Three role play dialogues about the local environment for students to practise and peer assess in pairs. Includes bullet point prompts for student A and a script with suggested answers for the interviewer. There is also a peer assessment grid. Students would ideally have several goes at each role play, possibly with different students around the class, each adding their feedback at the end. Proven motivating and engaging activity.

4 paragraphs in German inviting a friend to a Christmas party, and a range of group activities to consolidate the language. POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES: Students get 4 paragraphs in German, each in a different colour: a) match up each English sentence with a coloured paragraph. b) students read each paragraph with a partner, taking turns to read 1, 2, or 3 words at a time before their partner takes over. They alternate who reads. Person who reads the last word in the paragraph loses. c) In pairs, students are given 4 small bits of scrap paper which they label gelb / gruen / rosa / blau. Teacher reads a few words from one paragraph and students have to grab the correct colour before their partner. d) in groups of 4 (ideally) with one captain - captain is given page 2 and calls out a short phrase in English. The student who gives the EXACT translation in German gets a point. Continue with a time limit. Great activity for engaging and broadening vocabulary. Could be followed by students writing their own paragraphs, which they could then write questions about for others to answer.

4 paragraphs in German relating to music, and a range of group activities to consolidate the language. POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES: Students get 4 paragraphs in German, each in a different colour: a) match up each English sentence with a coloured paragraph. b) students read each paragraph with a partner, taking turns to read 1, 2, or 3 words at a time before their partner takes over. They alternate who reads. Person who reads the last word in the paragraph loses. c) In pairs, students are given 4 small bits of scrap paper which they label gelb / gruen / rosa / blau. Teacher reads a few words from one paragraph and students have to grab the correct colour before their partner. d) in groups of 4 (ideally) with one captain - captain is given page 2 and calls out a short phrase in English. The student who gives the EXACT translation in German gets a point. Continue with a time limit. Great activity for engaging and broadening vocabulary. Could be followed by students writing their own paragraphs, which they could then write questions about for others to answer.

3 role-play tasks based on the topic of free time and fitness. One student plays part of the interviewer and has a model script. The other plays the TV star interviewee and has the English prompts. Some utterances need to be in different tenses. There is also a peer assessment feedback sheet. These tasks are proven in class to be motivating and to encourage interaction.

3 role-play tasks based on the topic of music. Prompts are given in English, questions for interviewer / assessor are in German. Some utterances need to be in different tenses. There is also a peer assessment feedback sheet. These tasks are proven in class to be motivating and to encourage interaction.

This sheet gives students suggestions about how to include ambitious sentences in a GCSE essay about jobs. In preparation for the essay, students translate 9 sentences (page 1) that would fit the essay bullet points. They use the grammar notes (page 2) to help them. Answers are on page 3. Once complete students should write their own essay. This task has produced some excellent essays for me in the past, and has helped those who frequently complain that they ‘don’t know what to write’.

This sheet gives students suggestions about how to include ambitious sentences in a GCSE essay about hobbies. In preparation for the essay, students translate 9 sentences (page 1) that would fit the essay bullet points. They use the grammar notes (page 2) to help them. Answers are on page 3. Once complete students should write their own essay. This task has produced some excellent essays for me in the past, and has helped those who frequently complain that they ‘don’t know what to write’.

4 paragraphs covering all aspects of the environment, and a range of group activities to consolidate the language. POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES: Students get 4 paragraphs in German, each in a different colour: a) match up each English sentence with a coloured paragraph. b) students read each paragraph with a partner, taking turns to read 1, 2, or 3 words at a time before their partner takes over. They alternate who reads. Person who reads the last word in the paragraph loses. c) In pairs, students are given 4 small bits of scrap paper which they label gelb / gruen / rosa blau. Teacher reads a few words from one paragraph and students have to grab the correct colour before their partner. d) in groups of 4 (ideally) with one captain - captain is given page 2 and calls out a short phrase in English. The student who gives the EXACT translation in German gets a point. Continue with a time limit. Great activity for engaging and broadening vocabulary. Could be followed by students writing their own paragraphs, which they could then write questions about for others to answer.

A listening task or assessment on the topic of work. Ideal as an end of unit test but could be used at any point in a unit about jobs KS3 or 4. The teacher reads the transcript. This is suitable for more able students.

A listening task or assessment on the topic of work. Ideal as an end of unit test but could be used at any point in a unit about jobs KS3 or 4. The teacher reads the transcript. This is suitable for all abilities.

Useful phrases for students to promote a tourist attraction, giving key details (price, facilities, location etc). Could be used for a written task, such as a flier to promote an attraction, or for a speaking activity during which students argue about whose attraction is best and why. Proven to engage and expand vocab.

Ambitious opinion and tense structures for GCSE writing and speaking, including different connective types. Ideal for adding variety to students’ work. Proven to help students access the higher grades at GCSE.

One page reference sheet for determining different cases and adjective endings. It also addresses pronouns and case-specific prepositions. Ideal for 6th formers working independently. Proven to improve accuracy.

Useful phrases and structures to describe pictures. Includes language to describe what is in the picture but also ideas on how students can be more imaginative and ambitious. Motivating and engaging.

Suggested phrases for a) summarising information in a stimulus b) giving opinions about a related issue c) giving factual information. Proven to help students structure their thoughts and express them more clearly. Promotes use of ambitious language.

Monopoly-style game on the topic of holidays. Students start on ‘Los!’ with 3 points. If they land on a picture they have to say what they did on holiday (pictures are a just a guide). 1pt for a short answer e.g. ich bin nach Italien gefahren. 2pts if extended e.g. Letztes Jahr bin ich nach Italien mit meiner Familie gefahren und wir haben Rom besucht. 3pts if an opinion is added to an extended answer. If a player lands on a question mark square, they pick up a (chance) card from the middle, work out what it means using help sheet and win or lose points. Great for practising past tenses, encouraging extension and ambition and allowing for peer evaluation.

Ideal for topics relating to friends and going out, these ‘chat up’ phrases encourage interaction and develop students’ skill in choosing specific phrase types for different purposes. Works well with Year 9. Get students asking each other out and encourage them to play ‘hard to get’ so that the ‘asker’ has to try a bit harder and the conversations are more extended. Give it a go!

Give the students the version of the poem with the ends of each line missing. They must choose the correct endings of lines (rhyme scheme AABB) from the options on the board (Powerpoint). What can they tell you in English about the writer’s best friend? Great activity for Y9 or 10. Proven to challenge and engage, and students like the surprising twist at the end.

A Powerpoint showing how to build up a paragraph in a film / literature essay, here using 2 examples about the film Good Bye Lenin. Students are encouraged to support their statements with specific evidence from the film / text and then to extend and analyse. Having looked at the 2 examples (they can decide how successful they are), the final slide has a selection of essay titles for students to choose from and write a SEXY paragraph of their own.

When marking German essays, teachers only need to number any grammar errors and students than then refer to the related notes to help them self correct. This sheet contains common errors made by my KS4 students over several years. It has developed their ability to discuss and ‘fix’ errors independently.