Study On English As Support For Learning German As A Second Foreign Language

In China, German, as a second foreign language, is a typical tertiary language. Because the acquisition of the tertiary language is based on the acquisition of the first foreign language, we should not isolate the relationship of the first foreign language (e.g. English) and the second foreign language (German). But now, in the teaching of German as a second foreign language, English is regularly looked upon as a disturbing factor. This strict separation of the languages results from the one-sided fixation on interference mistakes. The question is also how these interference mistakes can be corrected. It is also eye-catching that the interaction between the two languages leads not only to interference mistakes but also positive transfer. The way to the solution of this problem lies in using learning strategies that can consciously be used for the German learners with English as first foreign language in order to remove interference mistakes. So, this thesis gives empirical results and examples to prove that a conscious utilization of English knowledge can evoke an effect of learning German.