German
German is simultaneously the language of many of history’s greatest cultural icons and of a prosperous, modern European society underpinned by a world-leading powerhouse economy.
Spoken as a native tongue by more people than any other European language, German continues to play an important role in many academic fields, and figures from German society have long been significant in both the arts and the sciences.
Twenty-two Nobel Prizes in Physics, 30 in Chemistry and 25 in Medicine have been awarded to scientists from German-speaking countries. And German was spoken by such luminaries as Goethe, Marx, Nietzsche, Kafka, Mann, Brecht, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Brahms, Schumann, Wagner and Mahler – to name just a few.
The German economy is easily the largest in Europe and Germany is the world’s second-largest exporter, with an enviable reputation both for innovation and for excellence in engineering and other fields.
At QE, we place great emphasis on the skills of listening, reading, writing and translation in order that boys can quickly come to appreciate the language and culture of Germany and German-speaking countries. All lessons are conducted in German, with particular attention paid to the spoken language so that boys learn to communicate well with native speakers. German language assistants support lessons at GCSE and A-level.
Trips and visits available for the boys include: the Year 9 German exchange; work experience in Aachen for A-level German students, and German theatre visits in Year 9.
Old Elizabethans: Star linguist in public service
Ben Pugh is now an EU policy advisor at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, having taken an interest in language from his earliest days at QE.
In Year 12, Ben (OE 2002-2009) took part in a ten-day work experience exchange in Aachen in Germany, where he worked in a primary school. He took a first-class degree with distinction in Modern and Medieval Languages (German and Russian) at Cambridge, his studies including a spell at Humboldt University, Berlin.
Ben was a notable contributor when he was part of the Pembroke College team which made it through to the final of the popular BBC quiz show, University Challenge, in 2012.
Upper School pupil: a valuable skill in a professional world
“My favourite thing about learning German is that it gives me the ability to learn about a remarkable country and its equally interesting history – and the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends,” says Sultan Khokhar.
Sultan attributes his “significant progress” to the time spent in the classroom going over new concepts and ideas, allied to his experience of the German exchange. “I made good friends – who I am still in contact with – which has had a profound effect on improving my German.” At school, he runs the German Society, where participants watch German movies and TV shows, and discuss them and their plots and characters. He also co-leads the Languages Board Games Club.
While still considering his options, Sultan is clear that he would like to take a course that includes German at university. “I am quite sure I would like to pursue a legal career. Speaking another language is always a valuable skill, and one like German is particularly useful in the modern, professional world.”
Lower School pupil: learning a subject from scratch
Arjun Patel finds that studying aspects of culture, especially customs and festivals, is not only fascinating but has helped him to understand German better. “I have really enjoyed learning a subject from scratch in just a few years,” he said. “My teachers have helped me to improve my German: they inspire me to work at home and learn more independently. I try to research things myself, so I can understand the language better.”
Even though the 2020 German exchange to Bielefeld had to be cancelled because of the pandemic, the preparations still furnished Arjun with the opportunity to make a new friend in Germany. “I contacted my exchange partner and we spoke together in German.” He has also found language-learning useful for his extra-curricular activities: “I am a part of the School Choir, where we sing many songs in German, as well as other languages: skill at German has helped me many times.”
