This is the introductory lecture in English Fachdidaktik for students in their first BA semester who aim to become primary school teachers of English. In this lecture, we'll start off with looking at your language learning careers and critically examine subjective theories of how languages are learned; with a focus on formal learning in school contexts. We'll then look at the history of language learning in general, and focus this on language learning in the primary school, particularly in Germany. There'll be a session on curricula guidelines as well as sessions on current approaches to teaching foreign languages to young learners. For doing so, we'll also look at the characteristics of young language learners and explore whether and why learning English should start in the primary school. This will firmly be based in the debate on starting early. If time permits, we'll also discuss whether language learning in schools is still needed in times of e.g. DeepL.
Readings will be announced in the first session, where a detailled syllabus will be provided.
Students finish this lecture with a portfolio that is ungraded but of course needs to be passed. Details as well as assessment will be provided in class.
- Lehrende/r: Julia Reckermann