#edexcel drama

[eli-is-an-idiot]

i hate microsoft word so damn much

[hieoeo]

im gonna rank my exams so far now im halfway through for fun

1. English lit 1 (aqa) this is basically for the jekyll and hyde question alone it was absolutely beautiful. R+J question was pretty good as well.

2.English lit 2 another amazing english exam from aqa. I loved the unseen poetry question and the fact we were given 2 theme questions for an inspector calls. Before you were mine was pretty decent as well cause i can compare it to walking away the best poem

3. Combined Physics 1 (aqa trilogy higher) I did no revision at all for the paper and it was still piss easy. Best science paper by far.

4.Drama (edexcel) I found section A to be chill. Nice extract from an inspector calls. The 9 marker in section B was so strange but i figured out a solid answer

5. Maths 1 (edexcel higher) So much easier than most non calculator maths papers im used to. I know I fucked a few questions up but considerably less than i normally do. Also the fire alarm went off during this exam so we had like a weird 13 minute break standing outside. Strange.

6. French reading (aqa higher) This one was nice and pretty much exactly what i was expecting. Maybe its not my highest scoring paper but it was one of the least stressful ones which is why its this high up. Loved the translation at the end as well.

7. Geography 1 (aqa) It went pretty good except for the fact i didnt finish one of the 6 markers. I never finish geography papers though. Also the figure they provided for the question about flood management was awful and the 12 marker about plate boundaries was weird.

8. Combined Chemistry 1 nothing much to say tbh. Went decently but not really well. I dont really have any strong opinions on it.

9. Computer science 1 (OCR) surprisingly chill. No system architecture came up which was weird but nice. I think i did slightly better than i normally do on this paper.

10. Combined biology 1 This is supposed to be my best science but it was just a bit mid tbh. Definitely did not go awfully though just in comparison to my other exams its lacking a bit.

11. French listening I was expecting it to be shit and it was. The dog was the highlight of the paper, it can open doors!!

12. Computer science 2 never again.

Only 11 left omg im so fucking tired. Theyve mostly gone really well though so thats nice.

[tweehearted]

Also third day of my GCSEs done

19/23 more exams to go!

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

Re paper 1 – went really well actually. I wrote so fast that I had ten minutes to spare 9/10

Drama C3 - it was okay I guesssss. The questions edexcel gave were pretty bad tho… I tried to write a lot but mediocre performance 6/10

Biology 1 - I’m actually so shocked this went good!!! I’ve always been super shit at science but I was actually so surprised this didn’t go to shit and I could answer every question 8/10

Eng Literature 1 - I have so many mixed feelings! The questions were really. Really. Good but I felt like I had barely any time to write all my thoughts. I write 5 pages for Shakespeare text but only 2.5 for the 19th century text. Praying I get an A (7) at least…. This test really challenged my mental and physical stamina 6/10

[sathcreation]

Top IGCSE English Tutoring Offered at Gritty Tech

Why Choose Gritty Tech for IGCSE English Tutoring?

Gritty Tech has earned a reputation for excellence in IGCSE English tutoring. Our personalized approach, experienced educators, and technology-driven learning environment make us a preferred choice for students aiming for top grades. At Gritty Tech, we believe that every student has unique learning needs. We tailor our sessions to meet individual goals, whether it's mastering creative writing, improving grammar skills, or analyzing complex literature texts For More…

Expert Tutors with Proven Track Records

Our tutors are not only experts in English language and literature but also experienced in the IGCSE curriculum. They have successfully guided thousands of students through their exams with outstanding results. Each tutor at Gritty Tech undergoes rigorous training to stay updated with the latest changes in the Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE English syllabuses.

Comprehensive Coverage of IGCSE English Topics

Gritty Tech covers the full spectrum of IGCSE English topics. This includes:

Reading Comprehension: Techniques to interpret texts effectively, infer meaning, and critically evaluate arguments.

Creative Writing: Developing engaging narratives, descriptive pieces, and reflective essays.

Essay Writing: Structuring arguments, presenting balanced discussions, and building coherent essays.

