The New Zealand Curriculum states that "languages link people locally and globally. They are spoken in the community, used internationally, and play a role in shaping the world. Language ... give(s) us access to new and different streams of thought and to beliefs and cultural practices ... Learning a new language extends students' linguistic and cultural understanding and their ability to interact appropriately with other speakers ... and introduces them to new ways of thinking about, questioning, and interpreting the world and their place in it ... students acquire skills and attitudes that equip them for living in a world of diverse peoples, languages and cultures." (Page 24)
German is one of the major European languages and is a widely spoken first language in Europe, and is also widely used for business and trade. As a second language, it is increasingly influential in Eastern Europe. German belongs to the same language family as English and the German culture has contributed greatly to the literature, science, philosophy, music and visual arts of the English speaking world. Studying German therefore enhances the study of many other disciplines.
Germans stay longer, travel more widely and spend more in New Zealand than any other tourist group. The need for German in the tourism and service sectors and opportunities to use it are therefore growing rapidly.
At Hebron we offer German as a taught language from Year 8 to Year 13. At Years 8, 9 and 10, German is compulsory. This introductory course gives the students the ability to make themselves understood in everyday situations. Our German course emphasises communication skills and students are encouraged to write and talk about themselves, their schools, family, pets and hobbies. They learn the four essential skills necessary for learning a foreign language - listening, reading, speaking and writing.
At Years 11, 12 and 13, German is optional, and prepares students for NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3. By Year 13, a variety of complex spoken and written language skills have been acquired, such as discussing social problems, expressing opinions on current issues, films and literature, etc. Students are encouraged to read extensively on their own in order to build their confidence in German.
Over the past few years we have enjoyed visits from student teachers from Germany, Maike Brockmann, Julia Wagener and exchange student, Helga Lange. They all bring a new dimension to our programme and enjoy sharing aspects of their beautiful country and their culture with our students. A popular story is the faithfulness of the people of Oberammergau in keeping their promise to God because He answered their prayers and protected them from the plague.
We are also very proud of our NCEA students and those who have entered the Auckland Goethe Society Exams who have achieved consistently excellent results. We look forward to another successful year studying German.
