School Collaborations

University course met real-world impact— In the summer semester of 2025, students enrolled in the Hauptseminar “Second Language Acquisition” (Prof. Dr. Tanja Angelovska) at the University of Kassel participated in an exciting collaboration with pupils from the Ursulinenschule, Fritzlar. This innovative partnership exemplified the university’s commitment to applied research and community engagement in foreign language learning and teaching.


What was the project about?

As part of their coursework, students explored key theories and concepts of second language acquisition—such as interlanguage development, processability theory, and structured input—and applied their knowledge in a real-world educational setting. They designed, implemented, and evaluated individualized learning tasks tailored to the needs of pupils learning English as a foreign language at the Ursulinenschule, Fritzlar.


A win for pupils

Twelve highly motivated selected pupils from the Ursulinenschule, Fritzlar, received personalized support focusing on their individual English language development. Each pupil was paired with two university students who analyzed their written work and oral performance. Based on these insights, the students created tasks targeting specific grammar challenges, including verb conjugation, conditionals, and passive constructions. The pupils also received detailed feedback.


A win for students

University students gained valuable hands-on experience in assessing learner language, diagnosing "errors“ and developmental stages, and designing effective teaching materials. Through planning, task implementation, and reflection, they deepened their understanding of second language acquisition and strengthened their practical teaching skills. The project concluded with mini-presentations and written reflections based on the practice component with the school-age learners.

Mutual impact and long-term value

This collaboration demonstrated how universities and schools can work together to enhance language learning and teaching. Pupils benefited from targeted language teaching support, while students developed practical teaching competences rooted in research. Both groups engaged in a meaningful learning experience that bridged theory and practice.

We are proud of this successful partnership with the Ursulinenschule, Fritzlar and thank everyone involved for their commitment and collaboration.