Grammar and Vocabulary: Strengthening language fundamentals to boost clarity and precision.

Literary Analysis: Deep diving into prose, poetry, and drama to extract themes, techniques, and contextual influences.

Personalized Learning Plans

At Gritty Tech, we assess each student's strengths and weaknesses through diagnostic tests. Based on the results, we create customized learning plans that focus on areas needing improvement. Students receive constant feedback, targeted practice exercises, and progressive challenges that push them towards academic excellence.

Flexible Scheduling and Online Learning

Understanding the busy lives of students, Gritty Tech offers flexible scheduling. Our online tutoring platform is equipped with state-of-the-art tools including virtual whiteboards, real-time quizzes, and recorded sessions. This ensures that students can learn from the comfort of their homes without compromising the quality of education.

Small Group and One-on-One Tutoring

Students can choose between small group classes or one-on-one tutoring sessions. Group sessions encourage peer learning and discussion, while one-on-one sessions offer personalized attention. Both formats are designed to maximize student engagement and academic growth.

Mock Exams and Performance Tracking

To prepare students for the actual IGCSE exams, Gritty Tech conducts regular mock exams. These exams simulate real testing conditions, helping students build confidence and improve their time management skills. Detailed performance reports help students and parents track progress and identify areas that need further focus.

Focus on Exam Techniques and Time Management

IGCSE English exams require more than just knowledge. They demand effective time management and strategic answering techniques. At Gritty Tech, we equip students with the skills to approach different types of questions, allocate time wisely, and maximize marks.

Interactive Learning Materials

Our curriculum includes engaging study materials such as:

Interactive quizzes

Annotated sample essays

Model answers with examiner notes

Vocabulary building games

Creative writing prompts

These resources make learning more dynamic and help students retain information more effectively.

Building Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills

IGCSE English requires students to think critically and analyze information. Our tutoring program emphasizes these skills through thought-provoking discussions, debate sessions, and analytical writing exercises. Students learn to articulate their thoughts clearly and support their arguments with evidence.

Support Beyond Academics

At Gritty Tech, we believe that emotional well-being is crucial for academic success. Our tutors provide mentorship and motivation, helping students build self-confidence and develop a positive mindset towards learning.

Parental Involvement and Communication

We maintain open lines of communication with parents. Regular updates, progress reports, and parent-tutor meetings ensure that parents are involved in their child's learning journey. We value collaboration with families to create the best support system for our students.

Success Stories from Gritty Tech

Many Gritty Tech students have achieved top grades in their IGCSE English exams and gained admission to prestigious universities worldwide. Our alumni often credit our tutoring program for equipping them with the language skills and academic confidence needed to excel in their future studies.

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Join Gritty Tech Today

If you're looking for top IGCSE English tutoring that combines academic rigor with personalized support, Gritty Tech is the right choice. Our experienced tutors, innovative resources, and commitment to student success make us the ideal partner in your educational journey. Contact us today to schedule your free trial class and take the first step towards academic excellence!

[gcsegeek]

Hello tumblr!

If you happen to be looking for GCSE help on tumblr (of all places), maybe I can help. If you don’t mind postponing the kpop edits or destiel fics or whatever else you are on here for.

I am a Y13 (as of 2020/21) who managed to achieve 8s and 9s in my exams in 2019 (probably owing to my lack of social life and fear of failure).

Because I’d like it if people got less stressed than I did over GCSEs, I thought it'd be nice to share my notes to help other people.

The exams I took were: AQA GCSE Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Drama; Edexcel GCSE English Language and Literature, French, History and Maths; AQA Further Maths. I’m not sure I’ll be able to post notes for all of them but here’s hoping!

A side note- my handwriting can sometimes be a leetle illegible, so if you can’t read anything, please ask.

Love,

gcsegeek

[kkandicexo-blog]

preparing for my real GCSE French speaking exam! I'm so stressed lol! ------------------- ps any GCSE students hit me up! I'd love to talk to y'all! 💖💖💖

[eausosad]

[21kschool]

The 21K School Difference—Why Our Virtual Schooling is Superior

When it comes to virtual schools, 21K School is head and shoulders above the rest. The slogan, “Let’s do Education Right,” says it all. 21K School started in June 2020 and is the first to bring virtual schooling to India as a complete school. Let’s look at this pragmatically and form a complete opinion of 21K School.

