German as a foreign and second language (Master)

On the Master's degree course in German as a foreign and second language, you can expect a sound education to become a future GFL teacher - theory-based, practice-oriented and empirically oriented. You will deal intensively with current theories and models of second and foreign language acquisition and learn about modern methods of teaching German, including the considered use of digital media and innovative technologies such as AI applications. You will also reflect on the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in language teaching - for example with regard to individualized learning, language level diagnostics, automated feedback and the critical and responsible use of AI-generated content.

As part of a supervised teaching placement at schools and educational institutions in Kassel, you will gain your own teaching experience, which you will reflect on in small groups and classify scientifically. The focus is on your professional development: you will train didactic and methodological skills, develop your teaching personality and acquire the ability to plan, implement and evaluate teaching and research projects independently. Digital and AI-supported teaching and learning formats can also be tested in practice and scientifically examined.

You can expand your knowledge in freely selectable specialization modules - for example in the didactization of literary texts and films, in the field of multilingualism, in relation to the use of artificial intelligence in GFL lessons, with regard to different target groups and educational contexts (e.g. German as a second or foreign language in school contexts as well as in various areas of adult education) or in empirical teaching-learning research. This will provide you with a future-oriented education that will optimally prepare you for activities in schools, universities, educational projects and research.

Course structure

The Kassel Master's degree course in German as a Foreign and Second Language combines theory, research and practice in a special way. It trains teachers who are able to critically assess current developments in teaching and learning research and transfer innovative didactic approaches to diverse learning contexts. The focus is on the professional handling of cultural diversity as well as the promotion of a reflective teacher personality.

Special emphasis is placed on empirical research methods and reflective teaching practice. The structured interplay of compulsory and elective modules, teaching internships and study projects promotes independent academic work and practice-oriented thinking. Dealing with AI in GFL lessons is also an integral part of the course. The focus here is on the reflective use of AI tools to design contemporary lessons and promote independent learning. Another component of the Kassel degree course is the area of coaching and counseling, in which you will be enabled to professionally accompany learners in their individual development.

Thanks to the close integration of research and teaching, innovative teaching methods and the dedicated teaching and research team, the course offers excellent conditions for your personal and professional development - whether in the field of education or as part of a subsequent academic qualification.

The Master's degree program begins in the winter semester, lasts four semesters and is open to national and international applicants with relevant previous knowledge of linguistics and education.

The Master's degree in "German as a Foreign and Second Language" opens up a wide range of career prospects in Germany and abroad. Possible fields of work include

• Language teaching at language schools, universities, schools and kindergartens, in integration courses and at foreign educational institutions. Also private company teaching (e.g. business German) and teaching activities within the framework of e-learning courses
• Research activities, e.g. as part of a doctorate or through other collaboration in research projects on the topic of "German as a foreign and second language", for example in the areas of language teaching and learning research, language acquisition, language education, migration and multilingualism or linguistic and cultural diversity in the context of immigration
• Language and cultural mediation activities as a DAAD lecturer, language assistant or teacher at German schools abroad as well as through participation in international exchange and educational programs
• Educational and cultural management, e.g. by developing curricula, syllabuses, examinations and tests, accompanying and advising language learners in the context of migration and integration, through activities in education management, event management or in the international office of universities
• Working in publishing houses by creating, developing and testing analog and digital teaching materials for German as a foreign and second language
• Initial, further and continuing training for teachers and other educational staff, i.e. designing, implementing and evaluating training courses for teachers, educators or pedagogues

More about career prospects

Thanks to the numerous collaborations of the teaching and research area "German as a Foreign and Second Language", there are many opportunities to complete internships or study periods abroad. The virtual exchange projects that regularly take place as part of individual courses also enable you to meet GFL learners from different regions of the world. This expands your intercultural and didactic skills and enables you to get to know different teaching and learning contexts. You can also benefit from the numerous exchange programs such as Erasmus, Fulbright or the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

You can find more information atunder https://www.uni-kassel.de/uni/studium/im-studium/studium-und-praktikum-im-ausland.html.

The Department of German as a Foreign and Second Language focuses on interaction- and competence-oriented teaching and learning processes. It investigates how learners acquire, use, and reflect on language in authentic communication situations.

The research focuses on the following areas:

• Interactional Competencies: Description and analysis of linguistic interactions in the classroom and everyday life, and their influence on teaching and learning processes (documented, among other places, in the *Journal of Interaction Research in DaFZ*).
• Multilingualism: Investigating how linguistic diversity can be utilized as a resource and integrated into instructional designs and curricula.
• Didactics and Methodology: Development and testing of competency-oriented tasks, diagnostic tools, and support formats (see, e.g., “Mein Studienstart in Deutschland” – https://mein-studienstart-in-deutschland.uni-kassel.de/); Action research in teaching practicums to support the professional development of prospective teachers.
• Media Didactics: Research on digital tools, learning platforms, and interactive materials—for example, in projects such as DigiLex UniComm ( https://digilex.uni-kassel.de/de).
• Language education in subject-specific instruction: Concepts and materials for language-sensitive subject instruction in heterogeneous classrooms.
• Migration-related and postcolonial perspectives: Analysis of educational processes under conditions of diversity, inequality, and discrimination.
• AI in language instruction: Investigation of the potential of AI-supported applications for language learning, language assessment, and lesson planning, as well as critical reflection on their didactic use in the context of German as a foreign and second language.

Research at the DaFZ in Kassel combines theoretical foundations with practical field research and disseminates its findings nationally and internationally through publications, conferences, workshops, and professional development programs for teacher education and instructional development.