blog entry for a youth website discussing an aspect of social behaviour, for example, Partys
  • creating a website for a contact group of German-speaking students, posting information on own interests and experiences, for example, Ferien, Freunde, Freizeit, Schule, Medien, and highlighting elements which may be unfamiliar to the intended audience using sound, visuals or graphics
  • creating a factual self-profile using Voki or VoiceThread for a group of young German speakers
  • recording, comparing and representing statistics related to German-speaking countries and Australia, for example, population and physical size, daily temperatures, number and type of dwellings, pet ownership, most popular leisure activities

Creating

Share and compare responses to characters, events and ideas in imaginative texts, making connections with own experience and feelings

[Key concepts: plot, mood, character; Key processes: recounting, describing, sequencing] (ACLGEC142 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • producing a timeline of the main events of an imaginative text or creating a sociogram illustrating how the main character links with other characters
  • responding to a text such as a poem by selecting an appropriate image to illustrate an aspect (message, mood) and explaining choice, for example, Das ist die Sonne. Die Sonne ist heiß und gelb. Die Sonne scheint im Sommer. Ich bin glücklich, wenn die Sonne scheint.
  • using modelled structures such as Das Ende war lustig/traurig/blöd or Die Hauptperson war sehr mutig/schön/schlau to express a personal opinion on aspects of a text, such as the beginning, ending, plot and characters
  • creating storyboards to represent key events in different types of imaginative texts, including captions or word bubbles to capture moods or feelings, for example, using a digital cartoon tool
Present, reinterpret or create alternative versions of imaginative texts, adapting events, characters or settings

[Key concepts: imagination, adaptation, character, setting; Key processes: imagining, creating, interpreting] (ACLGEC143 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • creating and performing a new version of a familiar song or poem, for example, using digital tools and apps for movie making and voice recording
  • creating dialogue/lines for characters from a text, describing in spoken or written form their opinions and emotional responses, for example, as an interview, email or diary entry
  • creating and presenting an adapted text such as a story, for example, by introducing new elements (changing the gender of the main character or the setting, adding a new character or dilemma), and presenting it to a younger audience

Translating

Explain aspects of German language and culture for family or peers, noticing that there are not always equivalent expressions in English

[Key concepts: equivalence, meaning; Key processes: interpreting, explaining, predicting] (ACLGEC144 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • identifying when literal translation is or is not possible, for example, in idiomatic expressions such as Bist du satt? (not voll) or Es geht mir gut. (not Ich bin)
  • using German–English cognates to predict meaning, for example, Brot/‘bread’, kalt/‘cold’, Maske/‘mask’, trinken/‘to drink’
  • recognising long compound words, collecting and analysing interesting examples (das Schlagzeug, babyleicht, abenteuerlustig), and discussing how best to translate them into English
  • explaining in English the use and meaning of German expressions such as Gesundheit, Hals und Beinbruch, Toi, toi, toi!
Create a range of bilingual texts such as notices, announcements, photo stories, dialogues and instructions for language learning and the school community

[Key concepts: bilingualism, meaning; Key processes: translating, selecting, connecting] (ACLGEC145 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • creating and using bilingual resources for language learning, such as glossaries or personal German–English and English–German print and digital word lists and dictionaries with examples and explanations of parts of speech and language use
  • creating bilingual texts for the school community, such as a virtual tour for a school website, or a translation of the school canteen menu into German
  • creating bilingual/multilingual texts for specific audiences, for example, a Big Book or game for young learners of German, or invitations, posters, programs or menus for a class event, performance or celebration, such as a Deutschabend or Maskenfest

Reflecting

Engage in intercultural interactions, describing aspects of language and culture that are unfamiliar or uncomfortable, and discussing own reactions and adjustments

