English Teacher Education - ETE

Born and raised in Bremen, I then studied to be a teacher of English and French in Göttingen, spending some time abroad in Canada, Turkey, and France. My PhD dealt with the question of how to reflect on gender with literary texts in foreign language teaching. I completed my teacher training and then worked as a teacher for English and French at two comprehensive schools in and around Göttingen before returning to the university there as a lecturer and postdoctoral researcher. Since December 2019 I have been professor for Teaching Anglophone Literature and Cultures here at the University of Bielefeld and member of the English Teacher Education team. Research interests: Teaching literature and culture, more specifically: teaching about gender and other cultural categories of difference with literary texts, language learning beyond the classroom (online and offline), mediation, drama education and critical cultural learning.  Recently I've been working on:  Editing a journal issue on Global Englishes (https://www.friedrich-verlag.de/shop/global-englishes-526183), organizing a conference on cultural learning (unterricht_kultur_theorie II. Kulturelles Lernen interdisziplinär weiterdenken: Fremdsprachenforschung, Kulturwissenschaften, Erziehungswissenschaften, 21.-23-.2.24 in Bielefeld) , starting a collaboration with the Laborschule Bielefeld on their student exchange with the Czech Republic and much more.  

Cool facts about me: Plurilingual commuting mom of two.

I was born in one of Europe's historically most ethnically and religiously diverse countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina. When I was four years old my family and I came to Germany as refugees. Since then Bielefeld (or as I, among many others, call it fondly 'Liebefeld') has been home. 
After going through all stages of the German education system in Bielefeld I pursued a Bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at the University of Paderborn, however, transferred to the University of Göttingen for my final Bachelor's year--saying goodbye to Bielefeld for who knew how long!
It was in Göttingen then that I learned about Gender Studies and took various classes (it sounds a little cheesy, but it enlightened me and made me see the world quite differently), so I completed two Master's degrees at the same time (props to me, I guess). 
In a way, I was always drawn to academia but at the same time to school, as well. After my studies in Göttingen, I had lived for four years in Hannover, working different academia and school related jobs, including my teacher training program in Stadthagen.
I returned to Bielefeld for a teaching position at the Sekundarschule Königsbrügge. Now I am beyond excited to see what the next few years as a 'Lehrkraft im Hochschuldienst' have in store for me. My PhD project originated from my teaching experience in hyperdiverse classrooms and the lack of intersectional representation in teaching material: It deals with the implementation of intersectional teaching content and how it shapes students' skills on various levels.

Cool fact about me: I am a passionate traveler and have been to more than one third of the world's countries (70 and counting). By 2030 I wish to have visited 100 countries (fingers crossed).

I was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, where I also completed my teacher education. I did an Erasmus semester in Bielefeld and then came back to finish my MA in British and American Studies. I did my PhD at the University of Cologne (supervised by professors J.A. Panagiotopoulou /G. Balzer), looking into teachers’ perspectives of critical literacies internationally. Visiting schools in Canada, Scotland and Finland and talking to teachers about their ideas of the Critical, changed the way I see myself in and out of the classroom. In my postdoc now, my priority is understanding how to best listen to students and center their perspectives in and out of the classroom. 
My main interests in research and teaching lie in  the field of critical literacies. More specifically, I am interested in approaching social justice issues (racism, sexism, climate etc.) with a variety of analog and digital materials (Instagram you say? Definitely!). In doing so, my main concern is the development of a safe, comfortable and fun environment for all students to thrive!
In my courses, we will engage with a lot of deconstructive and reconstructive methods to help future students (and ourselves) become engaged, democratic citizens.

I grew up in a village close to Gießen (Hesse), where I studied to be a teacher of English and Spanish. I completed my teacher training in Stadthagen (Lower Saxony) and taught my subjects at a comprehensive school. After my studies, I developed a PhD project in which I investigated how speaking competencies are fostered in German secondary school English classrooms. Additionally, I worked as a lecturer at the universities of Gießen and Hildesheim with a special emphasis on preparing students for and supervising them during their practical phases. Since 2022, I have been part of the ETE team at Bielefeld University, where I teach language practice classes, ELT, as well as linguistics and literary studies classes geared towards aspiring primary school teachers of English.

Hi there. I am Janine Perlik and I once was a primary school teacher, but at the moment I am able to spread my knowledge and experiences among you as I am part-time delegated to university. The rest of my time I am spending with my family, especially my children. My way up to this point did not take me very far, as I was born and raised in Detmold. I studied here at Bielefeld University to become a Primary School teacher for English (amongst tons of other subjects we have to cover in primary school). Someday I was through with everything and since 2016 I was part of a wonderful teaching staff at a primary school in Herford. And right in the middle of my second parental leave, I had the opportunity to join another brilliant team - the ETE team (again) at Bielefeld University (which I already knew a bit due to several Lehraufträge since 2018. 

