Global Simulation: A Student‐Centered, Task‐Based Format for Intermediate Foreign Language Courses

This paper describes a student‐centered, task‐based alternative to published, mainstream curricula for intermediate university‐level (second‐year) foreign language courses: global simulation. The course format requires students to collaboratively complete a long‐term task organized around a single premise or scenario. In the process, they learn about particular aspects of the target culture and language, similarly to a traditional content course. Yet the objective is to make use of the content knowledge in functioning within and completing the simulation. Three example German courses are presented, followed by specific guidelines for designing a global simulation course.