Lutz Goertz, 19 Oct. 2022, 12:00 (IST)
Digital Media

How Digital Media Can Enhance Conventional Language Learning

Language: German

Since the advent of new AI translation services such as Google Translate and DeepL, we might think that conventional language training is gradually becoming superfluous. Not only that, but you can learn a foreign language anywhere and anytime with self-learning apps like Babbel and Duolingo. In this talk, Lutz Goertz of the MMB Institute for Media and Competence Research presents some findings from MMB’s studies and some concrete examples to answer the following questions:

• How do digital media actually help in the language-learning process?
• What are the core competences of conventional language trainers and how can they be utilized in future programmes?
• What are good reasons to work with digital media in the classroom in order to learn a foreign language?
• How can digital media be used for “difference-sensitive” language teaching?

The presentation of the paper is followed by a discussion of the examples and (in some cases quite provocative) suggestions with a view to finding new perspectives on and approaches to foreign language teaching at the Goethe-Institut.


Dr. Lutz Goertz is a communication scientist and has Präsentationbeen head of educational research at the MMB Institute for Media and Competence Research in Essen for 20 years. Since 2021, he has also managed “INVITE-Meta”, a project about learning platforms, standardization and AI, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. His work focuses on educational research, trend scouting, AI, virtual reality, project evaluation and digital learning.