21K School—Roots

The school was started with a vision to bring education that is affordable, is of good quality, and makes a real difference in students’ lives. The underlying principle is to provide meaningful and joyful education to every student.

What Does 21K School Offer?

Well, you could ask, what does 21K School offer that other virtual schools don’t? However, the question should be, why is 21K School superior to other schools? Why is it the right choice for your child?

Options of Curricula

21K School is a formally recognized educational institution that provides various curricula for students to choose from.

Indian Curriculum Strict adherence to the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) of India ensures that your child gets the best out of the Indian curriculum. This framework is used up to middle school. Grades ten and twelve certificates are issued by NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling). The certificates are equivalent to any CBSE or ICSE certificates.

British Curriculum 21K School is also affiliated with and is an approved center of Pearson Edexcel. Furthermore, partnerships with NISAI also allow students to opt for Cambridge International Certifications.

American Curriculum 21K School’s partnership with Stride also means that it allows children to choose an American curriculum. 21K School’s partner is accredited by Cognia and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Flexibility

21K School is ideal for students with unique interests and who want to delve into more detail of learning. The school also is a boon for parents who prefer to home school their children but allows a structured approach to be followed.

Even if you don’t have access to good schools in your locale, 21K School provides the quality of virtual learning to ensure your child becomes a holistic learner.

Traditional schools are often limiting if your child has talents that you want to nurture. With 21K School, you can allow your child to become a prodigy in their chosen interest while ensuring they get a good educational foundation.

Children with various disabilities or those prone to illness will find that 21K School allows them to become a part of a wonderful community. They are given the meticulous attention they need and the space they need to grow as individuals.

21K School also offers the choice of classes in the morning or afternoon, allowing parents to be a part of their learning. Students can attend both live and recorded classes, further giving them the flexibility they need to learn at their own pace.

Educators

Owing to the fact that 21K School is virtual, it is able to pick and choose the best educators from all over India and the world and deliver their classes directly to your child. This ensures that your child gets nothing but the best quality of education.

Virtual schooling through 21K School allows all students to learn on a level playing field, with educators trained to ensure focused attention is given to each child, and a child’s learning needs are prioritized over merely completing portions.

Beyond Books

21K School knows the importance of physical education and mental well-being. Students can choose to learn yoga, participate in meditation, and various other extra-curricular activities. With focused and thus shortened learning hours, children are allowed to be children. They can focus on their chosen sports and interests and become great at what they love.

Beyond the Curriculum

Students get everything they need from 21K School’s various curricula. The school also ensures that students have access to learning Foreign Languages, Advanced Mathematics, Creativity, Photography, Multimedia, Poetry, Drama & Theatre, Public Speaking, Robotics, and many other options.

Access

It doesn’t matter where you are. 21K School can be accessed as long as you have a smartphone or smart mobile device and a working internet connection. 21K School ensures that students who don’t have access to Wi-Fi are also able to access quality education on telecom-provided data networks.

Readying Your Child for the Future

21K School isn’t merely a remedial option. It provides your child with everything they would get from a traditional school and more but at a much higher quality. The approach is to understand what the future holds and prepare your children for a future where they can embrace their abilities and become successful.

Exposure

Parents have found that 21K School has been the right choice for them. This is why there are over 3500 students enrolled from all over the world. In addition to putting your mind at ease about the quality of education, this also means that your child will be culturally adept and understand much more of the world.

Focus

21K School also ensures that students get what they need from their educators. This means that lower classes only allow ten students per class, and higher classes go up to fifteen students per class.

Involvement

21K School encourages parents to be a part of their child’s learning experience. This ensures that parents know exactly what their child is learning and, more importantly, become a part of their entire educational experience.

Technology

Not only does 21K School use the world’s best-proven education systems, but it also ensures that the latest tech is used to guarantee the best learning experience. With virtual reality labs and immersive learning experiences, your child is able to experience as they learn.

