Language acquisition research

Barbara Hinger's research focuses on the language acquisition of Romance languages, especially Spanish, in the school context. She takes the perspective of empirical learner language research, combines this with results from observations of foreign language teaching in different learning years and reflects on conclusions for teaching based on Pienemann's teachability hypothesis.

Aspects of multilingualism in the school context and in teacher training

The Erasmus+ project MEMO (Multilingualism-enhancing modules for foreign language teaching) is working with partner institutions in Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein to design flexible modules for language- and culture-sensitive French lessons in a school context that are independent of the textbook. Hinger is investigating aspects of multilingualism in teacher training, particularly with regard to the multilingualism of future foreign language teachers in their everyday lives, which they may be able to contribute as added value for multilingualism-sensitive foreign language teaching. Project - MEMO (memo-project.com)

TPR - Total Physical Response as an approach for learners of Spanish as a first language

Inspired by his own positive experiences with the implicit learning method Total Physical Response (TPR) in beginning Spanish lessons (upper secondary level), Hinger and a team at the University of Innsbruck and the Medical University of Innsbruck are investigating the effects of this method on the linguistic (Hinger) and neurolinguistic (MedUni) development of learners.