In brief: Teach the most popular spelling patterns to help students expand their AQA German vocabulary quickly.

Continuing with the theme of shameless shortcuts (which basically means exposing students to as much GCSE vocabulary as quickly as possible), I've ranked the top sound / spelling patterns on the AQA German syllabus to help students expand their vocabulary fast.

I've sorted each tip using my "similarity index", which means cognates and similar words come first in my results (so the students can spot links even faster).

If you have any students currently self-isolating, why not get them to focus on their vocabulary strategies? These skills are appropriate for all ages and levels.

1. German t ⮕ English d

There are 143 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

2. German b ⮕ English f/v

There are 83 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

3. German f/ff ⮕ English p

There are 70 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

4. German g ⮕ English y

There are 67 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

5. German d ⮕ English th

There are 62 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

6. German tz ⮕ English t

There are 32 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

7. German ss/ß ⮕ English t

There are 31 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

8. German ch ⮕ English k

There are 29 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

9. German k ⮕ English ch

There are 17 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

10. German cht ⮕ English ght

There are 14 instances of this sound pattern in the AQA German syllabus.

NB. These results are indicative only, please excuse any anomalies!

If you'd like to receive the full AQA German vocabulary list with the spelling / sound links included, drop me a message on the Contact page or via Twitter (@blainepike)!

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As always, please help out the rest of your department (and any of your PGCE students / NQTs) by sharing this post with them, too.

Vielen Dank!

Blaine