English
“The limits of your language are the limits of your world.” (Ludwig Wittgenstein)At Casimirianum all students learn Latin in year 5. In order not to forget the English the students learned in years 3 and 4, there is a bridging course of one English lesson per week in year 5 to reach the same standard, before English is taught as the second foreign language in year 6. The students work through the first chapters of the book of year 6.
In recent years there has been a strong focus on spoken communication in modern languages, therefore students also have to take oral exams, besides written exams.
In years 8 to 12 special activities, for example visiting English theatre performances or one-man shows, are offered.
Apart from this, our students in years 5 to 12 present their foreign-language skills on stage in the English Drama Group.
Everybody who wants to demonstrate their foreign-language skills outside the regular classes has the chance to take part in the Bundeswettbewerb Fremdsprachen (a national competition for foreign languages) or in other language contests for example Big Challenge, Juvenes translatores or Battle of the Books.
Another opportunity for students to actively use the foreign-language knowledge is taking part in the school excursions. In year 9, they visit London for one week in autumn every year. Every other year, students can take part in a student exchange with partner schools in either China or the USA.
From 2016 our year 10 students have been involved in the third COMENIUS project "Unity in diversity - making school a home for every student" with our partner schools in Luxembourg, Sweden, Spoin, Belgium and Italy, due to be completed in 2019. Of course, English is the lingua franca here.
We encourage and support individual student exchanges and stays abroad for our students.
If a student has problems in English, there are older students who give them private tuition, repeat a grammar chapter again and give important study tips.
In years 11 and 12, students of English prepare for the general university entrance qualification, which is supplemented by theoretical and practical courses (e.g. the theoretical course “Young Adult Literature” or the practical course “Highland Games”).