ENCOURAGING THE USE OF LANGUAGE LEARNING TOOLS WHEN TEACHING SLOVENE AS A SECOND/FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Each year, more students, who do not speak Slovene as a first language, are enrolling in schools in Slovenia. Some encounter Slovene for the first time, others already know the basics and are looking to build upon their knowledge. Knowledge starting points are determined with standardized testing. Educators then base courses on the results of these tests. After successfully completing the language course, students achieve the A2 language proficiency level, which is not yet sufficient for successful class participation, so additional work is recommended. In the submission I explain, how we can make traditional lessons more engaging. We can achieve this by including language learning tools such as dictionaries, lexicons, audio databases etc. The use of these tools in the classroom, I believe, should be mandatory, as digitalization is irrevocably changing the nature of our work. In the time of e-learning, every teacher had to adapt to the use of online tools. The opportunities for additional education were many, and veritable learning communities formed. One of these opportunities is the project Inovativna pedagogika 1:1. By including foreign language students in regular classes everybody stands to gain something. It is an opportunity to encounter different cultures, build a culture of dialogue and break taboos. Many have learned that similar problems can have many causes, and that every individual needs opportunities for education and development. Keywords: innovative education, foreign language, Slovene as a second/foreign language, language learning tools