Parents don’t get a chance to redo their child’s education. That is why 21K School knows that it is important to do education right.

[eli-is-an-idiot]

and this week in eli has its drama exam and is completely unprepared we ran through the piece today and we didn't even get to the end because we hadn't practiced the ending

the exam is in a week what if I jump out of a window edexcel do i still have to do the exam

[gzteacher]

Overworked [TL;DR]

[TL;DR Version]: Finally worked up the courage to tell my supervisor that my workload was too much. We’ll see if anything can be worked out. I’m all-or-nothing at this point.

[Full Version - it’s very very very long]

I’m at a school that’s only been around for going on two years now, and most teachers teach 1 to 3 courses distributed through 12 to 14 classes per week.

And then there’s MY schedule...

I teach 8 courese; 18 classes a week.  - Grade 7 Reading Essentials: For kids who can’t read at all, as in this is class were we learn how to sound out words, break down compound words, recognize prefixes and suffixes, and course read material designed for American 8~9 year olds. I’m not mentioning this to be facetious but to be informative. The school originally wanted me to teacher them AP Literature. Yeah. A bunch of 12year-old non-native English speaking, never-been-immersed-in-WesternEuropean-culture 12 year olds suddenly analyzing the structure and language of Maupassant’s The Necklace. Anyway.

- Grade 9 Intro to Literature: I’ll explain why there’s no Grade 8 here later. If you’re up for a long ass read, of course) Intro to Literature (This is of course, after they’ve learned how to do basic comprehension. This course works on recognizing figures of speech and rhetorical devices, plus it looks at easy-to-read works - yes they exist... it took some digging, but indeed they exist - placed against historical, cultural and thematic backgrounds

- Grade 8+9 IGCSE English Language A: I asked my British friends about this and they all agree that Grade 8+9 (age 13~14) is way too young to be signing up for Pearson Edexcel IGCSE especially with them speaking a language that has very little if any similarity to English, unless the students have lived extensively in a Western country, which these students have not.

- Grade 10 ALevel Literature: I only have this class once a week yet am expected to prepare them for ALevel Lit. This once-a-week class versus their more prominent ALevel Chemistry and Physics. *sigh*

- Grade 10 PreAP Literature and Composition: Only because this is my first year teaching and these student’s have no background with literature. It’s basically a faster moving Grade 9 course, but it focuses on FRQ section of the exam wherein you have to have read an actual novel. Novels in this class are actually just short stories in which I have to make vocabulary lists of because the students won’t make it through a page unless they translate every other word.

- Grade 11 AP Literature and Composition: I actually managed to talk the students OUT of signing up for this exam unless they’ve really enjoy reading and can think and question things as they read. Their TOEFL Reading classes do a great job of teaching them reading comprehension. Unfortunately, AP Lit does not test your ability to search for answers directly within text, so that’s where this class comes in. The learning curve been Grade 10 and 11 here is such that the stories and poems we look at in Grade 10 are too easy for Grade 11 and the Grade 11 works are often too difficult for Grade 10. There is very little, if any, overlap.

- Grade 11 AP Psychology: One 3 hour course every Monday afternoon. It’s a nightmare especially considering how the worksheets assigned throughout the week to help them review things more often then not don’t get done. The extra materials, video links, online notes, cheat sheets, etc go ignored because apparently the stuff only makes sense when I’m standing in front of them modelling everything for them. The school expects all the students to take the exam and for me to analyze their scores once CollegeBoard releases them.

- Drama: We meet once a week, assuming students haven’t been pulled out to do tutoring sessions for Calculus. The school expects a drama performance at the end of the term.

It was becoming more and more difficult to manage these classes until I finally realized I was burning out. (I’m terrible at recognizing burnout.) The moment I would shift my attention to one course, the performance of another course would suffer. Students from whatever class would complain that they aren’t “doing enough” or that they haven’t gotten their homework or exams back yet. (There’s still a large pile of ungraded papers on my desk as we speak... I could be grading them, but yeah. That.)

Now.

