Results of the Students' Lecturer Evaluations and Evaluations of Their Own Learning-Outcomes in Accordance with the Bologna Process in German as a Second Foreign Language Program (G2FL)

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: While preparing for the Bologna process at our university, student involvement was essential. During the university-wide, end of semester survey, students were asked to evaluate their instructors as well as their individual learning outcomes. Our goal, in the Department of G2FL, was to quantitatively analyze the survey results, the effectiveness of the Department’s language teaching methods and ultimately to ascertain student learning outcomes.
Methods: In the first part of the survey, students evaluated their instructors. They answered 15 questions using a five-point scale. In the second part of the survey, they evaluated their own learning outcomes in five language competencies. The data obtained from the students’ evaluation were qualitatively analized by the German Department.
Findings: Based on the survey results, the G2FL Department scored higher than the entire university. Most of the students rated themselves good/very good in listening, reading, and writing skills. However, they gave themselves lower marks in the two-way conversation and the oral explanation competencies.

Discussions: After the survey, the opinions of 778 students in German Language courses were evaluated by 12 German Language Lecturers. Finally, the opinions of both students and instructors were analyzed by the Department Head.
Conclusion: We concluded that our teaching strategy should include a greater emphasis on improving student conversational competency in German. As such, this year-end survey identifies essential learning, concomitantly, the teaching of specific competencies. Once the results are analyzed in detail, they are very useful for improving the quality of teaching as well as learning.