Zur Relevanz der projektorientierten Lehre im Fach Germanistik an der Vytautas Magnus-Universität in Kaunas

Abstract

Today, the German studies should respond to the demands of students not only to handle professionally the specific contents acquired in their studies, but also to provide them with key skills such as self-confidence, creativity and flexibility and thus to facilitate their participation in future professional life. The integration of these goals into German studies requires innovative forms of teaching and learning. Especially in German studies abroad, project-oriented teaching seems to have many advantages, as it enables students to gain a good insight into future professions, in most cases differing from traditional professional fields of German studies, particularly economics, tourism, etc. The paper examines the questions why project-oriented teaching should have its fixed place in university teaching and how the current key qualifications can be provided to students of German studies through project work. The basic principles of the project method are illustrated by two examples of course-related projects that were carried out at Vytautas Magnus University in the context of the BA seminar on Contemporary German and in the context of the MA seminar on Tourism Communication in 2019 and 2017 respectively.