The school day (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
The school day
Understanding how to talk about your school day is essential for GCSE German. This topic covers the vocabulary and phrases you need to describe lessons, timetables, and daily routines at school.
Key vocabulary for school activities
Learning the basic terms for school activities will help you describe your daily routine and understand timetables.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Schultag | school day |
| der Club/Klub (m) | club |
| die Doppelstunde (f) | double lesson |
| die Mittagspause (f) | lunch break |
| die Pause (f) | break |
| der Stundenplan (m) | timetable |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| anfangen | to start |
| beginnen | to begin |
| dauern | to last |
| enden | to end |
| dann/danach | then/after that |
Notice how German uses der, die, das articles with nouns. Pay attention to whether words are masculine (m), feminine (f), or neuter (n) as this affects which article you use.
Talking about lessons and timing
When describing your school day, you'll often need to refer to specific lessons and when they occur.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die erste Stunde | the first lesson |
| die zweite Stunde | the second lesson |
| die letzte Stunde | the last lesson |
| nach der Pause | after break |
| nach der Mittagspause | after lunch break |
Worked Example: Describing lesson timing
Here are some practical sentences you might use:
- Die erste Stunde beginnt um acht Uhr. (The first lesson begins at eight o'clock.)
- Nach der Mittagspause haben wir Sport. (After lunch break we have PE.)
- Die Doppelstunde dauert neunzig Minuten. (The double lesson lasts ninety minutes.)
Notice how time expressions like "um acht Uhr" (at eight o'clock) work in German.
Days of the week
Knowing the days of the week is crucial for talking about your weekly timetable and when specific subjects occur.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Montag | Monday |
| Dienstag | Tuesday |
| Mittwoch | Wednesday |
| Donnerstag | Thursday |
| Freitag | Friday |
| Samstag | Saturday |
| Sonntag | Sunday |
Important grammar point
Critical Grammar Rule: Adding -s to days
When talking about things that happen regularly on specific days, add -s to the end of the day. This is similar to saying "on Mondays" rather than "on Monday" in English.
Examples:
- Am Montag habe ich eine Prüfung. (On Monday I have an exam.) - specific Monday
- Montags habe ich Geschichte. (On Mondays I have history.) - every Monday
This distinction is frequently tested in GCSE exams!
Time expressions for school routines
These phrases help you describe when things happen during your school day.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| morgens | in the mornings |
| am Ende des Morgens | at the end of the morning |
| in der Mittagspause | at lunch break |
| um [time] Uhr | at [time] o'clock |
Worked Example: Using time expressions
- Morgens kommen wir um 8:45 Uhr an. (In the mornings we arrive at 8:45.)
- In der Mittagspause gibt es einen Computerclub. (At lunch break there is a computer club.)
Note how morgens (in the mornings) describes a regular routine, while um 8:45 Uhr gives a specific time.
School subjects vocabulary
You'll need these terms to talk about your timetable and favourite subjects.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Englisch | English |
| Deutsch | German |
| Wissenschaft | Science |
| Geschichte | History |
| Sport | PE/Sport |
| Kunst | Art |
| Mathematik/Mathe | Maths |
Mathe is the shortened, informal version of Mathematik - similar to how we say "maths" instead of "mathematics" in English. Both are acceptable in GCSE German.
Practice translation exercises
Worked Example: Translation practice
German to English:
- Am Donnerstag in der dritten Stunde habe ich Kunst.
- Die Schule endet um 15:30 Uhr.
English to German:
- On Tuesdays I have a double lesson.
- After lunch break we have maths.
Answers:
- On Thursday in the third lesson I have art.
- School finishes at 3:30 pm.
- Am Dienstag habe ich eine Doppelstunde.
- Nach der Mittagspause haben wir Mathematik.
Exam tips
Essential exam strategies:
When listening to or reading about school timetables, pay attention to:
- Time markers (morgens, nachmittags, um... Uhr)
- Sequence words (erste, zweite, letzte Stunde)
- Days with and without -s endings (specific vs. habitual)
The key to success is recognising these patterns and understanding whether someone is talking about a specific day or a regular routine.
Key Points to Remember:
- Add -s to days of the week when talking about regular occurrences (montags = on Mondays)
- Der Schultag is masculine, die Stunde is feminine
- Time expressions like morgens and nachmittags are essential for describing daily routines
- Doppelstunde means a double lesson lasting approximately 90 minutes
- Practice listening for specific times and lesson sequences in exam questions