Year 8 Languages

In Year 8, students will study either German or Japanese as their Language choice based on their Year 7 Language choice. If they studied German in Year 7, they will continue studying German in Year 8. If they studied Japanese in Year 7, they will continue studying Japanese in Year 8.

Language Options

German

Japanese

Year 8 German

In Year 8 German, students share information about friends, interests, likes, dislikes and preferences. They use modelled language and simple expressions to socialise and demonstrate key features of pronunciation in different words, phrases and sentences. High-frequency vocabulary is used to describe characters, events and ideas encountered in imaginative texts and to create short informative texts using formulaic expressions. They work with German and English to translate and create simple bilingual texts. Students identify German as an important European and global language and that it is related to English. 

 

Communication

Students will:

  • Make plans and arrangements to carry out activities together through transacting with others in simple and guided real situations. Participate in classroom exchanges by following instructions, asking and answering questions, apologising and making requests. 
  • Identify topic, gist and specific points of information in a range of simple spoken and written texts relating to own world and that of other teenagers. 
  • Engage with imaginative and creative texts by identifying, describing and discussing key elements, including characters, events and ideas. 
  • Translate and interpret texts such as emails and conversations, from German to English and vice versa, noticing similarities and differences. Create and maintain individual and shared bilingual texts and resources such as signs, word lists, posters, games and photo stories. 
  • Engage with German speakers and texts, noticing how interactions involve culture as well as language. Reflect on experiences of learning and using another language, reflecting on how these impact intercultural exchange. 

Understanding

Students will learn to:

  • Recognise and use structures and other textual features of common spoken, written and multimodal texts such as invitations, emails, surveys, advertisements and music video clips. Continue to develop knowledge of elements of the German grammatical system. 
  • Recognise the common variation in German as it is used in different contexts and locations by different peoples. 
  • Recognise that German and English are related languages and that German is an important European and global language.

Year 8 Japanese

The Japanese curriculum aims to develop the knowledge and skills to ensure that students can communicate in Japanese to share information about friends, family, interests and preferences. They learn to read and write the hiragana script and are introduced to some kanji characters. Students identify the main ideas in simple texts. They create their own texts using formulaic expressions and gestures with an understanding of the relationship between language and culture.  

 

Communication

Students will:

  • Interact with others to exchange information about self, personal worlds and immediate environment. Students engage in collaborative activities using appropriate formulaic expressions and gestures. 
  • Locate key points of information and use the information in new ways.  
  • Listen to, read and view texts such as folk stories and video clips, share reactions, reinterpret, create and present their own texts.  
  • Translate and create short texts, noticing similarities and differences between Japanese and English.  
  • Participate in intercultural interactions and reflect on communication, identity and culture. 

Understanding

Students will learn to:

  • Recognise different scripts within texts. They develop an understanding of aspects of pitch, accent, rhythm and intonation in spoken Japanese. Students structure sentences using correct word order and linking information. 
  • Recognise variations in language use that reflect different social and cultural contexts, purposes and relationships. They learn that languages change over time through contact with other languages and cultures. 
  • Explore the relationship between language, culture and communication and how this impacts attitudes and beliefs. They identify how Japanese values such as humility and harmony are reflected in language.