[Key concepts: language, culture, reaction; Key processes: observing, evaluating, reflecting] (ACLGEC146 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • observing how language use reflects politeness and the closeness of social relationships, such as different levels of formality through the use of du/ihr/Sie, and familiarity with friends, for example, nicknames (Spitznamen) and various uses of diminutives (-chen, -lein)
  • noticing the use of and evaluating whether or not to adopt German expressions such as exclamations (Ach so! Echt!), and gestures such as indicating approval with ‘thumbs up’ (comparing with the use of one thumb to indicate the number ‘one’) and ‘applauding’ by rapping knuckles on the table
  • reflecting on how own cultural etiquette and behaviour such as gestures affect interactions and may be interpreted, for example, noticing similarities and differences in body language when interacting with people from German-speaking countries (shrugging, nodding one’s head)
  • noticing own reaction (level of comfort/discomfort) to different cultural practices such as asking Wie geht’s? and not expecting a detailed response about health and current medical conditions
  • recognising aspects of own language use that reflect own cultural perspective and experiences, for example, references to climate and environment, animals, activities and routines such as chores, and celebrations and events
Reflect on aspects of own identity and language use, commenting on and suggesting reasons for what is similar/different and easy/difficult

[Key concepts: reflection, perception; Key processes: reflecting, analysing, comparing] (ACLGEC147 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • participating in a discussion in English about the impact of a school uniform on personal identity, and imagining how German students might view wearing a school uniform
  • preparing a digital ‘language passport’ documenting different stages in learning German, intercultural experiences and reflections on the impact of learning German on self and others, and considering possible reasons for perceived similarities and differences between experiences or degree of difficulty
  • evaluating own preferred learning style, identifying own strengths, and contributing to a class list of German Fachleute/Experten for others to consult for advice, in areas such as Aussprache, Technologie and Vokabeln
  • exploring the idea of stereotypes associated with languages and identity discussing how groups of people tend to think about themselves and others, and how stereotypes affect attitudes and communication and can be inaccurate
  • comparing own ways of using language with those of peers, considering how family and community shape identity and communication, for example, using more than one language, expressing feelings or celebrating in various ways
  • considering whether learning and using German impacts on identity either in or out of the classroom

Systems of language

Explain and apply basic rules for German pronunciation, intonation, spelling and punctuation

[Key concepts: pronunciation, writing systems, punctuation; Key processes: spelling, making connections, applying rules] (ACLGEU148 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • applying basic pronunciation rules, such as the two different pronunciations of ch
  • applying different intonation for statements, questions, exclamations and instructions
  • understanding that β can only be used in lower case, otherwise SS, and that ä, ö and ü can be written as ae, oe and ue respectively, for example, in upper case signs or word puzzles such as crosswords
  • applying phonic and grammatical knowledge to spell and write unfamiliar words containing, for example, ch, j, w and z, and diphthongs such as au, ei, eu and ie
  • noticing distinctive punctuation features of personal correspondence in German, such as Hallo Annette!/Lieber Klaus, followed respectively by upper or lower case for the beginning of the first sentence
  • understanding and applying punctuation rules (full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, quotation marks) in German, including the meaning and use of full stops and commas in ordinal and decimal numbers (die 3. Klasse and 9,50 Euro), and capitalisation rules
Develop and apply knowledge of German grammatical elements such as verb tenses, modal verbs and case, combining them with an increasing range of nouns, adjectives and adverbs to construct sentences

