KS3 · German · Year 8
News article: 'gegen', 'laut'
In the news: using prepositions 'an', 'auf', 'gegen', 'laut'
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/8
Your learning goal
I can use my developing vocabulary and grammar knowledge to infer the likely meanings of unfamiliar words in a news article.
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News article: 'gegen', 'laut': slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
Original teaching resources
The original illustrated PowerPoint is available as well as the IllumED text slides. It retains the publisher’s design and credits.
Download original PowerPoint ↓What you’ll learn
I can use my developing vocabulary and grammar knowledge to infer the likely meanings of unfamiliar words in a news article.
Key learning points
- German [ch] is two sounds, hard and soft, depending on the preceding vowel. [ch] and [ck] are different sounds.
- Word patterns can help you understand unfamiliar words in a text, e.g., German words with -cht may be -ght in English.
- It helps to think creatively; some words have second meanings which are related to the meaning you already know.
- Vocabulary and grammar knowledge (e.g., word order and word forms) help to work out the meaning of unknown words.
Words to know
- [ch]
- as pronounced in 'Buch' and 'Bücher'
- infer
- work out the likely meaning of an unfamiliar word based on knowledge of the surrounding words in the text and the structure of the word itself
Common mistakes
Cognate recognition is the only strategy I need to understand texts in German.
Cognates are helpful, but not always enough. You will understand much more if you know some common word and spelling patterns in German, and if you use your vocabulary and grammar knowledge creatively to work out the meanings of unfamiliar words.
For parents, carers and teachers
- With guidance, pupils learn that inferring word meaning isn’t wild guessing. Build on this lesson’s strategies: spotting spelling patterns, using word parts, and applying grammar knowledge like syntax and morphology.