Work Out German ‘O’ Level and GCSE

Work Out German has been planned for adults and older teenagers with a basic knowledge of spoken and written German and a wish to become more proficient in the language and better informed about those who speak it. The book and cassette are intended for students working, with or without a teacher, to attain a standard similar to that required for a good grade in the present Ordinary level of the General Certificate of Education or its equivalent in the new General Certifi- cate of Secondary Education. The Course will also serve the needs of students of more modest linguistic ability, who aim at lower grades in the new examination and wish to concentrate on understanding and using the spoken language, on learning to read with confidence rather than to write.
Work Out German has two main objectives. The first is to provide a sound and interesting programme, in which the study of authentic materials will serve as a basis for studying the language in a realistic context and will give an insight into different aspects oflife in West Germany, with a glimpse of other German-speaking countries. The second is to offer specific help to students preparing for an appropriate public examination, in the belief that the development of sound standards of work in the language skills will bring success in examinations to those who work effectivelyAll the teaching, including the grammatical explanations and exercises, is based on carefully selected texts and recorded conversations, which exemplify the correct use of spoken and written German, and illustrate important elements of grammar and syntax. Every care has been taken to use the language in sensible situations and to avoid the bizarre statements often evoked by ill-judged questions posed out of context. A key to the exercises and an excellent grammar summary, with its invaluable index, are contained in Part II. A guide to pronunciation and the accompanying cassette will help the student to understand and use the spoken language with greater confidence.