I was born in Bad Oeynhausen, a small town near Bielefeld, and I have been living here my whole life. From age 12 on, when I first started tutoring younger students, people have been telling me that I would be a teacher one day. After trying to fight it for a couple of years, I finally accepted my fate and studied English and Biology at Bielefeld University to become a teacher (Gym/Ge). During my work at school, it quickly became clear that I made the right choice. However, I had always played with the idea to one day do my PhD and come back to teach at uni. Thanks to Lotta and Peter that day came quicker than expected. I have been working at Bielefeld University as LfbA since November 2024 and have been teaching classes surrounding the practical term. During my studies I have always been interested in social issues, more specifically the relationship of diversity and equity, so now I am working on my dissertation about Social Justice Education.

Fun fact: I am also a licensed horse-riding instructor, which came in handy during my time abroad in Canada. I love spending time with horses, and I also hope to become a dog mom soon. Actually, while we’re at it, I would like to have a whole farm with all kinds of animals - donkeys, lamas, highland cows, ducks, chickens… I want them all :).

Originally, I'm from Leipzig / the countryside of Saxony. I studied to be a teacher of English and German at the University of Halle-Wittenberg, spending a semester abroad at Newcastle (UK). After my studies, I taught my subjects at a comprehensive school with an inclusive profile at Halle (Saale) and acted as the form teacher for a year 8 class. I started my university career in media linguistics with a PhD thesis on the history of personal blogging, and moved to English language teaching (digital literacies!) from there. I taught English linguistics and German didactics at various universities before settling for English Language Teaching at Bielefeld University in 2016.
Research interests: classroom interaction in the context of cooperative learning, social media algorithms as well as conspiracy theories online, the role of Global Englishes in English Language Teaching.
I'm part of the coordinating team of the Netzwerk Inklusiver Englischunterricht (link) and I co-chair the panel “Mediendidaktik & Medienkompetenz” of the German Applied Linguistics Association (GAL) (link).
Recently I’ve been working on editing a conference volume on “Canons for 21st-century Teaching” (link) and a journal issue on Global Englishes Language Teaching (link). I'm trying to wrap-up my post- doc project, using tremendous amounts of coffee along the way ;-)
Cool facts about me: Dad of four Hobbits with a slight tendency to nerdiness when it comes to languages, Harry Potter, and dystopian novels. Commuting by bike because hope dies last.

I am actually from Bielefeld (believe it or not) and grew up in Brackwede. I studied interior design for a while (actually wanted to do game design), but then realized that I wanted to keep my passion for art/drawing/design as a hobby only. This is why I went for the second option I had always kept in mind and studied English and Biology to become a teacher at Bielefeld University.

To my surprise I got a job here at the ELT department in 2016 when I decided to pursue a PhD. My research investigated teacher, student, and curricular concepts of English and is linked to the Global Englishes paradigm. I completed my PhD in 2022 and now I have a permanent position, so I am here to stay and will most likely do so until I retire! :D

My research interests include:

· Global Englishes in ELT
· Language ontologies, ideologies, and attitudes · Digitalität and ELT, as well as inclusion and ELT ·Video games in ELT

Recently I have been working on a portfolio project in close collaboration with Ms. Manon Greenyer-Schüler from the Diesterwegschule and some of our team members (looks over to Pat). I am also very eager to focus on my next big research interest: using video games in and for ELT. I am in touch with the Bielefelder Netzwerk Gaming and we are currently trying to figure out how we could work together.

Facts about me: I have been a manga and anime fan for some 25 years now and I finally have the money to buy all the things I want. :D
I enjoy playing JRPGS (I am just gonna call them that here) and spraying (legally only of course) whenever I have the time to do so.

Hey there! I am currently working as a Studentische Hilfskraft here. Originally from Bielefeld, my love for the city has made me struck gold regarding university! I am currently studying to become an English and Sports teacher for Gymnasien and Gesamtschulen. While I come from a family of teachers, I never planned on continuing the path. I learned English, pretty much,  accidentally through reading when I was younger. In school I then started enjoyed English classes thoroughly. Studying education for me was, in the beginning a gamble, but through my work here, I have learned to love and appreciate it dearly.  Especially all the lovely Professors, Tutors and Docents i have met give me faith in the future of education.  I  volunteered as an English Tutor for half a year and had a volunteer job as a Coach in my old gym!

Fun Fact: I do harbor a great love for Scotland and one of my favorite songs ever is "A Scottish Soldier" by Andy Stewart. 

Hey, I’m Dorota and I’m working as a WHK for Anne and Caro. I was born in Poznań (Poland) and moved to Germany with my parents as a young child. After that we settled in a small city in eastern Thuringia (close to Leipzig), where I spent most of my life before moving to Bielefeld for my studies. I am currently pursuing my first master’s degree, since I am studying to become a primary school teacher with integrated special education, and would like to do the second master’s degree in special education afterwards.

Generally I am really interested in (the impact of) language ideologies and linguicism as well as including different languages into one’s teaching and the effects of such inclusion on the students’ learning.

Fun fact about me:
I really enjoy playing electric guitar and singing.