Originally, this list was all just “AP Literature, plus IGCSE, Psychology and Drama” with addition to U.S. and World History. After some arguing, I managed to get the history courese removed from my schedule as well as Grade 8 “Literature” (the classes that I didn’t want ended up begin given to the teacher the school was planning of firing BECAUSE the principal - who knows me from a previous school - found out I would be teaching there).

I did try teaching every Literature class the exact same way to save time, printing, planning, etc. I knew it would be challenging, but it was either they double up and put forth the effort to master difficult material, or I split myself into multiple parts and water Western Lit down into something approachable and digestible. They all started out with recognizing the basic forms of Literature: peotry, prose and drama. Yes, I made a worksheet to let them practice identifying which description fit which type of literature, just to make sure they were following me because you can never know when the students are dead silent before, during and after classes.

Then we moved on to Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson - easy reads with a couple vocabularly cheat sheets and translation references. Then the struggling happened and as predicted, the lower the grade, the more the struggle. I decided then to re-up the entire “Literature” course and instead create a course that was appropriate for the students’ level.

I will say the one good thing that comes out of the being the only teacher who has to see EVERY. SINGLE. STUDENT through the span of a week is that as a significantly unique-looking FOREIGNER from a particularly diverse cultural background, generally socially aware, and is fluent in Chinese, it has become useful in whipping these kids in to shape in terms of their cultural awareness and mannerisms. If you’re a foreigner in China worried about local kids picking at you, making snarky remarks around you, flat out insulting you in Chinese or just being “weird” around you, you won’t have to worry about that at all with these kids. The principal knows that, I’m sure this was one of the reasons she brought me around. The school is one of those internationalized jawns where the students get offers from Western universities come their Grade11/Grade12 year. It helps to not end up overseas still making dumb comments about someone’s nose and then looking crazy when they call you out on it. Go figure.

The school is mad shy with admitting they have me teacher 8 courses. They won’t admit it right away because in their minds, I teach “Literature, Psychology, and Drama... 3 courses” but then they wonder how I manage to go through so many copies, and they pretend they don’t notice the eight stacks of exam papers that all have my name on them during midterms and finals. It’s contract renewal time, and I basically told the powers that be that they either need to pay extra, hire more staff to distribute these courses more sensibly or it’s boots for me. I’m losing hair and self-care time being the only one at this school who would need 3 or 4 people to replace me should I leave. 

[cpgoenkais]

An Insight Into Innovations at the Best International School in Mumbai

The Curriculum Overview

The curriculum at the international schools is either International Baccalaureate (IB) International Primary Curriculum, Cambridge Assessment International Education, or Edexcel. The Cambridge International Curriculum is a global standard in education and followed in over 160 countries. It is challenging and flexible so the school can tailor it to meet its objectives. At the Best International School in Mumbai, you can expect a different approach to teaching and will get a refreshing attitude on coaching students.

Good Support Structure

Getting your child admitted to the best international schools in Pune is a good step towards furthering their academics in the right direction. Teamwork and creative thinking form the backbone of the education process. The school is often equipped with CCTV coverage so the teachers can keep an eye on the children at all times.  

Campus facilities

The Best International School in Mumbai provides the ideal environment for innovative thinking. They have labs where the children come into their own and indulge in expansive thinking while they discover new things about the things around them. Tools and programs help the young child orient his or her thoughts towards academic pursuits. Only by reading the child will expand the horizons and for this there is the e-library filled with audio and reading material. It not only covers the core curriculum but also provides access to things beyond the immediate so the child can explore.

Equal Emphasis on Extracurricular Activity

For proper growth, the child must indulge in fun activities like games and debating. The Drama and Dance club helps them find out how expressive each is. The best international schools in Pune help bring out the talents of children. There is a game hour when the child can go out into the open field and indulge in some games like cricket or football. By helping the child achieve all-round growth, the school brings out the best in him or her.

[study-lit]

how to edexcel english lit: other drama (doctor faustus)

So, the first exam is on Thursday. Yay! (joking, obviously). In order to instill some form of confidence in your ability, here is a post on answering section B, other drama (this post is directly about Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe). I’ve spelt ‘Mephastophilis’ wrong throughout this typed version, but I cba to change it bc I’m revising for history tomorrow.

