© Fremdsprache Deutsch
Acquiring a foreign language is a complex process that involves significantly more than just knowledge of rules and vocabulary. Certain constructions not only have a form, but also acquire their own meaning.
Well-known book titles, songs, or sayings are good examples.
Many people are familiar with iconic slogans, such as “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” or “Impossible is nothing” The slogans are immediately recognizable even in variations.
The pattern is intuitively recognized and applied, perhaps without truly understanding its structure.
Usage-based approaches assume that language is learned through repeated use. Chunks and building blocks play a central role, especially in learning a foreign language. The articles in this issue explore various facets of this concept—from fostering grammatical skills in preschool children to leveraging the language experiences of elementary school students to text-based methods for secondary school.
The challenge in foreign language teaching is that time is almost always very limited to provide learners with truly rich language experiences.
Therefore, careful planning is necessary to cover as many aspects as possible.
Order Fremdsprache Deutsch Issue 72 (2025): Learning with Language Patterns