Sabrina Link (Urbino) & Laura Lewis (Durham), pp. 144-165
2025 Issue 1
Abstract
The need to prepare students for an increasingly interconnected, culturally and linguistically diverse world has been emphasised repeatedly in recent years and is an important objective not only in the field of language teaching and learning, but in higher education (HE) in general. With a specific focus on German as a foreign language (GFL), this paper will show how key competences for language learners such as critical thinking, collaboration and intercultural awareness can be developed through the implementation of the Intercultural Reflection Team (iRT) method. While the iRT method, based on peer supervision, was originally designed to promote dialogue between academics facing teaching challenges across regions, countries and disciplines, this paper will show how the method can be applied in the context of teaching German as a foreign language, using the example of a telecollaborative project between students at level B2 and above (according to the CEFR- Common European Framework of Reference) at Durham University and the University of Urbino.