Subjective Concepts of Reading Literature Among Future Foreign Language Teachers of German: Implications for Theory and Practice

The reading of literary texts has been strongly affected by modern times and media developments. In the development of reading, a proficiency gap can be perceived. In this contribution theoretical starting points are presented for viewing reading from the perspective of scientific disciplines and these are supported by empirical data on the subjective concepts of reading literary texts among future teachers of foreign languages. Teachers, with their inclination or refusal to read and their competences, transmit their views intentionally or unintentionally, consciously or unconsciously to students. At this point their subjective concepts of reading have consequences beyond the subjective. Illustrative segments from interviews and subsequent analysis will allow for a discussion and categorization of concepts held by readers and of guidelines for the education of teachers.