German for Young People
A-Level / Advanced Higher German Topics

Unten stehend finden Schüler nützliche Links zu deutschsprachigen Internetseiten rund um die deutsche Sprache und Gesellschaft. Die Themen wurden im Einklang mit den Anforderungen der britischen Prüfungsausschüsse gewählt. Hier soll Zugang zu durchdachten und regelmäßig aktualisierten Internetseiten angeboten werden.

To find out which materials are available in the Goethe-Institut libraries in London and Glasgow, you can search our online library catalogues. If pupils would like help with finding information, they can also contact our information service by sending an email to:

library-london@goethe.de

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Topics

Father and daughter with digital tablet under blanket | ©picture alliance / Westend61

The family continues to be a highly-valued institution in German society. Yet ideas about what form families should take, as well as their structure, have changed dramatically in the wake of social change.

Immer mehr Deutsche Leben alleine – source: Goethe-Institut
Kinder mit homosexuellen Eltern – source: Süddeutsche Zeitung
Mütter – source: Planet Wissen
Patchwork-Familie – source: Planet Wissen

Munich Oktoberfest - Ferris wheel in front of alpine panorama | ©picture-alliance / dpa; Fotograf: Frank Leonhardt; dpa - Fotoreport

Feste und Traditionen – source: Goethe-Institut
Oktoberfest – source: Meet the Germans

New home | © picture alliance/Sven Simon; photographer: Anke Fleig / SVEN SIMON

Since the 1950s immigration has played a major role in shaping the population structure of Germany. The first major flow of immigrants into West Germany consisted mainly of workers from Turkey, Italy and Greece. Later the immigrant population included ethnic Germans from East European countries, as well as people seeking asylum from political oppression, many of whom were also from eastern Europe.

Migrationsarten – source: Planet Wissen
Gastarbeiter – source Planet Wissen
Flüchtlinge aus Syrien – source: Spiegel Online
Flüchtlinge auf dem Weg – source: Deutsche Welle
Rechtsextremismus – source: Planet Schule

Teen boy listening to music, dancing | ©Colourbox.com

Jugend in Deutschland – source: Goethe-Institut Materialien
Meine Lieblingsmusik – source: PASCH.net
Rasanter Medienwandel - source: Tatsachen über Deutschland
Aktive Freizeit - source: Tatsachen über Deutschland

Bauhaus – source: Planet Wissen
Albrecht Dürer – source: Was ist was?
Gerhard Richter – source: Youtube | Deutsche Welle

Berlin traffic light | © Getty Images/William Fawcett

Berlin is Germany's capital city, and one of the largest and most important cities in Germany. It has a population of around 3.5 million people, and Germany's 'Bundestag' (parliament) is based in Berlin's Reichstag building. After World War Two the city was divided into East and West, and the people living on either side were separated from one another by the Berlin Wall. This Wall was knocked down by protesters when German reunification took place in 1989.

Stadtführer Berlin – source: Stadtfuehrer-Berlin.de
Mode in und aus Berlin – source: deutschland.de
Geteilte Stadt Berlin – source: Planet Wissen

In 1949 Germany was divided into two states, each with its own government and separate political structure. Travel and communication between the two states was tightly controlled and a wall was built to separate East and West Berlin. Here you can read about the history of Germany's division, and find out how reunification came about in 1989.

Quiz zur Wiedervereinigung – source: Meet the Germans
Geteiltes Deutschland - source: LeMO
Chronologie des Mauerfalls - source: wdr.de
Geschichte der Berliner Mauer - source: Planet Wissen

Veggie World 2014 Fair | picture alliance / dpa, Fotograf: Fredrik von Erichsen, © dpa

Germany is often regarded as being at the forefront of European developments concerning issues such as climate change and recycling, transport and renewable energy sources. The Green Party, together with other environmental pressure groups, has been an influential force in German politics.