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Abstract

This research project investigates the factors contributing to the decline in German uptake at GCSE. There has been a lot of research surrounding the low uptake of modern foreign languages (MFL), but with little emphasis on specific reasons for the low uptake of German. For further investigation into the extent in which culture-specific factors contribute to this decline, interviews with secondary school German teachers were conducted. The collected data was compared to ideas and suggestions presented in secondary material.
Overall, the primary research suggested that cultural factors play a significant role in the declining uptake of German. More knowledge and exposure of German culture would help to engage pupils and therefore boost uptake, although other factors would likely improve the uptake on a national scale, such as a review of its grading. The interviewees stressed the importance of their pupils learning about German culture in school, and gave additional suggestions for improving the uptake; for example, better support and collaboration between educational institutions. The study then concludes by providing recommendations for further research of collaboration between the tiers of education in order to promote GCSE German.

Course: Applied Languages - BA (Hons) - C0392

Date Deposited: 2020-09-23

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13557.html