Learning out of the Classroom: An Effective Way to Achieve the Communicative Goals of Teaching German as a Foreign Language.

Abstract

This paper focuses on „learning outside the classroom‟ as an effective method to achieve the communication goals in foreign language learning. Conducting learning activities in appropriate conditions beyond the walls of the classroom is a dynamic means of facilitating foreign language acquisitions. Further, this method could enhance their research capacities by enriching their skills of investigation and problem solving in authentic situations. The main objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of learning German as a foreign language outside the classroom. The study also attempts to identify the appropriate strategies for teaching and learning outside the classroom. Many strategies have been recognized as outcomes of this research and they will be elaborated during the presentation. Classroom observations and observation of outreach programs for students of 3rd year were used to collect data. Further, data collected through to interviews with German language students and lecturers were also utilized in the analysis. Information from books, evaluations of the student's presentations and assignments, and websites were sources of secondary data. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the collected data. This research revealed that outreach programs such as tours to historical cities and field trips could increase communication skills in the target language. This research recommends that teachers of German as a foreign language should use more outreach programs and outdoor activities to strengthen students‟ competency in German. It may provide an opportunity to learn a foreign language intensively beyond the walls of the classroom.