Modernisation of teaching German as a foreign language

  • Martin Durrell (Participant)

Impact: Cultural impacts, Societal impacts

Narrative

This impact is on educational policy and practice in relation to the international teaching of German as a foreign language and is based on research into differences in linguistic variation between England and Germany. The differences lie in: perception of non-standard varieties in the two countries; the status of the standard language in each; and different attitudes towards it. The research stimulated debate, in Germany and abroad, about the variety of German appropriate for use in classroom instruction, and resulted in acceptance that teaching only the register of formal writing is not adequate to the needs of contemporary communication. New teaching manuals have been produced and curricula revised, placing greater emphasis on everyday speech.
Impact date2014
Category of impactCultural impacts, Societal impacts
Impact levelBenefit

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