Pre-Service English Language Teacher Education (Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Katja Schwemmer, Prof. Dr. Annika Kolb, Prof. Dr. Stefanie Frisch, Dr. Rebecca Schlieckmann, Dr. Constanze Dreßler)
The research group Pre-Service English Language Teacher Education aims to foster collaboration between universities and higher education institutions in comparing study modules and curricula. Its focus lies on exploring the competencies required of future primary school English teachers. Through comparative research and academic exchange, the group seeks to improve teacher education programmes and promote innovation in English language teaching.
Inclusive primary school English teaching (Dr. Constanze Dreßler, Alessa Haase, Prof. Dr. Bianca Roters)
In the Inclusion Research Group, Constanze Dreßler, Alessa Haase, Bianca Roters and Leonie Schieffer examine the conditions for success and challenges in primary school English teaching with regard to pupils whose first language is German in comparison to pupils with DaZ/DaF. They are also interested in strategies that promote learning in English lessons for children with DaF/DaZ.
Test Instruments (Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Katja Schwemmer, Dr. Joel Guttke):
Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Katja Schwemmer and Dr. Joel Guttke are members of the Test Instruments Research Group. At the beginning of the project, the research group was also supported by Christina Lennert and Leonie Schieffer. The reserach group reviewed numerous studies on the areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and language awareness, focusing in particular on the test instruments used. This resulted in a list that was presented and discussed at the second FFF network meeting. The research group is currently working on an overview publication on test instruments used in the German context in the field of early foreign language learning in the aforementioned areas of competence.
Writing (Prof. Dr. Stefanie Frisch, Anne Schrader, Heike Mlakar, Joanna Hirst-Plein, Ruth Trüb)
In this research group, Stefanie Frisch, Anne Schrader, Heike Mlakar, Joanna Hirst-Plein and Ruth Trüb are developing a joint analysis tool (in collaboration with linguists). Since little is known about how extensive and complex learner texts can be, an action research/DBR project would be prepared. In cooperation with teachers, writing tasks will be developed and evaluated. The learner texts will be described using the developed analysis tool in order to draw conclusions for the further development of the writing tasks.
Literary Learning through Picturebooks in the Primary English Language Education (Axel Wunderlich, Constanze Dreßler, Annika Kolb, Stefanie Frisch)
The research group, consisting of Axel Wunderlich, Constanze Dreßler, Annika Kolb and Stefanie Frisch, has conducted an exploratory study on the picture book The Cloud (Cumming 2010), which was carried out in collaboration with two primary school classes. Based on texts written by the learners and observations in the classroom, initial insights into the potential of literary learning through picture books were gained: The children were able to empathise with the feelings of the protagonists and relate events to their own lives (motivational dimension), and they were able to express assumptions about conflicts and turning points in the story and demonstrate insights into the narrative-aesthetic structures (Kurwinkel 2024) of picture books (cognitive-aesthetic dimension). The data from the classroom also help to understand the linguistic requirements of tasks that focus on literary learning. A joint publication in the conference proceedings: Teaching (With) Picturebooks: Context, Competences, Criticism (eds.: Nora Benitt, Hanne Bolze, Katja Schmidt) is under review.
Exchange in the pre-doctoral phase (Christina Lennert, University of Paderborn)
Interested members are welcome to contact Christina Lennert (University of Paderborn). The aim is to promote mutual exchange and support.