Sprache und Sprechen in der Erwachsenenbildung

Successful communication – i.e. reaching an understanding between speaker and listener – depends on the content and its format, the personality of the speaker, but also on the form and presentation of the content. Especially in situations of learning and teaching, the voice of the speaker plays an important role in the presentation of the content of teaching and learning. Some ways of speaking may render unwanted effects and may be seen as distracting. It is important to note, however, that all these ways of speaking are learned and can be changed with appropriate training.

Communication competences of adult educators are challenged intensively. Successful learning largely depends on the subject matter’s mediative aspects: rhetoric and vocal processes prove to be significant for the learning atmosphere, group dynamics, understandable knowledge communication and setting group and feedback processes in motion. As a result, a sound and comprehensive repertoire of communicative competences is essential, which can be acquired in close relation to linguistics and speech training.

Students of German as a foreign and second language are often confronted with the problem that dialogues in textbooks rather resemble written than oral German. Oral language phenomena are neglected and generally not systematically presented. This also applies for recent online textbooks. It is a wasted opportunity since multimedia content may be easily used for contrasting formal and informal speech.

As a result of the current migration of several hundreds of thousands refugees in Germany alone, concepts for successful language training become increasingly important. The integration programme funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) plays a central role. This article refers to data collected by the author regarding success factors for language learning. In this qualitative study, 51 interviews were conducted with integration programme participants in a reception centre. From the refugees' perspective, a lack of language practice is the greatest obstacle. The findings are discussed in reference to current political developments.

In consideration of the omnipresent commitment to the significance of lifelong learning, the article analyses the role of continuing education within public education funding. Over the past 20 years, public continuing education funding has been reduced by 41 %. The low participation rate in continuing education, particularly among the less qualified and atypically employed, encourage an increase in public investments. Funds should enhance staff counselling, qualification and professionalism as well as a competence certification system.