Explore the relationship between Mephistophilis and Faustus in 'Doctor Faustus’ by Christopher Marlowe. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors. [25 marks]

introduction:

The introduction, like prose, is where you set out your main thesis. For this essay, mine looked like this:

The relationship between Faustus and Mephistophilis in 'Doctor Faustus’ is, on the surface, one entrenched in sin: a man who summons Lucifer and one of “hell's prince[s]” can be seen as anything but holy. However, when looked upon closely, it can be conceived that the relationship between Marlowe's heretic protagonist and Lucifer's 'right hand man’ is sinful beyond the statuses of its participants. In particular, Faustus and Mephistophilis can be seen as homosexual and despairing, two elements blasphemous in the Elizabethan era.

In my introduction, I focus on laying out my argument and relating it to the context of the play's conception. This enables me to prove I know what I'm on about, you know?

body:

I wrote quite a lot about the homosexual and homoerotic undertones of Marlowe's play. However, I understand this could be confusing, so I'll just break down my point on “despair” instead.

Much like homosexual sex, the act of “despairing” (known as suicide to a modern audience) is also seen as an instance of Faustus and Mephistophilis obeying human nature (deemed sinful) over God's nature (deemed divine).

Here's my thesis: Faustus and Mephistophilis talk of Faustus committing suicide so he cannot be tempted by God. I also manage to get a small bit of ao3 in there too because you can't have too much context!

Faustus, throughout the play, promises his life away, and tells Mephistophilis he'd die for him (“if I had as many soils as I had stars I'd give them all for Mephistophilis”). This promise, that Faustus would die for Mephistophilis, is tested in the play's final two scenes.

Here's a more explicit mention of my point as well as a broad reference to the text in order to preface the greater detail I'll get into in a moment.

In scene 12, Mephistophilis hands Faustus a dagger: “Hell calls for right … / 'Faustus come: thine hour is come”. Whilst Faustus’ death doesn't come until scene 13, there's heavy emphasis on his bond with Mephistophilis, and by extension Lucifer. In particular: “with my blood again I will confirm / my former vow I made with Lucifer.” Faustus is, once again, attempting to retain his relationship with Mephistophilis through any means possible, creating another rejection of God's decisions on Earth, and creating the heretic acts he performs throughout the play.

Here, it’s very clear what I’m talking about: Faustus will kill himself for Mephistophilis and maintain a sinful life in order to retain their (probably homoerotic) relationship.

conclusion:

I use the conclusion, certainly in this essay, to reference Faustus’ final soliloquy and the play’s end. I just find it easier and it’s an easy opportunity to get a bunch of quotes in.

Faustus’ final soliloquy cements his fate, but it also demonstrates the level to which his relationship with Mephistophilis has reached throughout the play’s course. Ultimately, Mephistophilis and Faustus’ final interaction is: “I’ll burn my books - ah, Mephistophilis!” Doctor Faustus is cyclical in that the relationship between Faustus and Mephistophilis has come full circle: Mephistophilis is once again the feared demon of scene three, where Faustus asks him to present himself as a “Franciscan friar”, it’s ironic that a man who benefits from hellish demons still fears them. By this point, the relationship between Faustus and Mephistophilis is not one where they “die eternally” in pleasure, but a fearful meetings of ex-lovers: Faustus is now nothing but another soul to retrieve, not a man. Whilst many directors present this poetic climax as a fond farewell between lovers - some productions see Mephistophilis kiss Faustus’ cheek before he is dragged to hell - there (I used the wrong there when writing this, idk how neither me or my teacher noticed) is an element of temporariness to the relationship.  

If you can reference some director’s choices, you demonstrate that you understand Doctor Faustus is a play. It has been said in examiner’s reports that people tend to treat the dramatic texts as prose fiction - IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, FIND A BOOTLEG OF YOUR CHOSEN TEXT AND WATCH IT.