[Key concepts: verb tenses and forms, variation, metalanguage; Key processes: applying, noticing patterns, understanding] (ACLGEU149 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • referring to a person, place or object using the nominative and accusative definite and indefinite articles, for example, Das Mädchen hat einen Hockeyschläger. Der Film hat ein Happy End.
  • noticing how articles and pronouns change after certain verbs (Ich danke dir.) and after particular prepositions associated with location, for example, Wir sind in der Stadt. Die Party ist bei Stefan im Garten.
  • understanding and describing current, recurring and future actions, including by using common separable verbs such as aufstehen, ausgehen, aussehen, fernsehen, mitkommen and mitnehmen
  • understanding the concept of regular and irregular verbs and noticing that this is a feature of both German and English (and other languages, such as French, Italian and Spanish)
  • understanding and expressing obligation and permission using the modal verbs müssen and dürfen, such as in descriptions of school rules, for example, Wir dürfen in der Klasse nicht texten. Wir müssen eine Uniform tragen.
  • comparing the meaning of the modal verbs wollen, sollen, mögen and können with their English equivalents
  • making comparisons using simple structures such as Ich mag Erdbeeren lieber als Kiwis. Radfahren ist besser als Autofahren.
  • giving instructions to one or more peers, for example, Trink(t) mehr Wasser!
  • understanding and speaking about past events by adapting modelled sentences in the present perfect tense and using knowledge of common verbs in the simple past tense, for example, Ich habe heute meine Hausaufgaben nicht gemacht. Wir sind nach Bali geflogen. Früher konnte ich Klavier spielen.
  • noticing that some verbs can be combined with a separable or inseparable prefix which alters the meaning of the base verb, for example, Er kommt um 17.15 Uhr. Kommst du mit? Ich bekomme $50 zum Geburtstag.
  • describing frequency using adverbs and adverbial expressions such as oft, manchmal, jeden Tag, ab und zu and nie
  • understanding the meaning of the conjunctions dass and weil
  • understanding questions using warum and responding with a simple sentence, for example, Warum bist du müde? Ich habe heute Fuβball gespielt.
  • referring to a date, including the year, for an event such as a birth date, for example, Meine Oma ist am elften April 1956 geboren.
  • understanding and locating events in time, including the use of the 24-hour clock, prepositions such as nach and vor, and formulaic expressions such as früher, später, am Wochenende, in den Ferien
  • referring to quantities of people and things (including Meter, Kilometer; Quadratmeter, Quadratkilometer for length/height/distance and area) using cardinal numbers up to 10 000 including decimals, common fractions and negative numbers, for example, 85,5 Prozent haben ein Handy. Die Tagestemperatur liegt bei minus 8 Grad. Ich habe eine Halbschwester.
  • building metalanguage to comment on grammar and vocabulary (for example, Substantive/Nomen, Verben, Ordinalzahlen, Präpositionen, Fragewörter, groβ/klein schreiben), comparing with equivalent English terms
Recognise that different types of texts, such as narratives, recounts and informative and procedural texts, have certain conventions and can take different forms depending on the context in which they are produced

[Key concepts: context, audience, functionality; Key processes: identifying, classifying, transforming] (ACLGEU150 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • identifying the purpose, context and intended audience of a range of familiar texts, for example, fairy tales, sports reports or recipes
  • reading, viewing and/or listening to different digital and other texts with a common topic and discussing structural and linguistic similarities and differences, for example, comparing a print, radio, TV and social media announcement for the same event
  • describing key features of different text types, for example, a shopping list serves as a reminder to self and consists of items and quantities (6 Brötchen, 500 g Butter, Marmelade), whereas a shopping transaction involves interaction and negotiation and more extended language (Ich möchte eine Bratwurst mit Pommes, bitte. Noch etwas? Das macht 5,80 Euro bitte.)
  • transforming a text such as a poem into another text type, such as a conversation, cartoon or SMS

Language variation and change

Recognise that there are variations in German as it is used in different contexts by different people, such as formal/informal register and regional variations

[Key concepts: variation, place, identity; Key processes: observing, comparing, analysing] (ACLGEU151 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • using the plural informal ihr when addressing more than one person, for example, Was meint ihr? Hört gut zu!
  • noticing when the more polite Sie is used, for example, by children to unknown adults
  • recognising that there are differences in what people say when answering the family landline or their own mobile phone, for example, Schmidt, Guten Tag! or Hallo Lisa!
  • being aware of some regional variations in German language use, for example, in greetings such as the Swiss Grüezi and Austrian Servus, or the lack of the Eszett in Switzerland
  • comparing diversity in accents, dialects and vocabulary in German-speaking communities with similar diversity in the use of English within and beyond Australia
Understand why language is important and recognise that languages and cultures change over time and influence one another

