German

This page is run by Irina Vasilievna Baranova Teacher of German, Lecturer

German

The main aim of learning German as a second foreign language is to form in pupils the capability for inter-cultural communication.

Inter-cultural communication is a normal social interaction between two or more participants in a communicative act representing differing lingu-ethno cultures.

Developing capabilities in inter-cultural communication means forming in pupils a base of knowledge, skills and abilities which would allow them to better adapt to the linguistic ethnic and cultural values of the country whose language they are learning and to use that language at entry level in the most typical speech situations.

This level of communicative competence means the pupils will attain:

• Knowledge of the system of the German language, functional skills in the use of language as a means of communication;
• Communicativeabilities, ie the abilities to understand and say one’s piece in German according to the area, subject and communicative situation.
   

In the process of learning German as a second foreign language pupils broaden their world views, gain insights into a new country, style, lifestyle of a people and become aware of similarities and differences between national cultures.

Special features of the German course are that they teach specific features to a contingent of pupils, encourage their interest as well as fulfilling their high level of skills whilst expecting a high degree of self-study and creativity from pupils.

The process of learning a second foreign language flows in pleasant surroundings since knowledge of their first foreign language, English, offers them good opportunities to develop the relevant skills of remembering connections. An important circumstance is the fact that while learning a second foreign language memorizing techniques are improved.

The conditions for pleasant study of the language flow also from the point of view of thought processes. Pupils learning a second foreign language not only have considerable experience in languages, a bilingual experience, but are characterized by developed thinking skills and the pay-off of these factors both eases and speeds up the understanding. The proximity of the two languages (German and English) cannot not be a factor that makes the learning of a second foreign language considerably easier.

As far as educational technologies are concerned, then we attempt to combine play and communicative forms, group and project methods and widely employ ICT. The study resources used in the education process have been recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science.

The main coursebook is a textbook of German as a second foreign language: Bridges: German after English, by I.L. Bim and T.A. Gavrilova and aside from this supplementary material from other sources is also used.

printable version