Teacher Professionalization for Language Support in Heterogeneous Learning Groups with Digital Media

Ein Seminarkonzept an der Universität zu Köln

Abstract

In modern society, linguistic as well as digital media skills are necessary prerequisites for knowledge acquisition and social participation. Inclusion-oriented educational systems of countries with high levels of immigration – such as the German education system – are currently facing the task of providing students with linguistic and digital media skills in order to enable them to successfully participate in educational processes and facilitate independent learning. To address these challenges language and media didactics experts of the University of Cologne developed a seminar concept and implemented it in a program that prepared teaching students for teaching newly immigrated students in a summer school. The course focused on the close linking of theory and practice – a central component of recent courses at BA- and MA-level. As part of the seminar, teaching students were given the opportunity to teach language and media skills to newly immigrated students with different competence levels whilst being mentored by lecturers and tutors. It was thought that this would allow the teaching students to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice and help them to reflect on it.