Language lessons
The language lessons are the instructions for learning foreign languages and for the correct use of the mother tongue .
German lessons for native speakers
In elementary school ( elementary school ) it is initially mostly only about teaching in the mother tongue. The aim of these lessons is to enable the pupils to use their mother tongue orally and in writing fluently and correctly and to understand what is written and spoken. These so-called German lessons include reading and the handling of reading pieces, exercises in oral expression and presentation, orthographic and grammatical explanations and exercises in written representation.
German lessons have undergone multiple changes in terms of grammar and spelling. At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, for example. In the textbooks by Wilmsen , Heinsius , Harnisch , Krause and Scholz , for example , it appears primarily as a thought and language exercise, with emphasis on accuracy, clarity and correctness of expression. By Karl Ferdinand Becker understanding the language, especially the clear understanding of the relationship of the forms to the logical relationships of the concepts was presented as a main goal. This type of language teaching was introduced into schools in particular by Raimund Jakob Wurst's Practical Language Teaching (1st edition, 1836), which has long been regarded as the best methodological guide. In contrast, Jakob Grimm , Völter , Bock and others wanted all grammar in the mother tongue to be kept out of elementary school as "the free development of language skills only as a disturbance". Wilhelm Kellner and Otto took a mediating position , who considered grammatical lessons necessary insofar as it was directly used for a more precise understanding of what had been read, for the justification of the spelling and for correct written and oral expression.
Foreign language teaching
The teaching of foreign languages can basically have two goals: on the one hand, to impart the ability to speak and write fluently, on the other hand, to gain an understanding of the literary products of the language. This is mostly the case when teaching the ancient languages, Latin and Greek , while it is more the case for modern languages such as English and Russian .
For beginners, for example in secondary schools , this is usually done initially with the help of textbooks that use simple texts to present new vocabulary and idioms as well as new grammatical aspects of the language. The newly learned is then practiced separately.
Lessons for advanced learners, on the other hand, often consist of reading longer texts and discussing them in the respective language, as the focus is on acquiring active linguistic competence. Depending on the objective, the texts are authentic literature or authentic subject-specific texts, where mastering them is important, for example in the training of interpreters and translators .
In addition to the active command of the foreign language, listening comprehension is particularly important. This can be developed with the help of auditory media such as tape cassettes, CDs or by staying in the country of the foreign language.
Language teaching is particularly intensive in schools that offer a bilingual branch . In addition to the language lessons themselves, various subjects (such as geography , history , social studies ) are sometimes taught in the foreign language, so that the students are forced to actively use the foreign language and can learn subject-specific vocabulary.
Closely connected with the acquisition of a foreign language is the imparting of knowledge about the culture and the country of the foreign-speaking people. The latter takes place in regional studies classes. Intercultural knowledge, on the other hand, enables bridges to be built between the culture of origin and the target culture. It is mostly taught in teaching phases that are dedicated to intercultural communication (IKK).
Newer development
As a result of the PISA study, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has recently made controversial demands that playful language lessons should be offered to students in state primary schools or children in kindergartens , as is sometimes already possible at private schools such as Waldorf schools . You can now learn English or French in a number of German federal states from the first grade of primary school. However, some experts assume that this type of lesson does not bring any advantages, since the expectations that one hopes for the later foreign language development of the pupil from such a language lesson do not come automatically, as one can expect, for example, with children who are familiar with the family Growing up bilingual in the environment.
literature
- Military regulation H.Dv. 27 Regulations for language teaching in the Army 1938, ISBN 978-3750480896