[Key concepts: change, borrowing, impact; Key processes: discovering, exploring, understanding] (ACLGEU152 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • exploring the function of language in social and educational life, for example, listing and discussing how, where and why they use language in the course of a day
  • discovering some of the English words used by German speakers (das Internet, die App, Stopp!, Sorry!) and considering if they are the same kinds of words as those borrowed from German by English
  • understanding that German, like all languages, is constantly expanding to include new words and expressions in response to changing intercultural experiences, for example, Fast Food, Fairness

Role of language and culture

Understand that own and others’ language use is shaped by and reflects the values, ideas and norms of a community

[Key concepts: norms, values; Key processes: observing, comparing, connecting] (ACLGEU153 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Ethical Understanding
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • recognising that texts such as stories have a social and cultural purpose, for example, the moral of a fairy tale (Aschenputtel) and comparing the kinds of personal characteristics that are depicted in texts as desirable
  • recognising that language use can have connections to cultural practices, such as expressions from family or religious celebrations, or from outdoor activities such as sports, for example, Gott sei Dank!, ‘Howzat!’, ‘fair go’
  • discussing situations of culturally inappropriate language use and noticing what makes them inappropriate and how this may be addressed, for example, addressing an adult who is not a family member with du instead of Sie
  • noticing the impact of own assumptions about people from German-speaking countries, their language and culture, when listening to, reading and viewing texts, and considering how German speakers too may make assumptions and generalisations about Australians

Years 5 and 6 Achievement Standards

By the end of Year 6, students use written and spoken German for classroom interactions, to carry out transactions, and to share ideas and opinions, relate experiences and express feelings. They use complete sentences in familiar contexts to ask questions such as, Bist du fertig? Was machst du jetzt? Verstehst du das? respond to requests and share experiences of learning, for example, Ich kann gut sprechen, aber ich finde das Lesen und Schreiben schwierig. They use descriptive and expressive vocabulary, including adjectives such as aufgeregt, glücklich, nervös, sauer and traurig, to express feelings and make statements such as Ich nehme ein Käsebrötchen. They use appropriate intonation for simple statements, questions and exclamations, and correct pronunciation, for example, for the two different pronunciations of ch. They gather and compare information from different sources about social and natural worlds, and convey information and opinions in different formats to suit specific audiences and purposes. They describe characters, events and ideas encountered in texts, and re-create imaginative texts to reflect their imaginative experience. When creating texts, they manipulate modelled language to describe current, recurring and future actions, for example, Wir gehen morgen schwimmen. Kommst du mit? Es geht mir nicht gut. and produce original sentences with common regular and irregular verbs in the present tense, including limited forms of the modal verbs dürfen and müssen and some common separable verbs such as mitbringen and fernsehen. They use adjectives, adverbs and adverbial phrases to qualify meaning, for example, viel Wasser, neue Schuhe; lieber, oft, jeden Tag. They explain aspects of German language and culture, recognising that there are not always equivalent expressions in English, and create a range of bilingual texts to support their own language learning and the school community. They describe aspects of their intercultural interactions that are unfamiliar or uncomfortable, and discuss their own reactions and adjustments.

Students give examples of how German language and culture are continuously changing and are influenced by other languages and cultures. They identify and apply some of the systematic sentence structure and word order rules of German. They identify rules for pronunciation and apply phonic and grammatical knowledge to spell and write unfamiliar words, for example, words containing ch, j, w and z, and diphthongs such as au, ei, eu and ie. They apply the conventions of commonly used text types, and identify differences in language features and text structures. They give examples of the variety of ways German is used by different people in different contexts. They make connections between culture and language use, and identify ways that language use is shaped by and reflects the values, ideas and norms of a community.


Years 5 and 6 Work Sample Portfolios