Our secondary school I

Together, each according to his ability and with one common goal

The lower secondary level comprises the grades 5-10 of the DBSAA. Here new subjects and important learning methods are introduced with the aim of preparing your child for his or her professional or academic future.

What does the secondary level at the DBSAA offer?
Instruction in manageable learning groups by teachers qualified in Germany according to a curriculum based on the one the German state of Thuringia.
The subjects offered focus on the acquisition of German with five hours per week. To support non-native speakers, we also offer two hours of German as a foreign language per week.
The first foreign language from grade 1 is English, French follows from grade 6. From grade 11 on, Spanish is taught as a newly introduced foreign language.
For pupils of Ethiopian nationality we offer additional lessons in Amharic and the subject "Civics" up to grade 8. At the end of grade 8 these children take part in the national Ethiopian Grade 8 exam.
Afternoon activities range from homework supervision to study groups such as dance, theatre, school band, football, self-defence and other sports.

Methods curriculum of the secondary level I

For each subject there is a curriculum, on which the subject instruction in each grade is based. The DBSAA has drawn up a “Methods Curriculum”, which includes concrete methods – which are practiced on two method days – and social methods / learning methods for each grade level.

In our changed globalized world, it is no longer just aboufactual knowledge, but rather about key qualifications. The promotion of these key qualifications is one of the aims of the method training at the DBSAA.

What do the students learn during the method training?
to familiarise themselves with new subject areas independently and on their own responsibility
to look up information, present it clearly, structure it and visualize it in an attractive way
to speak freely, fluently and motivatingly about a topic in front of an audience
to discuss fairly and objectively and to convince through arguments
to develop and apply learning strategies
the ability to work in a team, reliability, determination, punctuality, accuracy
preparation for the requirements of upper secondary education
And much more...

Procedure at the DBSAA

The students of the DBSAA go through a curriculum of methods (see below), in which they learn skills that are not included in the curriculum of the individual subjects, but which facilitate their learning and enrich the teaching process. At the DBSAA, a Method Day is held twice a year for all secondary school classes. On these days the students are trained in methods according to the method curriculum. The methods learnt are intensified in the subject lessons.

Class	Working methods within the framework of the method days	Social skills and Learning methods in the context of Class teacher lessons
5	– Workplace – Stitching and stapling guide – Homework book management – Memory (The notebook) – Vocabulary tips (The notebook) – Text work, systematic reading, Vocabulary work	– Different learning methods (Memorizing, flash cards, study poster, queries, discussion, cheat sheet, self-correction) in single, partner and group work – Topic: Preparation for class tests – Concentration
6	– Short presentation, elaboration Information sources/obtaining information – Work with reference books – Library work – Interviewing experts – Surveys – Short presentation – Topic presentation with all media (posters, foil, blackboard, …) Note: In computer science lessons the Internet research and PPP addressed	– Learning stations – Topic: Learning with all senses, determining the learning types Learning type-learning star (The notebook)
7	– Text work, systematic reading, vocabulary work – Presentation techniques (also PowerPoint) – Portfolio	– independent work (self motivation, time management, self-discipline, organization, learning plans) – Speed and concentration training – Communication (feelings, conversations, conflict resolution, social forms of teaching)
8	– Internet research – Discussions (Business game, method driving licence) – Presentation – Topic presentation with all media	– Team spirit – Application in the context of a project work (over several months, selection of the supervising teacher, final public presentation)
9	– Career choice passport – applicant training interviews (formerly scientific protocols, as from 2018 Nawi internship – not necessary) – Multilingual applications	Cooperation Games
10	– Learning videos – Audit preparation, time Management – Learning curves (- overlearning) – working with text tasks – Technical essays – Exam preparation	Team games