LEARNING. TEACHING. TRANSFORMING.
DENIS WEGER
I work in the field of language teaching and learning research at the intersection between multilingualism research and research on teachers' professional development. My focus is on the language dimension of education in order to make teaching and learning processes as effective as possible for all students. Through my research and teaching, I contribute to more educational equality.
PROJECTS
LANGUAGE BIOGRAPHICAL EXPERIENCES OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS AND THEIR ANTICIPATED TEACHING PRACTICE
In order to increase educational equality, there are regular calls for more linguistically diverse teachers. The anticipated positive impacts of such teachers however contradicts with still unclear scientific knowledge. The aim of this project therefore is to examine the relationship between the language biographical experiences of pre-service teachers with diverse linguistic backgrounds and their anticipated teaching practice in linguistically diverse classes. (Project in application phase)
PUBLICATIONS
LANGUAGE BIOGRAPHICAL EXPERIENCES AND PROFESSIONAL ACTION IN THE TENSION BETWEEN SCHOOL MONOLINGUALISM AND INDIVIDUAL MULTILINGUALISM
Teachers have to mediate between a monolingual school system and individual multilingual students. Using the example of a prospective teacher, this article illustrates that language biographical experiences serve as a reference point for professional action in this context.
Weger, D. (2024):
Language Biographical Experiences and Professional Action in the Tension between School Monolingualism and Individual Multilingualism. Erziehung & Unterricht, 1-2/2024. [published in German]
TEACHING MATERIALS FOR LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL LEARNING IN THE SALZBURG MUSEUM – DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND TASK EXAMPLES
In this conceptual contribution, some didactic design principles for teaching materials on language and cultural learning in the Salzburg Museum are presented and illustrated using task examples.
Weger, D., Bogensperger, T., Strasser, M., & Zauner, M. (2022): Teaching Materials for Language and Cultural Learning at the Salzburg Museum - Design Principles and Task Examples. Babylonia Journal for Language Education, (3), 92-97. [published in German] link
DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE FOR TRANSLINGUAL INSTRUCTION
Multilingual students are structurally disadvantaged in the monolingual German-speaking school system because they can only contribute one part of their multilingual linguistic competences into the teaching and learning processes. This dissertation extensively explores the question of how pre-service teachers in all subjects can be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills in order to counteract this disadvantage.
Weger, D. (2022): Developing Professional Competence for Translingual Instruction - University of Vienna: Dissertation. [published in German] link
