EARLY PROMOTION OF PHRASEOLOGICAL COMPETENCE THROUGH GERMAN LANGUAGE TEXTBOOKS AT THE BASIC LEVEL (LEVEL A1 AND A2)

This paper focuses on the question of the extent to which phraseological units, in both a narrow and a broader sense, are already present at a beginner level in textbooks of German as a foreign language. Since phrasemes are complex lexical units, foreign language learners are usually expected to encounter them regularly only at advanced levels (B1 and above) and then make them a passive or active part of their vocabulary. In view of this, teaching phrasemes at A1 or A2 level is a special challenge for textbook authors and thus requires a precise, well thought-out conception. Using the example of the basic level textbook Schritte International Neu (volumes 1-4, level A1/A2), this study examines how successfully German phraseolexemes are introduced and didacticized for adolescent and adult learners. The focus is on the following questions: What kinds of phrasemes mainly occur? How they are specifically introduced to the learner in the textbook? What types of exercises are used to promote a certain phraseological competence already at this stage of learning?