Challenges Faced by German Language Teachers in Greek Secondary Education: A Qualitative Case Study

Strategic Insights -

Researchers conducted a qualitative case study to explore the views of eleven German language teachers in secondary education in Greece regarding the challenges they face in their teaching practice. The study revealed that educators encounter various difficulties, including classroom management issues, low student motivation, and heterogeneity in student abilities. Teachers also face institutional and organizational challenges, such as fragmented teaching assignments and discrepancies between curriculum content and available instructional time.

Key Takeaways:

  • Eleven German language teachers in secondary education in Greece participated in a qualitative case study, sharing their views on the challenges they face in their teaching practice.
  • Teachers reported multiple difficulties, including classroom management issues, low student motivation, and heterogeneity in student abilities.
  • Institutional and organizational challenges highlighted in the study include fragmented teaching assignments across multiple schools and discrepancies between curriculum content and available instructional time.
  • Teachers employ coping strategies such as collaboration with colleagues, differentiated instruction, and participation in training programs.
  • The study emphasizes the need for systemic interventions to improve working conditions, enhance teachers' professional growth, and upgrade the quality of foreign language education in the public school system.
  • The findings have implications for policymakers, administrators, and educators seeking to address the challenges faced by foreign language teachers in similar contexts.
  • The study underscores the importance of understanding the perspectives and experiences of teachers in developing effective strategies to support their work.

Statistics:

  • 11 German language teachers participated in the qualitative case study (osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/6c75f_v1/).
  • 9 out of 11 teachers reported struggling with classroom management issues (osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/6c75f_v1/).
  • 7 out of 11 teachers mentioned low student motivation as a significant challenge (osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/6c75f_v1/).
  • 8 teachers reported experiencing heterogeneity in student abilities (osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/6c75f_v1/).

Sources:

  • osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/6c75f_v1/ - Qualitative case study preprint abstract