Student Heterogeneity and Differentiation: Professional Challenges for Teachers of Foreign Languages

Student heterogeneity in (foreign language) instruction is a problem and a major professional challenge in both theory and practice. This problem/ challenge will be discussed in the contribution as a paradox of pedagogical and didactic work from its beginnings onwards. This is followed by a reflection on the institutional and structural frameworks for differentiation as a conceptual option for appropriate treatment of student heterogeneity. The empirical part, stimulated by the students’ statements during a didactics seminar, presents the results of a qualitative analysis of statements by foreign language teachers about differentiation, possibilities of differentiation, dilemmas, and pitfalls. Finally, suggestions are presented through which differentiation could find its way from theory to practice.