Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Kassel, 2000.

Zugl.: Frankfurt (Main), Univ., Diss., 2006.

Language and music share key features such as melody and rhythm and do also develop simultaneously in the childhood. The idea that music and language learning could benefit from each other has been around for a long time and some of the research and studies on the effects of music on language learning and language education are presented in this essay. A survey on the subject was made for modern languages teachers in Sweden to answer, asking about their opinions and experiences of music in the modern languages classroom. It was clear from the results that almost all participants were positive to the use of music in the language education and had experienced positive learning outcomes among students from the use of music. According to the teachers, modern language learning could above all benefit from the motivational properties of music and music can be a help by vocabulary acquisition.

The purpose of this study is to investigate what motivates pupils at two Swedish gymnasiums while attending German classes. The study also compares pupils' attitude towards various aspects in the classroom depending on if they are internally or externally motivated. To achieve this result, the pupils were given a questionnaire to fill in containing both open and closed questions. The closed questions were connected to three theories: Self- determination theory, the FLOW-theory and the social cognitive theory. Based on the open questions, the pupils were divided into two groups, depending on their internal or external motivation. The answers to the closed questions were then compared. The results show that most of the pupils have a good relation to their teacher which due to the theories presented are a central part of pupils’ motivation. The externally motivated pupils feel that they don’t succeed in most of their work while at the same time thinking that their results of their work with the German language depend on their former achievements.

Der Zweck dieser Examensarbeit besteht darin, zu untersuchen, inwieweit differenzierter Unterricht in Deutsch als Fremdsprache (DaF1) an schwedischen Schulen umgesetzt wird und wie Lehrer*innen die damit verbundenen Herausforderungen bewältigen. Die Ausgestaltung des differenzierten oder des binnendifferenzierten Unterrichts im schwedischen DaF wird dabei anhand einer quantitativen und einer qualitativen Studie analysiert und die spezifischen Voraussetzungen dafür identifiziert. Die Ergebnisse und die Auswertung dieser Studie werden zeigen, dass obgleich verschiedener Vorgangsweisen der Lehrer*innen die Umsetzung des differenzierten oder des binnendifferenzierten Unterrichts im schwedischen DaF von großem Umfang ist. / The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which differentiated instruction in German as a Foreign Language (DaF) is implemented in Swedish schools, as well as how teachers cope with the associated challenges. The implementation of differentiated or intra-differentiated instruction in Swedish DaF will be analyzed through both quantitative and qualitative methods, aiming to identify the specific requirements. The results and evaluation of this study will demonstrate that despite various approaches by teachers, the implementation of differentiated or intra-differentiated instruction in Swedish DaF is extensive.

In dieser Arbeit wird an Hand eines Häufigkeitswörterbuches des Italienischen (Lessico di frequenza dell’italiano parlato von De Mauro et al. 1993) untersucht, wie sich Kenntnisse anderer Sprachen, des Deutschen, Englischen und Französischen und/oder Spanischen, auf das Verstehen und Lernen von 2500 der häufigsten Wörter des Italienischen auswirken. Damit soll ein Beitrag geleistet werden zur mehrsprachigkeitsdidaktischen Fragestellung, wie viele Wörter des italienischen Grundwortschatzes aus anderen Sprachen schon bekannt sind und wie viele noch gelernt werden müssen, was mit konkreten Zahlen belegt werden soll.

