DiaLog - Pupils discuss controversial questions on climate change

These contentious issues regarding climate change are discussed extensively, especially by the younger generation. In order to participate in debates on climate change, the ability to argue is an indispensable linguistic tool. Only those who can argue well can make themselves heard, participate in discussions, and have a say in the decision-making process. Being able to argue is therefore crucial for social involvement and participation.

The project DiaLog – Pupils discuss controversial questions on climate change (2020-2023), which is funded by the European Union, starts exactly at this point: In order to promote the argumentation skills of students, a didactic approach was developed for teaching German as a first, second and foreign language. In this context, oral argumentation is used as a bridge to written argumentation, and the ability to take on different perspectives is fostered as a prerequisite for engaging in controversial argumentation. The didactic approach developed for this purpose was tested with approx. 480 students at the upper secondary level in Austria, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, and is now being evaluated with regard to its effectiveness within the framework of a dissertation.