Professional Development of Foreign Language Teachers: The Example of the COMENIUS Project Schule im Wandel (School Undergoing Change)

Authors

  • Arnd Witte Maynooth University
  • Annelie Eberhardt NUI, Galway

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35903/teanga.v24i0.41

Keywords:

Blended Learning, L2 Language Teachers, COMENIUS, Schule im Wandel, German as a Second Language, Moodle

Abstract

This paper explores blended learning in the context of the further professional development of L2 language teachers. Presenting the European Commission-funded COMENIUS project Schule im Wandel, the authors examine issues relevant to  teachers of German as a second language. This course aimed to provide European reference model for the professional development of teachers of modern languages, using Moodle as a virtual and universally accessible learning platform. The course included a set of short thematic documentary films filmed at ten German schools, with associated exercises for learners. The authors describe the aims and architecture of the course, and review two pilot projects which used Schule im Wandel for the purpose of professional development of teachers in Ireland.

Author Biographies

Arnd Witte, Maynooth University

Arnd Witte is a Professor of Modern Languages and Head of the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. His doctoral research was carried out at the University of Hamburg from 1990 to 1994. His research interests focused on the cultural, societal and institutional influences on the methodology and didactics of teaching German as a foreign language. He has published extensively in the field of methodology and didactics of teaching German as a foreign language and cultural and institutional influences on foreign language acquisition, and in the field of intercultural competence.

Annelie Eberhardt, NUI, Galway

Annelie Eberhardt has been a Lecturer of German at the National University of Ireland, Galway since 2008. She is a former President of the German Teachers' Association of Ireland (GDI), where she continues to serve on the committee. Annelie is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Education at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Her thesis is entitled Modern Language Teacher Professional Development: A Collaborative Action Research Project to Promote Enquiry-based Teaching and Learning in the Irish Post-primary Classroom. She is Communications Officer for the campaign group One Voice For Languages.

Downloads

Published

2018-11-15

How to Cite

Witte, A., & Eberhardt, A. (2018). Professional Development of Foreign Language Teachers: The Example of the COMENIUS Project Schule im Wandel (School Undergoing Change). TEANGA, the Journal of the Irish Association for Applied Linguistics, 24, 34–43. https://doi.org/10.35903/teanga.v24i0.41

Issue

Vol. 24 (2016): TEANGA 24

Section

Articles