Overcoming the Grammar Deficit: The Role of Information Technology in Teaching German Grammar to Undergraduates

Abstract

A knowledge of grammatical rules and terminology is important for almost all foreign language learners, but especially for undergraduates, who are used to cognitive learning and who are aiming for a high level of accuracy in the language. Yet many undergraduates come to British universities to study German with a very sketchy knowledge of the grammar of their chosen language. This article examines how a varied application of CALL (computer-assisted language learning) and IT (information technology) can be used to overcome this perceived ‘grammar deficit’ by a combination of approaches including explicit, implicit, and exploratory grammar teaching.