Research Priority Areas

Research Priority Areas

• Effective foreign language teaching in Turkey
• Digital teaching technologies in the processes of learning and teaching German
• Teaching German as a foreign language to children
• E-learning

Subtopics

• Determining the learning conditions of Turkish students (needs analysis) and identifying appropriate learning strategies
• Developing locally qualified foreign language teaching textbooks
• Developing teaching materials (print + digital) that consider learning conditions, and promoting collaboration between field experts, academics, and teachers during the development phase
• Ensuring the effective use of new technologies and digital tools in foreign language teaching; using Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 technologies in lessons, creating internet-based materials for German lessons, e-learning in foreign language teaching
• Supporting German language lessons with mobile applications for teaching foreign languages in special education institutions as a second foreign language

Keywords

German teaching, foreign language teaching, German as a second foreign language, needs analysis, private schools, primary school level, learning strategies, academic-teacher collaboration, teaching materials, digital teaching technologies, Web 2.0, Web 3.0, podcast, smartboard, video-podcast, smartphone, mobile phone applications, mobile applications, e-learning, e-learning applications, knowledge management, learning management systems, supplementary education, supportive education

Importance and Justification

In our country, foreign language teaching is provided in primary, secondary, and high schools. A high school graduate goes through approximately 1500 hours of foreign language teaching. Still, most students who start university begin at the A1 (beginner) level in preparatory classes or attend language courses to learn a foreign language. There is a contradiction between the foreign language lessons given in schools (1500 hours) and this described situation. Moreover, issues such as teacher employment and time wastage also exist. Ways to increase the effectiveness/efficiency of foreign language teaching in schools should be researched. One of the necessities of the technological era is the correct integration of new technologies into foreign language teaching. Countless studies are being carried out in this field, but while theoretical studies are increasing rapidly, significant problems are still encountered in classroom practices in Turkey. The issues faced in German language teaching in our country are also an important phenomenon that cannot be overlooked. Therefore, digital learning technologies must be used correctly to provide more effective German language teaching. In this regard, scientific studies focused on mobile learning in German teaching should be prioritized. E-learning platforms should be developed to support formal education. Problems encountered in foreign language teaching at primary and secondary education levels in our country should be examined and solutions should be proposed. Foreign language teaching methods should be designed to capture children's interest in order to make them enjoy learning foreign languages.

(Adapted from the Hacettepe University 2022–2027 Research Priority Areas Report, pages 186-187)