This study aimed at determining whether the use of indigenous techniques of communication can have a positive impact on the motivation of the learner of English as a foreign language in Cameroon. By indigenous techniques of communication we mean techniques like role-play, songs, the telling of folktales, riddles and proverbs. This work is intended as a contribution to the search for improvement of student motivation and enthusiasm, whereby they can be more responsive as they participate spontaneously in learning English as a foreign language. Some writers agree that it is beneficial to learn a foreign language using the material that the learners are familiar with (Lado 1964, Gee 1987, Post and Rathet 1996). The telling of folktales, role-play, songs, and the use of riddles and proverbs are found in all societies and every indigenous society uses them in teaching in one way or the other. Most foreign language learners are familiar with them. Their abundance in the Cameroonian society presents an excellent opportunity for foreign language teaching/learning. My interest in this research has been substantially influenced by my experience of working for almost a decade with learners of English as a foreign language in Francophone secondary/high schools in Cameroon. This work led me to the realization that students respond to English language teaching with very little motivation and enthusiasm. They make little or no progress in learning the language, much less in communicating in it. One of the major questions I have often asked myself is why Francophone students find English language learning boring and what could be done to solve the problem of teaching English to these students. I have tried on a number of occasions to tell folktales or teach a song in class when I found the students were bored with the lessons and discovered that the students immediately became alert. Their alertness was probably not for the direct purpose of making any linguistic gain but for the sheer entertainment of listening to a story or taking part in the singing, all of which they seemed to enjoy. Based on this positive change in the students, it was hypothesized that the introduction of some indigenous techniques of communication in the foreign language classroom might help improve its learning. The results from this study indicate that the recommendations for the use of these techniques in language teaching will help improve on the present negative attitude of foreign language learners. This study is significant to foreign language teaching/learning in all developing countries but most especially to the Cameroonian educational system where the study was carried out. Its relevance is due to the fact that most of the facilities that are presently used for the teaching of foreign languages in advanced countries are absent in developing countries. To help improve on the enthusiasm of the learner of a foreign language therefore, educational planners should resort to the use of indigenous techniques, which this study has found out could be very helpful in any foreign language classroom if properly applied. / Es ist allgemein anerkannt, dass es für Schüler, die eine Fremdsprache erlernen sollen, von Vorteil ist, wenn ihnen vertrautes Material im Unterricht verwendet wird (Lado 1964, Post und Rathet 1996). Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist deshalb, die positive Wirkung von indigenen Kommunikationsstrategien und –techniken auf die Lernermotivation kamerunische Schülern und Schülerinnen zu ermitteln, welche Englisch als Fremdsprache erwerben. Unter indigenen Kommunikationstechniken verstehen wir Rollenspiele, Lieder, das Erzählen von Märchen, Rätseln und Sprichwörtern. Die vorliegende Studie soll einen Beitrag bei der Suche nach Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten von Schülermotivation und Enthusiasmus leisten und dazu beitragen, das Schülerinteresse durch spontanes, teilnehmendes Erlernen zu wecken.

Das deutsche Bildungssystem ist noch weit davon entfernt, Inklusion im Schulalltag und im Schulunterricht flächendeckend umzusetzen. Dies ist jedoch eine Verpflichtung, die Deutschland mit dem Beitritt zur Behindertenrechtskonvention eingegangen ist. Die Realisierung einer inklusiven Schulentwicklung gestaltet sich schwierig, da die in der Inklusion erfolgreichen Schulen es einerseits nicht schaffen, den notwendigen Bedarf aufzufangen und es andererseits auch nur in bedingtem Maße gelingt, ihr Wissen und ihre Praxiserfahrungen über Inklusion weiterzugeben. Zugleich zeigt sich im Schulalltag die Notwendigkeit eines Abbaus von Barrieren sowie einer Verbesserung der Lernsituation. Debatten über die Anerkennung der heterogenen Rahmenbedingungen und damit über die Umsetzung eines inklusionspädagogischen Ansatzes dürfen nicht nur theoretisch geführt werden. In dem Beitrag werden daher konkrete Möglichkeiten für den Fremdsprachenunterricht und Gute-Praxis-Beispiele aufgezeigt. Auch wenn ohne Frage umfangreichere finanzielle Mittel für eine Inklusionsumsetzung Voraussetzung wären, wird dabei sichtbar, dass adäquates Handeln und ein entsprechender Wille aus Verwaltung-, Schulleiter-, Lehrer- und Schülerperspektive schon vieles bewegen kann. Es wird aufgezeigt, welche Probleme und Herausforderungen sich in einer inklusiven Praxis ergeben können. / Inclusive education in foreign language teaching: Implementation and examples of best practice The German education system is still far from implementing the concept of inclusive education in its schools and classrooms. However, this is a commitment Germany made when signing the CRPD. The implementation is rather difficult because on the one hand successful schools that exist already all over Germany are not able to serve the needs, and on the other hand, they have only limited resources to pass on their knowledge and practical experience of an inclusive approach. It is important to reduce barriers in everyday school practice and improve the learning situation now. Debates on the recognition of a heterogeneous learning group and thus on the implementation of an inclusive pedagogical approach must not only take place hypothetically. In this paper, therefore, will be presented specific ways as well as best practices of teaching foreign languages in an inclusive education system. Although greater financial resources for implementing inclusive education in schools are necessary, an adequate attitude of the administration, the school headmaster, the teachers and also of the students as well as their voluntary to act accordingly can already change a lot. Problems and challenges that may arise however in an inclusive education practice will also be presented.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2006--Trier.

Heidelberg, Univ., Diss., 2007.