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HSC German Extension advice

Oral examination (monologue)

Exam specifications

Purpose

The oral examination relates to Objective 1 from the German Extension Syllabus. It is designed to assess a student's knowledge and skill in using spoken German to present and support a point of view.

Objective Outcomes
The student will:

1 present and discuss opinions, ideas and points of view in German		 The student:

1.1 discusses attitudes, opinions and ideas in German

1.2 formulates and justifies a written or spoken argument in German

© Board of Studies 1999, Stage 6 German Extension Syllabus.

Specifications

The oral examination will be worth 10 marks. Students are required to present two spoken monologues of approximately two minutes each, based on the prescribed issues. Students will be given 10 minutes preparation time and will choose two questions from a choice of three. The questions will be written in both German and English. During the preparation time, students may make brief key-word notes on the paper provided. They may refer to these notes during the examination but must not read directly from them. These notes will be sent to the marking centre, together with the student's recorded responses, but are not marked.

Criteria for judging performance

In your answers you will be assessed on how well you:

It is important to note that it is not necessary to be a native speaker to gain full marks in this section of the examination. The best responses are given by those students who have carefully considered the issues and are able to present a sophisticated, coherent argument to support their point of view. An excellent response will remain relevant to the question at all times and will reflect a depth of understanding of the issue/s involved. The monologue will be delivered with confidence and fluency, correct pronunciation and intonation and a high level of grammatical accuracy. A student who achieves an oral mark in the top band will formulate their ideas in German, rather than translating from English. The student will have attained a degree of authenticity, which will be reflected in the breadth and sophistication of vocabulary, expressions and sentence structure used.

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Before the examination

Familiarise yourself with the issues listed in the German Extension Syllabus. These are:

Remember that the oral examination will be related to these issues and NOT directly to the short stories. Your knowledge of the literature will be tested in the Written section of the examination. It is therefore inappropriate to refer to incidents or characters from the short stories in your oral monologues.

You should practise answering questions based on the issues, keeping in mind that the sub-sections printed in the syllabus are a guide only and not a definitive list. Reading widely on the prescribed issues will help you build a helpful bank of appropriate vocabulary and expressions.

When considering your response you should remember that it isn't the viewpoint you take which is important, but rather your ability to logically and coherently support a relevant and well-balanced argument.

You should begin with an introduction and draw your argument together with a logical conclusion. Your monologue should be a well-constructed discussion, which addresses the topic in general terms and avoids dependence on personal anecdotes or lists of items. If you provide an introduction, followed by three main ideas which you develop and support with evidence, and then a conclusion, you should be able to speak for the suggested time.

Remember that you are required to support your response. Reading widely and practising regularly will help you develop your ideas. Learn expressions which help you link your arguments and give your monologue structure. These need not be long or complex, but will help your response to flow. Learn a variety of ways of expressing an opinion. Avoid repetition of structures. Remember, it is the quality of your argument which is the most important factor, and you should avoid incorporating lists of rote-learned phrases into your responses. Some useful expressions are listed at the end of this section.

Practise monologues and record yourself at home so that you are used to giving your opinion in a non-interactive situation. If possible, practise monologues with other students, to assist in the development of ideas and viewpoints.

Expose yourself to as much German as possible. Immerse yourself in the various forms of media available which relate to the prescribed issues. Bear in mind that these resources are often aimed at native speakers of German. However, they will be a great help in gathering data and opinions to suit your point(s) of view. Some sources may include:

Wide reading in German is recommended to establish the habit of thinking in the target language. Your teacher could possibly suggest some other resources available to you.

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During the examination

Remember to relax. If you think first and don't rush to provide a response, you will be able to adapt what you know to answer a range of questions.

You will have 10 minutes to prepare both questions. Divide your time wisely, making sure to leave adequate time to prepare both questions.

You are allowed to make key-word notes as memory prompts in the spaces provided. You may choose to do this in a variety of ways. For example:

Remember that the examiners can refer to your notes. You are not permitted to write down whole sentences and then simply read them out. Remember that the key-words are only to prompt you. Writing more than key-word notes may result in you being well-prepared for your first monologue but unable to support your arguments in the second monologue.

When selecting a question, make sure you understand exactly what it is the question requires. Consider the following:

Es hat viele Vorteile, in einer multikulturellen Gesellschaft zu leben.

This question does not require a general discussion of the multicultural nature of Australian society. It asks you to present and support an opinion on the advantages (or disadvantages, should you choose to disagree) of living in a multicultural society. As the questions are given in both German and English, there is no excuse for misinterpretation. M arkers will be listening for the relevance of your response and will quickly identify a response which does not specifically address the question.

Remember to begin with an introduction, followed by a well-supported and balanced argument. You are only required to speak for two minutes on each question, although your monologue will be listened to in its entirety. If you aim for quantity rather than quality, your response may lose relevance and structure. A relevant conclusion is important and will complete your response. Although it may be relatively brief, a good conclusion can tie together the threads and re-affirm your viewpoint, rather than simply re-stating the question.

