Lektionen

Lektionen is the plural form of the German noun Lektion, meaning a unit of instruction, a lesson, or a discrete section of a course. The term derives from Latin lectio through the French leçon, reflecting its long association with reading aloud and instruction. In German educational contexts, Lektionen are typically the building blocks of a coursebook or syllabus. They are usually organized sequentially and carry a title, learning objectives, reading or dialogue material, grammar explanations, and exercises. In language learning, for example, a Lehrbuch may present Lektionen such as Lektion 1: Introducing oneself, with dialogues and practice activities. The term is often used synonymously with "Unterrichtseinheit" or "Lerneinheit," though in everyday classroom speech, "Unterrichtsstunde" or "Stunde" denotes a class period rather than a content unit.

Beyond instructional material, Lektionen can denote moral or practical lessons learned from experience — "aus den Lektionen der Geschichte" — and the plural Lektionen may be used in religious, historical, or social discourse.

In other languages, cognates appear with similar meanings: French leçon, English lesson, Swedish lektion. In German-language publishing, Lektionen are a standard organizational element in textbooks and digital learning platforms.