Since fall 2021, the author has practiced a method of ungrading, labor-based contract grading, in all courses in the small German program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The author has anecdotally observed less anxiety, fewer incidents of cheating, more cooperation among students, stronger rapport between students and instructors, growth…

This study investigated stereotypes about teachers of German that 67 novice learners of German at a U.S. university had reportedly encountered. Consequently, the investigation explored the perceived accuracy of clichés associated with native-speaker and non-native-speaker instructors. Students' stereotypical notions were sorted into categories…

The present study investigated learners' beliefs about peer interaction (PI) and peer corrective feedback (PCF) in the language classroom. A group of third-semester German learners (the--PCF group) participated in peer interaction activities, specifically conversations and discussions with other learners. Another group of third-semester German…

Second-language (L2) learner motivation has been a thriving subfield within L2 acquisition research for decades, particularly since the development of the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS), a multi-faceted motivational theory. This survey-based study examines (1) whether L2MSS facets differ between students intending to continue (or discontinue)…

In a recent study, English-speaking L2 learners of German who received explicit instruction made significantly greater improvements in pronunciation and vocabulary than learners who received implicit instruction. Against the backdrop of this work, the present study reports learner preferences and perceptions about implicit and explicit language…

This praxis-oriented article reports on the design, implementation, and evaluation of an upper-level online German course aimed at advancing the second language (L2) proficiency of US university students. Drawing on the noticing hypothesis and empirical L2 acquisition research, the study underscores the necessity of combining attention to…

This collaborative research project developed out of an undergraduate German class in an abroad context, which had the goal of assisting students in maximizing their experience through awareness-raising activities including action research. Here we focus on the collaborative action research projects conducted by the students. Each of the five…

This article describes an advanced German course focusing on the German fairy-tale tradition. Course components are summarized and the themes and selected fairy tales for each unit are outlined. Additionally, 12 creative assignments are explained that were designed to foster students' engagement with the language and content of the fairy tales.…

The development of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) becomes increasingly important in the world language curriculum and a crucial goal to prepare students for real-life communicative situations outside of the classroom. This article discusses how a simulation exercise based on the contentious construction of the Tesla Gigafactory in…

Students' learning progress in areas such as language proficiency or cultural awareness is considerable while studying abroad, but specific preparation, engagement with, and reflection of their experiences can increase these benefits and particularly students' awareness of them. This article offers an overview of a study abroad portfolio that was…

The article proposes using the flipped learning approach to gain more classroom time for activities that help learners interact with cultural content so that they may achieve critical cultural awareness, one of the components of Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC). It first distinguishes between the terms "flipped classroom" and…

This article introduces a Bauhaus design apprenticeship for first-semester German as a means of integrating multiple literacies and disciplines. In light of the need for interdisciplinary models of the multiliteracies framework in introductory-level language curricula, a collaboration with the campus makerspace can enhance the humanities' critical…

Sociocognitive (Atkinson, 2011) and complex dynamic systems approaches (Larsen-Freeman & Cameron, 2008) highlight the inextricable connectedness of social and cognitive phenomena in second language (L2) learning. Previous research found numerous ties between L2 learning and both learners' sociocultural background as well as their affective…

This case study addresses the language-culture divide contributing to curricular bifurcation in many collegiate language departments and presents a lesson plan to help language instructors bridge the gap. The lesson on public transportation is designed for first-semester second language (L2) German students and focuses on a guided reading of a…

As an internal expansion of the Language Proficiency Flagship Initiative at Michigan State University, 172 students of German took ACTFL proficiency tests in three modalities (speaking, listening, and reading) over the course of three years. The test scores and background survey data were analyzed to determine proficiency levels of students at the…