Be sure to choose questions which allow you to use different arguments, vocabulary and structures. It is important to avoid repeating your arguments and ideas. Your two responses should stand alone and be different.

Other students may discuss their answers with you after the examination. Do not be alarmed if they have taken a different approach to answering a question. The nature of the monologue invites a variety of opinions and approaches. All justified alternative answers, which are relevant to the question and issues, are acceptable.

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Useful expressions

Introductions:

Stating an opinion:

In the body of your point of view:

Providing examples:

Drawing a conclusion:

Useful adjectives:

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Approach to written examination

You have two hours to complete this paper and three questions to answer. Consider the allocation of marks and organise your time accordingly.

Suggested approach:

Question Marks Time
Response to prescribed text (Part A) 15 45 min
Response to prescribed text (Part B) 10 30 min
Writing 15 45 min

Make sure to allow sufficient time for:

To ensure that you are fully prepared for the German Extension examination paper, ask yourself the following questions.

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Response to prescribed text (Part A)

Exam specifications

Purpose

This part is designed to assess your ability to respond critically to the prescribed texts (Objective 2).

Objective Outcomes
The student will:

2 evaluate, analyse and respond to text that is in German and that reflects the culture of German-speaking communities		 The student:

2.1 evaluates and responds to text personally, creatively and critically

2.2 analyses how meaning is conveyed

2.3 analyses the social, political, cultural and or literary contexts of text that is in German

© Board of Studies 1999, Stage 6 German Extension Syllabus.

Specifications

Students will be required to analyse and evaluate aspects of the prescribed text(s) and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of language features, content, context, how meaning is conveyed, and the relationship between the prescribed texts and issues.

Students will be given a short extract from one of the prescribed texts. There will be 4-6 questions on the text. Questions will be phrased in English, for responses in English.

Part A will be worth 15 marks.

Criteria for judging performance

In your answers you will be assessed on how well you:

You may be required, for example, to:

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Before the examination

Familiarise yourself with the issues raised by each of the short stories and consider the message the author wishes to convey.

The following questions may assist you in gaining an insightful analysis.

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During the examination

During the 10 minutes reading time, you should familiarise yourself with the questions and estimate how much time you will need to ensure you can give full responses where required.

Read each question carefully to ensure your answer is relevant. Be certain to establish whether the quesiton refers to the excerpt or to the story as a whole. Highlighting or underlining key-words may be useful in ensuring a complete response is given.

Many of the questions will require you to show an understanding which goes beyond a simple re-telling of the story. Remember that these stories have a message and it is up to you to show that you have formed an interpretation you can discuss and support.

If you are asked a question related to the language features you should discuss the impact they have rather than simply listing them without any explanation.

Use the number of lines as a guide - a complete response, succinctly expressed, is always possible on the printed lines only. However, if you need to write more, you can use the remaining space on the paper or ask for an examination booklet.

Consider the number of marks allocated to the question. A question worth 5 or 6 marks will require a thoughtful, insightful response with supporting evidence from the story.

Make sure your answers makes sense by reading over what you have written. A good answer will not lend itself to ambiguity. Ensure your answers have been written in English. Provide only quotations which are relevant to the answer. It should not be necessary to translate these into English if you have provided a clear context for their use.

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Response to prescribed text (Part B)

Exam specifications

Purpose

This part is designed to assess a student's ability to respond personally and creatively in German to the prescribed text (Objective 2).

Objective Outcomes
The student will:

2 evaluate, analyse and respond to text that is in German and that reflects the culture of German-speaking communities		 The student:

2.1 evaluates and responds to text personally, creatively and critically

2.2 analyses how meaning is conveyed

2.3 analyses the social, political, cultural and or literary contexts of text that is in German

© Board of Studies 1999, Stage 6 German Extension Syllabus.

Specifications

Students will be given a short extract from the prescribed text. The extract will be different from the extract provided in Part A. Students will be required to respond to an aspect of the prescribed text by, for example:

Students will be expected to write a letter, diary entry, description, narrative account or the script of a conversation of approximately 200 words in German.

The task will be phrased in English and German, for a response in German.

Part B will be worth 10 marks.

Criteria for judging performance

In your answer you will be assessed on how well you:

An excellent response will come from a student who demonstrates a perceptive and sensitive understanding of the prescribed text. The approach taken will demonstrate flair and creativity and will not simply be a re-telling of the story. The student will show the ability to manipulate language authentically and creatively to meet the requirements of the task.

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Before the examination

Familiarise yourself with the content of the short stories, the issues raised and the message the author wishes to convey.

The response to this question requires students to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the text. Valuable marks may be lost if the response is purely creative and does not relate to what happened in the story.

