TEACHING GERMAN AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE THROUGH TEXTS: THE EXAMPLE OF FRIEDRICH ANI’S ‘‘DIE UNTERIRDISCHE SONNE”

DEUTSCH ALS FREMDSPRACHE MIT TEXTEN UNTERRICHTEN AM BEISPIEL VON FRIEDRICH ANIS ‘‘DIE UNTERIRDISCHE SONNE’’

Özet

Foreign language classes are often perceived by students as challenging, intimidating, and associated with low achievement. One of the main reasons for this perception is the use of texts in the target language. However, there is no widely agreed-upon approach to the use of texts in foreign language teaching. In this study, Friedrich Ani’s Die unterirdische Sonne was examined as a model for text-based foreign language instruction. The work was selected and adapted for teaching purposes, with a focus on constructing sentences aligned with functional learning objectives and integrating the text into classroom practice. In this context, the topic of modal verbs was chosen. Appropriate example sentences related to modal verbs were developed based on the text, and the use of role-play as a teaching technique was considered suitable. The results of the study indicate that students who engaged with the events in the text developed greater interest in the lesson and showed higher motivation to understand the subject matter. As a result, texts in foreign language classes became more enjoyable, and lessons were observed to be more effective, moving away from rote learning and monotony. It was also found that students who understood the text were able to infer the function of modal verbs from context, even if they had no prior knowledge of the topic. Furthermore, this approach contributed to an increase in students’ self-confidence. Overall, the study demonstrates that texts in foreign language classes can cease to be a source of difficulty for students. No issues related to the level of literary texts were identified, as such texts in textbooks are generally appropriate for students’ proficiency levels. Therefore, this approach can be applied across different grade levels and with various texts. The study concludes that text-based instruction provides significant benefits in enhancing students’ comprehension in foreign language learning.