Learning German can be very hard, especially if it isn't your native language. In order to make German grammar more accessible, Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich uses a new visual system as learning support.
The appearance of text and signs make important aspects of the German language visible, so it becomes easier for you to notice, understand and remember them.
This visual system is used throughout the book in order to present grammar features in a consistent way. This allows for a continuous learning process and makes it easier for you to recognize the content you have learned.
regelmäßiges
Verb
unregelmäßiges
Verb
The grammar topics are organized into four chapters: parts of speech, declension, comparison and conjugation. Each topic is then introduced with a concise explanation and several examples, enabling the book to be used as a learning aid or reference guide.
In March, Barbara Vissirini had the pleasure to join Valentina D'Efilippo and Dario Rodighiero on a talk about Visualizing Knowledge on Episode 23 of “On Data and Design”, organized by Darjan Hill. Barbara talked about the process behind her design research and the development of the visual system used in Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich.
Video: Making German grammar visible >
Video: Visualizing Knowledge >
To help you practice and remember German declension, we developed two further products: a table with an overview of all declined articles, adjectives and pronouns, and also a set of stickers with the four cases (Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ und Genitiv) that help you take notes of all endings. We know it can be intimidating at first, but once you learn the patterns, it gets much easier!
Declension table >
Declension stickers >
Together with other nominees and winners of the DESIGNPREIS BRANDENBURG 2021, Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich will be displayed at the Berlin Design Week 2022. The exhibition will take place from May 12th to 18th at LIVING BERLIN.
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The new edition of Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich was published in May and printed copies are available to order. Julia Kühne, teacher of German as a foreign language, revised the new edition and contributed with many didactic tips.
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Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich received the Winner distinction of the German Design Award 2022 in the category
Excellent Communications Design.
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Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich won the Designpreis Brandenburg 2021 in the category Young Professionals.
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Video (German only) >
The first edition of Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich with 500 copies was produced in cooperation with the International Office from the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. Funded by the DAAD with funds from the Federal Foreign Office, this first edition will be distributed to the international students from the University.
Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich was published in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.
Barbara Avila Vissirini presented A Visual System for Grammar Instruction in Foreign Language Learning
at the European Conference on Language Learning 2020.
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In collaboration with the UCLAB research group, Barbara developed a visual system for the German
language that makes morphological and grammatical features, which are important for non native
speakers, visible.
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Winner in the category Excellent Communications Design
Winner in the category Young Professionals
During her Master studies Barbara Avila Vissirini dedicated her research to the visual representations of grammar in foreign language learning and asked herself how a consistent design of visual support could help the learning process. As part of her research, she examined in more detail how visual variables are used as input enhancement by current textbooks for German as a Foreign Language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache, DaF).
Based on an analysis of the available visual variables and the most important grammatical features of the German language for non native speakers, Barbara developed a visual support system for grammar instruction. She completed her master's thesis in 2019 and her work Visuals for Language received the design department award for the best master's thesis. Franziska Morlok, Professor for Editorial Design, and Marian Dörk, Professor for Information visualization, supervised the work.
After graduating Barbara became Research Associate in the UCLAB research group at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and has further developed the visual system. In cooperation with the International Office of the University she wrote Dieses kleine Buch ist für dich.
Prof. Dr. Marian Dörk
Professor for Information Visualization
Prof. Franziska Morlok
Professor for Editorial Design
Karin Schmidt
Head of the International Office and DaF Expert
Cooperation
