It is undisputed that digitalization and digitization have become ever-present features of our daily life. As such, digital and social media as well as the processes and possibilities they enable – immediate and ever-ready access to a seemingly infinite (yet not always reliable) stream of information on any topic imaginable; simplified modes of communication and mobility; instantaneous availability of numerous tools, apps and services within a finger tap or swipe – are also an integral part of educational contexts that focus on foreign language learning and teaching. On the end of foreign language learners digital media and the competence(s) and skills to efficiently and intelligently use them form a relevant asset for their (professional) future lives in and of themselves and pose the potential to support and facilitate the learning of English as a foreign language. On the end of foreign language teachers digital media offer means to enhance and transform pretty much every stage of lesson planning and conduction: from mere substitution and augmentation of established forms of teaching to the modification and ultimately redefinition of task designs and classroom activities.

Theoretically, this seminar offers insights into approaches that integrate communicative foreign language teaching/learning and blended/digital learning as well as relevant competence models as defined by educational policy documents from the European (e.g. Common European Framework of Reference + Companion Volume; European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators) and national (KMK Bildungsstandards; Strategiepaper ‘Bildung in der digitalen Welt’) down to the federal (curricula for lower saxony for English as a foreign language) level. Practically, it offers the opportunity to work with various digital tools in the context of lesson planning and foreign language learning (e.g. courseware, ChatGPT, Kahoot, ONCOO, Quizlet, etc.).

The seminar will profit from being taught in tandem by two lecturers that combine theoretically and practically informed perspectives on the topic and will include a workshop during which students will form groups to develop and present school form specific blended learning units with the outlook of those units being incorporated into future seminars.

This course’s assessment requirements and formats will be explained in the first session.They can also be accessed on Stud.IP in the section course information.

Key Words: digital competence, digital literacy, teaching & learning English as a foreign language, digital media, digitalization, tasked-based learning, flipped classrooms, blended learning, intercultural communicative (discourse) competence