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Database of Teaching Sources

A database of selected, reviewed, tested, assessed and validated e-learning based language teaching sources addressed to Higher education students for the learning of 18 different European languages.

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B1 Deutsch im Job – Profis gesucht: Anlagenmechanik

Date of Publication

not provided

Target Group

Students

Domain Area

Engineering

Learning Scenario

Autonomous learning

Target Language

German

Language of Instruction

Any language

CEFR level

B1

Type of Material

Activity/task
Audio
Reference resources (online Dictionaries/ grammar guides/phrasebooks)

Linguistic Features

Vocabulary
Grammar

Skills

Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Writing
Reading

Description

The B1 course Deutsch im Job – Profis gesucht: Anlagemechanik is embedded in a broader learning resource provided by the international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW): it comprises a set of multimedial learning content in form of both videos and audios, as well as different writing and speaking exercises. Thus, all the assessable language skills (listening, writing, reading comprehension and speaking) are covered by the course. Furthermore, the DW platform provides the learner with the possibility to both download the content and to advance through the learning path directly on the website.
This online course presumes a consolidated knowledge of German grammar notions up to the B1 of the CEFR, as its focus is rather to convey specific information and vocabulary related to the plant mechanic field: specifically, the course aims at providing an insight in the job as plant mechanic and its related apprenticeship possibilities in Germany (Ausbildung). Nonetheless, different grammar exercises are contextually provided within its 7 learning units, such as modal verbs (unit Dienstbesprechung), separable verbs (unit Wartungsarbeiten), final clauses (unit Reparatur), the use of Konjunktiv II (unit Sanierungen) and the sub-clauses with weil (unit Fakten). The remaining material is focused on vocabulary related to the plant mechanic field and, in general, provides the learner with a broad overview over the duties and tasks of a plant mechanic, such as reparations, maintenance and restructuring.
In light of that, this course is highly indicated for autonomous learners who are willing to take on a career as plant mechanic in a German-speaking country and/or enroll in a corresponding Ausbildung in Germany, that is apprenticeship/training course.
The learning units can also be processed regardless of the given sequence, considering that the last unit Wissenscheck provides final questions and eventually the result of the corrected answers given in the previous units. Thus, the learner has a tangible means to autonomously correct their mistakes as well as to assess their own improvements.

Case study

The unit Anlagenmechanik is part of the German LSP course Deutsch im Job – Profis gesucht produced by Deutsche Welle and offers seven lessons for plumbing service technicians. A few students at the B2 level of proficiency, who are professionals in the machine-building industry, were asked to use the materials as an integrated part of their learning activities to improve their listening comprehension and lexical skills. Guided by a questionnaire they monitored their learning experience. The overall outcome was evaluated very positively. Initially, students reported some difficulties with the video starting point of every lesson, because of the authentic speech by real operators on the job. Therefore, as far as using the course in a classroom or blended learning environment, lecturers should provide a strategy on how to approach a listening exercise with a step by step method, using the transcripts and the subtitles included in every video. Students appreciated the clear structure and design of the course as well as the additional information given in form of grammar explanations but criticized missing content when clicking on the “Wortschatz”-button. Lexical information, though, can be accessed through hyperlinks in the video transcript. In conclusion, the fact, that all video material is made available for download and supplied with supporting pdf-documents enriches the instructional possibilities and enables lecturers to adapt easily to different learning scenarios.

Guidelines

The resource is available online at the abovementioned link. Thanks to the ‘Settings’ button marked with a ‘=’, one can easily surf through the available contents (e.g. ‘Grammar’, ‘Script’, ‘Exercises’, ‘Course overview’).
The learning path is already set up and is comprised of 7 learning units (Einstieg, Dienstbesprechung, … Wissenscheck), all of which are further subdivided into 10 exercises’ units. At the end of each learning unit, the platform provides a calculation of the correct answers and a consequent evaluation. The learner can easily scroll the learning path backwards and redo the exercises. Once all the exercises’ units are elaborated, an overview of the correct answers and related score is provided.
It is advisable to first register and log in to the platform, in order for the learner to save their score and better keep track of their results, lest the browser should be closed and the results lost.

Review

Category
Rate
Comprehensive approach
Capacity to match the needs of lecturers and students

5

Added value
The provided tangible improvements

4

Motivation enhancement
The capacity to motivate students to improve their language skills

4

Innovation
Effectiveness in introducing innovative, creative and previously unknown approaches to LSP learning

5

Transferability
Measurement of the transferable potential and possibility to be a source of further capitalisation/application for other language projects in different countries

3

Skills assessment and validation
Availability of appropriate tools for lecturers to monitor students’ progress and for students to assess own progress and to reflect on learning

4

Adaptability
Flexibility of the contents and possibilities for the LSP lecturers to adapt the contents to their and to students’ need

1

Usability
Assess the technical usability from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Accessibility
Assess the accessibility from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Comments:
The resource is easily accessible and usable on devices (the interface is also mobile-friendly). Although not very flexible in terms of learner’s level adaptation, as the resource is solely focused on one topic and can not be in any way modulated, its utility lies in the multifaceted and highly multimedial learning path. A learner who is already confident with the use of modern devices will find the resource to be highly intuitive and user-friendly.
Every chapter is provided with exercises that cover any assessable language skill, both oral and written, passive (comprehension) and active (production).
By so doing, a certain level of language exposition is virtually created and hence a holistic approach to language learning is adopted.
Website of the Teaching Source:
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