Investigating Differentiated Instruction in the German Language Course as a response to heterogeneity
Abstract
Differentiated instruction respects diversity and meets the needs of all learners, thereby maximizing learning opportunities for all. Despite this fact, its effectiveness lacks research documentation, while in recent years there have been attempts to investigate its effectiveness in the Greek educational context. In the present article we will examine the results of a survey conducted during the school year 2021/2022. The participants were 135 GFL-teachers and its aim was to explore the ways they choose to manage diversity in the classroom, such as differentiated instruction. Moreover, it was examined whether they have received training on relevant issues or attended courses addressing differentiation of instruction as well as management of heterogeneity. The results of the present study contribute to the understanding of the situation experienced by GFL-teachers in daily practice regarding the factor of heterogeneity and highlight the need for continuous teacher-training and modifications of teaching to meet the needs of all learners. In conclusion, these results could be used by the relevant services of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, in order to create more effective study programs for the second foreign language lesson, taking into account that the current timetable (two teaching hours per class) is limited, and creates extremely difficult working conditions for GFL-teachers, as they have to move to five or more school units to complete their mandatory schedule. The existing teaching hours are also insufficient to enable students to master the foreign language in the school context to a satisfactory degree with the ultimate goal of obtaining a relevant certification.
Article Details
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Tsakalidou, S. P. (2022). Investigating Differentiated Instruction in the German Language Course as a response to heterogeneity. Hellenic Journal of Research in Education, 11(1), 293–314. https://doi.org/10.12681/hjre.31473
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- Vol. 11 No. 1 (2022)
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