French
Why French?
Because French is simply beautiful! But of course, there are many more reasons:
France is Germany’s most important trading partner and one of the most popular travel destinations. The Franco-German friendship is a cornerstone of political and economic stability in Europe.
French is spoken as a native language by around 80 million people. As a global language, it is understood by approximately 230 million speakers across every continent and in over 50 countries. It is an official language not only in France, but also in Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Haiti, and numerous countries in West and Central Africa. It is also widely spoken as a secondary language in North Africa and Southeast Asia.
French holds official status in the African Union, the Organization of American States, and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations—where only English and French serve as working languages.
French, alongside German and English, is one of the most important administrative and working languages of the European Union. France is a founding member, and many EU institutions are located in predominantly French-speaking cities such as Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg.
French at Our School
At the Vocational Grammar School St. Pauli, we teach French using a modern coursebook from Klett-Verlag: Génération pro. This three-volume series offers ample opportunities for practice, including self-directed learning, and is tailored to young adults preparing for vocational training or university studies—or those simply curious about the lives of young people in France.
In addition to the coursebook, we engage extensively with French cinema, including films such as La Haine (Hate), Intouchables (The Intouchables), and Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (Amélie). We also explore music (e.g., ZAZ), theatre (e.g., Molière), and French gastronomy—including activities such as restaurant visits.
Interdisciplinary units focus on French-speaking regions and travel destinations such as Corsica, Guadeloupe, Québec, or La Réunion. The history of our neighbouring country is an important aspect of the curriculum, and we explore intercultural topics through programmes like Karambolage, aired by the Franco-German channel ARTE.
French is taught as a newly introduced foreign language for four hours per week over three years, and may be selected as either a written or oral subject for the Abitur. No prior knowledge is required.