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Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.15516/cje.v19i0.2612

Does Initial Education of German and English Language Teachers Prepare Them for the Development of Pupils' Plurilingual and Intercultural Competence? – Analysis of Programs of Study

Željka Knežević ; Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb


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Abstract

The plurilingual approach to foreign language learning creates a challenge for foreign language teachers in the integrated development of pupils' plurilingual and intercultural competence. The question that arises is whether, after completion of their initial education, English and German language teachers are ready for the realization of such aims in foreign language teaching. In order to answer the question, research on the presence of content for developing the plurilingual and intercultural competence in ten programs of study for the education of English and German language teachers in Croatia was carried out. The results of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of content, in particular obligatory course syllabi of each program of study, show that, in general, in programs of study for English and German language teachers, the content for developing intercultural competence is represented in a very small amount. On the other hand, the occurrence of content relating to the development of plurilingual competence in almost all of the analyzed programs of study is marginal. This leads to the conclusion that the existing initial education does not sufficiently prepare English and German teachers to meet the needs that the plurilingual approach to learning foreign languages demands.

Keywords

foreign language teaching; initial education of English and German teachers; intercultural competence; plurilingual approach to foreign language learning; plurilingual competence

Hrčak ID:

193796

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/193796

Publication date:

3.8.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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