In the Captivity of Realia? Problematic Aspects of the LandeskundePhenomenon in the context of Grammar School Educationand School-Leaving Examination
Abstract
The article deals with the treatment of cultural topics in language classes,specifically focusing on German. After a brief theoretical introduction where Imainly concentrate on the terminological difficulties, the Czech secondaryschool leaving exam (maturita) is discussed, especially with respect to the oralpart as well as the individual topics, the choice of which is at each school'sdiscretion.
This probe reveals that the overwhelming majority of Czech schoolsstill continue to feature areas, which require students to memorize facts abouthistory, geography, literature etc. instead of testing their communicativeand/or intercultural competences. Following on from this, I argue that thiswidespread practice should be abolished for a multitude of reasons, includingfor example objectivity, validity, relevance, and the fact that it runs counter tothe educational goals as stipulated by various curricular documents.