Milanka Sobočan, Zavod Antona Martina Slomška, Škofijska gimnazija, Maribor
The paper presents possibilities which enable students to actively and independently learn German vocabulary and language. When all participants accept the fact that not only the teacher but they all are responsible for successful learning, students are able to take over some key roles. They become responsible for themselves and their classmates. When we include the modern technology, the work becomes even more attractive for students. While in class discussing a new subject, students in smaller groups create online classroom dictionaries in the shared Google Drive document. They enter words they collect with the help of photos, texts, online dictionaries into columns, separated through colours and gender. After the new classroom dictionaries are corrected by the teacher, they are accessible in the virtual classroom for all students. The next step involves students´ preparing different tasks for their classmates, connected with the discussed topic. They create cards for learning and repeating new words using the tool Quizlet. They can add pictures or translations of words, as well as the sound, into the Quizlet. They prepare exercises not only for themselves but for their classmates, which makes them highly motivated. They also strengthen and expand their vocabulary at the same time. After the new vocabulary is learnt and consolidated, the context can be created with the tool called PowToon. Students work in smaller groups, search for various ways of presenting animated stories, dialogues, situations and create one for their classmates. They include the new vocabulary and work collaborating with each other. After the stories are made and presented, each student chooses three which s/he then comments on in the blog and adds one question, connected with the presentation. The teacher comments on all the animated stories as well und gives students an objective, though stimulating feedback. Throughout the school year the described course of learning steps has shown that learning German words, phrases and structures can become more authentic and tangible. Students learn the language easier and appreciate the possibility of both the independent and collaborative learning.