Consider the viewpoint which could be taken by the different characters in response to a variety of situations. Make sure this would be consistent with their personalities and actions throughout the story.

Attempt as many practice questions as possible. This will increase your confidence and enable you to cope with an unexpected question in the examination. Thorough preparation is the key to success.

Practise writing in a variety of text types (article, formal letter, monologue, script of conversation) from the perspective of different characters.

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During the examination

Read the question carefully and plan your response to ensure that it directly addresses the question.

Although this question requires creative writing, your response must also reflect a good understanding of the story and of the characters involved.

Ensure that your answer flows logically and doesn't borrow heavily from the original text.

Write on alternate lines.

Never take the question and re-model it into another question you would prefer. You must address the question as printed on the paper. The examiners will be impressed by an answer which directly adddresses the question. Do not include slabs of pre-learned language which does not fit with your level of German. This leads to answers being disjointed and difficult to understand.

Allow enough time to review what you have written. This is an important part of the writing process and enables errors to be corrected and additions to be made.

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Writing

Exam specifications

Purpose

This section relates to Objective 1 and is designed primarily to assess the students' ability to present and support a point of view about the prescribed issues through the production of an original text in German.

Objective Outcomes
The student will:

1 present and discuss opinions, ideas and points of view in German		 The student:

1.1 discusses attitudes, opinions and ideas in German

1.2 formulates and justifies a written or spoken argument in German

© Board of Studies 1999, Stage 6 German Extension Syllabus.

Specifications

Students will be required to give an evaluative response, by presenting and explaining or justifying a point of view. Students will select one of two questions. Each question will specify an audience and/or a purpose and/or a context. The questions will be related to the prescribed issues.

Students will be expected to write a short essay, article, script of a talk, formal letter or report of approximately 300 words in German.

The tasks will be phrased in English and German, for a response in German.

This section will be worth 15 marks.

Criteria for judging performance

In your answer you will be assessed on how well you:

An excellent response will come from a student who presents and develops a sophisticated, coherent argument, discussion or explanation, writing effectively and perceptively for a specific audience and context. The piece of writing will demonstrate breadth and depth in the treatment of relevant ideas and include a high level of grammatical accuracy as well as a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structures which show a certain degree of complexity. A non-native speaker of German is capable of such a response.

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Before the examination

Familiarise yourself with the issues specified in the German Extension Syllabus. These are:

You are required to create a piece of original text in German of 300 words. Your piece of writing needs to sustain your point of view in a logical argument and to draw a conclusion based on the question given. This means that your piece of writing should have an introduction, a well-balanced body in which you elaborate on the points you present, and a logical conclusion. Marks are awarded according to how well you express and develop an argument. Providing a well-balanced piece of writing will not be achieved by merely listing items of information or giving long personal anecdotes.

Read widely on the prescribed issues and increase your vocabulary and understanding of these in German. There are many items of interest in magazines and newspapers which relate to the prescribed issues. The Internet will also be a valuable resource.

Attempt as many practice questions as possible, covering a wide range of topics. This will increase your confidence and enable you to cope with an unexpected question in the examination. Thorough preparation is the key to success and there is much you can do to ensure you are able to deal with any question.

Create your own list of vocabulary and expressions to give your writing structure and flow. A good command of grammatical structures is also needed and will underpin a good response. Some useful expressions have been provided below. Consult the advice for the monologue for more examples.

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Introductory remarks:

Explaining the aim of essay:

Developing an argument:

Concluding remarks:

Aim to make your piece of writing authentic. A disjointed translation from English does not impress. The variety of your language and expression are important factors and it is up to you to demonstrate what you know to the examiners.

Be guided by your teacher's comments and advice when your practice essays are marked.

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During the examination

Read the questions carefully. Remember you will have a choice of two topics and should choose the question which allows you the most scope.

Never take the question and re-model it into another question you prefer. You must address the question as printed on the paper.

Consider the topic you have chosen calmly and with a clear head. Make a plan, even if sketchy, to ensure you keep your answer focused and relevant.

Remain "cool" if faced with a topic you have not anticipated. Remember it is likely that many others will be in the same situation.

Keep your arguments logical and to the point. Do not be tempted to write more complicated German than your skills allow. This will not impress the examiners. and will create a poor impression.

Know your capabilities. Do not include large slabs of pre-learned, complicated German, which do not address the question or fit with your own level of language. If you do, your answer will be disjointed and could be difficult to understand.

Keep your answer relevant. The examiners will be impressed by an answer which directly addresses the question. Avoid the temptation to include slabs of irrelevant material which you would like to use, simply because it has been successful in past pieces of writing.

Remember not to panic and change the plan of approach you have practised throughout the year. Thorough preparation is the key to success and will hold you in good stead on the day.

Allow enough time to review what you have written. This is an important part of the writing process and enables errors to be corrected and additions to be made.

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