Making it Stick! The Role of Memory and the Brain in Foreign Language...

 Learning a foreign language involves not only keeping new vocabulary but also learning the rules of the language with the aim of enabling communication. For example, thelearner has to remember the newly learned words and grammatical rules,consolidate them, retrieve them and learn to apply them. Nevertheless, how isthis possible? How do we make it stick? The theme of this interactive lectureis the role of memory and learning theories in foreign language learning.Memory, the system on which learning depends on, is of great importance forfuture language teachers but the insights gained through behavioural andneuroscientific research on the nature and functioning of memory receive littleattention within teacher training. However, this knowledge can have a positive impact on both planning the teaching unit and instruction. Additionally,learning theories that are important for language learning are presented aswell. The aim of the interactive lecture is to inform about the formal memorysystems, the processes of consolidation and reactivation as well as to show theneurobiological basics in the brain. Among other themes, Verena Novak-Geigerwill explain differences of the neuroanatomical structures that are involvedand the role of the limbic system for the consolidation of information.Furthermore, results from neuroscientific research on the learning process andthe process of storing language and words are summarized. In addition,practical derivations will be shown and participants will be given the opportunityto discuss and exchange ideas about possible applications in class.