Bleichenbacher, Lukas

This contribution discusses two case studies that illustrate the experiences of mobility students who were studying abroad during the first outbreak of COVID - 19. The case studies have emerged from a larger longitudinal, mixed - method study, which included a n interview study with six international students planned for spring 2020. Due to the COVID - 19 pandemic, all participants had to terminate their stay early. Hence, the original interview study was adapted to focus on the impact of COVID - 19 on students' soc ial contacts, linguistic practices , and emotional well - being in these exceptional circumstances. In the present contribution, we understand study abroad as a rite of passage, an important time in the life of young adults, and we draw on insights from previ ous research on educational travels with transformative potential to make sense of the students' differing reactions to their early return

One of the aims of teacher education is to contribute to continuity in plurilingual, intercultural, and language-sensitive education, across subjects and educational levels. In this paper, we present selected results of two European projects that support this aim. The article outlines the background and potential of a taxonomy of teacher competences that exemplifies dimensions of language-related teacher competence shared by teachers of languages and other subjects. The dimensions include descriptors for teaching competences proper, for collaboration with other teachers and stakeholders, and for teacher development. Furthermore, a dimension containing competences related to the analysis of languages, discourse and cultures reframes aspects of language teachers’ content knowledge as a competence domain that is relevant, albeit to varying degrees, for all teachers. Two transversal dimensions, which contain teachers’ language and digital competences, an overview of teachers’ values and principles, and an account of professional learning opportunities complete the taxonomy.

Our contribution draws on quantitative data from a longitudinal mixed-methods study to uncover different patterns of social contacts of study abroad (SA) students and the relationship of these social contacts with (a) language use, (b) target language development, and (c) contextual variables. Data were obtained by means of online questionnaires pre, during, and post sojourn. English oral proficiency gains were measured using the Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc) test before and after the stay. Latent profile analysis yielded four profiles of social contacts, which differed in terms of the degree of integration into the community of locals or international students. Students with distinct profiles differ significantly with respect to language use but not in terms of language gains. Regression analyses indicate that comparable progress in oral proficiency was made by students across profiles of social contacts and also by those in an English as a lingua franca (ELF) context suggesting that different SA context and networking patterns are conducive to second language (L2) gains.

This article presents a comparative study of the oral English proficiency gains of two groups of students, namely mobility students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (n?=?26), who were matched for background variables such as pre-departure oral proficiency, duration of stay, accommodation, and destination. Oral proficiency was measured before and after the stay using the Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc). Results indicate that students staying abroad before the outbreak of the pandemic made significant progress while students staying abroad during the pandemic did not. Student comments suggest that this may be related to the measures taken to contain the pandemic, limiting opportunities for social networking and interaction. However, this impression could not be supported by statistical analyses of the self-reported number of social contacts or amount of English language use. The results point to the need for consideration of qualitative aspects of social interactions and language use and a more frequent and situated assessment of these.

Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt einen innovativen Ansatz zur Förderung berufsbezogener Sprachkompetenzen von Fremdsprachenlehrpersonen in der Schweiz. Grundlage dafür sind die berufsspezifischen Sprachkompetenzprofile für die Primarstufe und die Sekundarstufe I, welche anhand einer sprachlichen Bedarfsanalyse erarbeitet wurden. Nach einer Situierung der Thematik in der aktuellen Forschungsliteratur sowie im Schweizer Bildungskontext werden Aufbau und Entstehung der Profile erläutert und die Resultate einer Befragung von Lehrpersonen zur deren Praxisrelevanz zusammengefasst. Anschliessend werden anhand von Beispielen mögliche didaktische Umsetzungs- und Implementierungsformen der Profile skizziert. This paper describes an innovative approach to promote language skills of foreign language teachers in Switzerland. The approach is based on the profession-related language competence profiles for foreign language teachers in primary and lower secondary education, which were developed on the basis of a linguistic needs analysis. After situating the subject in both the current state of research and the Swiss educational context, the structure and the development of the profiles are briefly described and the results of a survey of teachers regarding their practical relevance are summarized. Then, possible instances of didactic implementation of the profiles are outlined and illustrated with concrete examples.