Ultimately, whilst whilst the relationship between Faustus and Mephistophilis can be that of lovers who die together, it is a temporary affair, defined by the necessity of Faustus’ soul being taken by Lucifer, demonstrated at the end of scene 13.

Teacher’s comments: tip: include more language terminology mark: 24/25 (I guess I’ve set a standard for the exam now, shit.)

[kkandicexo-blog]

preparing for my real GCSE French speaking exam! I'm so stressed lol! ------------------- ps any GCSE students hit me up! I'd love to talk to y'all! 💖💖💖

[erin-studies]

a levels 2022: english lit 1 - drama (7.6.22)

i’m sooooo happy with this omg edexcel i could kiss ur toes. the othello question was great (except i didn’t get to talk about iago’s language as much as i wanted to because it’s my favourite thing to write about lol) and the duchess of malfi was fine too !!

[theibblog]

How to learn German

If you’re like me, you have probably discovered that learning languages is a lot harder now; you can read a whole text and finish it having no idea what it was about. This can be quite demotivating, but do not let this dishearten you! Here are some things that I have been doing that have helped me so far. I am doing HL German, but most of these tips and resources are applicable to a levels and other languages, too.

1.   Annotating texts

When you are going through a text and there is a lot you don’t understand, it can be quite overwhelming. Circling what you don’t know is great for a while, but not when there is a lot that you don’t know. You can end up feeling worse because this doesn’t exactly show you what you should work on.

If you develop a method for annotating texts, you can get a lot more out of them. Using different colours/marks for different types of words (colours solve everything) e.g. green for grammar, boxes for vocab etc helps you to find patterns in what you’re unsure about, and deciding what to work on a lot easier

2.   Grammar

It’s tedious (and can be a bit boring) but this is the glue to learning any language; it is crucial that you understand it. Once you do, learning becomes a lot easier. A simple way of doing this is creating your own revision (e.g. verb tables) and sticking them somewhere you will see them a lot. Reading through them and testing yourself for a couple of minutes a day will help you to learn how grammar works with minimal effort. This is a useful link to begin: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9qESZHpLQVvVV9peHcxcnNQeWs/view

3.  Vocab

Dict.cc and Leo dictionary are very good for looking things up

Keep a vocab book it is a good idea to record words and phrases you would like to use because you’re more likely to remember them

Quizlet and Memrise are good vocab apps.   Learning as many words from https://www.memrise.com/course/89242/edexcel-gcse-german-vocabulary-list/ as you can is a very good base to start from, and you can create your own study sets using these apps.

4. To reinforce all of the above:

Reading German books is difficult, but extremely rewarding. You can start with simple children’s books with stories that you already know (e.g. fairy tales like Cinderella). When you are more confident, try to read books that are popular amongst German people your age (tschick by Wolfgang Herrndorf is very good)

If you use Instagram, I recommend following Zeit Verlag - the captions are very short and about relevant issues.

Changing the language settings on your phone is an easy way to learn useful vocab that you probably won’t be taught in school

Listening to radio/podcasts to learn about things that are relevant to you

Deutsche Welle is a really, really good site for practising your comprehensive skills. It includes videos, radio channels, articles and activities to test how much you have understood.

Watch films and tv shows!

If you enjoy watching films like meee, I absolutely recommend checking out Walter Presents (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/categories/world-drama/title) for some of the best foreign dramas. I have seen: Deutschland 83 is brilliant, and if you are learning French The Returned is fantastic, too.

Some good German films are: The Lives of Others and Goodbye, Lenin ­– they are also very entertaining.

All of the above will boost your comprehensive skills and broaden your vocabulary. What really sums all of this up, is simply trying to immerse yourself in the language as often as you can - whether it is using a flashcard app for 10mins or watching a show for 1hour, it all makes a contribution to your understanding of the language and culture. And, if you know of any other good German films/shows/resources please feel free to message suggestions!! I hope this is useful. Viel Glück!  :)) 

- Sophie 

[findateacher]

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English Teacher for Grades 1-5 Acushla Mirihana (Female) - A* in English Language in IGCSE's, A in IAL Edexcel AS Level, Distinction in Trinity Guildhall Speech and Drama grades 1-8.

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