Metaphorical Perceptions of German Language Prospective Teacher about German Grammar

Abstract

Grammar contains complex abstract structures in the teaching of German as a foreign language or as a second foreign language. Because of this structural feature of German grammar, students' perceptions of this course vary relatively. Students' perceptions about a lesson affect their interest, motivation and their successes. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine the metaphors that make up the perceptions of prospective teachers on the concept of "German grammar". In this study, phenomenological design was used. The data of the study was obtained with a form having the statement "German grammar is like for me; because...". The data were analysed by content analysis. In the study a total of 91 metaphors were developed under twelve categories of German grammar. These are "very comprehensive, difficult, important, enjoyable, connected, necessary, systematic, functional, teaching new knowledge, uncommon, not giving results and sweet pain". From these metaphors, it is concluded that German grammar is very comprehensive in terms of subject and that there are too many rules. In addition, it is understood that German grammar is very important and necessary in the language teaching and learning process, it is functional when used in other skills and it is found to be connected, succesive and systematic because of its relation with each other.