Developing Strategies for Successful German Teachers

Course Description: DLL 1: Teaching Competence & Lesson Planning

The overall goal of this course is for teachers to develop and describe their own teaching philosophy while learning how to encourage good, open and realistic communication in the classroom.  They will learn the principles of teacher research and professional development opportunities. The course will culminate with a 3-week final project (Practical Exploration Project or PEP), in which the new theoretical approaches of the DLL unit are reviewed and assessed in the teacher’s own teaching practice. The Practical Exploration Project initiates changes in the classroom and helps to increase the professionalism of teachers. This course is conducted in German in partnership with the Goethe-Institut USA.

By the end of the course, the learner will submit a portfolio that demonstrates understanding and the ability to: Participants can describe their own teaching philosophy.

• Participants can describe their own teaching philosophy.

• Participants are familiar with factors that contribute to complexity in lessons and know strategies for dealing with the special challenges in the foreign language classroom.

• Participants are familiar with various options for planning lessons.

• Participants know how they as teachers can encourage good, open, and realistic communication in the classroom.

• Participants know how they as teachers can have a positive influence on the learning environment.

• Participants know the principles of teacher research and can recognize and take advantage of their professional development opportunities.

Pre-requisite: The entry requirement is German at level B2 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or Advanced Low ACTFL Proficiency Level. Please take this assessment and email a screenshot of the results to info@idiomaconsulting.com.  

Required Texts 

There is no required textbook for this course. All materials are digital and will be provided in the online course.

Course Delivery: Online weekly learning modules, collaborative discussion boards and instructor feedback.  This course is not self-paced and has 3 live virtual sessions (TBD by instructor). 

Students who matriculate into an Instructor-Facilitated course should adhere to the dates listed on the website. Final coursework should be submitted within one week after the course end date. Course extensions beyond one week are subject to a $50 fee.

About the Instructor

Miriam Swatuk, Instructor. Read more about Miriam here.

Click here to request a syllabus.