Dr. Katharina von Elbwart
About me
My research interests are located at the intersection of linguistic diversity, education, and language pedagogy. I have been focusing on Global Englishes and linguistic variation, particularly American English, as well as their perception and evaluation in the context of language attitudes, multilingualism, and Language Teacher Identity (LTI). Methodologically, my research draws on mixed-methods approaches, combining qualitative and quantitative data with empirical investigations of language use, perceptions, and attitudes. A particular focus of mine concerns how these perspectives can be incorporated into the paradigm of Global Englishes Language Teaching (GELT) and made relevant to (foreign) language education.
Since November 2020 I have been Akademische Rätin, a tenured assistant professorship, for Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Foreign Language at the Department of English and American Studies, Paderborn University. I studied in Duisburg-Essen and at Florida Atlantic University, received my PhD in linguistics in 2019 and am a fully certified teacher for English and German at vocational schools.

Curriculum vitae
Degrees
Oct 2020
Fully certified teacher for English and German (Second State Examination for teaching at vocational schools), ZfsL Gelsenkirchen
- Final grade 1.0
- Top graduate of the 2020 cohort
Sep 2019
PhD in Linguistics, University of Duisburg-Essen
- Advisor: Raymond Hickey
- Committee: Bernd Rüschoff, Alf Monjour
- Thesis: “¿Qué pasa, Florida? Mapping language ideologies and perceptions of linguistic variation in the Sunshine State” (magna cum laude)
Aug 2014
Master of Arts in Linguistics, Florida Atlantic University, USA
- Advisor: Prisca Augustyn
- Committee: Géraldine Blattner, Martha Mendoza
- Thesis: “Language Choice in Children’s Animated TV Shows” (GPA 3.8/4.0)
Jun 2013
Master of Education (First State Examination for teaching at vocational schools: English, German and Economics), University of Duisburg-Essen
- Final grade 1.1, graduated with honors
- Advisors: Raymond Hickey and Josef Raab
- Thesis: “Code-Switching and the Construction of Linguistic Identity”
Positions
since 2020
Akademische Rätin / assistant professor (tenured), Applied Linguistics/Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Department of English and American Studies, Paderborn University
- 10/2023 to 06/2024: maternity leave followed by parental leave
- 06/2022 to 03/2023: maternity leave followed by parental leave
2019–2020
Teacher trainee for English and German at vocational schools (Vorbereitungsdienst for the Second State Examination), Hans-Böckler-Berufskolleg, Marl
2018
Visiting scholar in linguistics, English Department, Fort Hays State University, KS, USA
2014–2019
Research assistant and PhD candidate, General Linguistics and Varieties of English, Department of Anglophone Studies, University of Duisburg-Essen
2015–2021
Various adjunct teaching appointments at the University of Duisburg-Essen, the University of Koblenz-Landau and Fort Hays State University, Kansas
Awards and fellowships
2023
Teaching project “Teaching Language Internationally” recognized by the German Rectors’ Conference as a best-practice example of multilingualism in degree programs (HRK Advance project)
2020
Top graduate of the Second State Examination cohort (Jahrgangsbeste), ZfsL Gelsenkirchen
2018
Research and Teaching Fellow, English Department, Fort Hays State University, KS
2017
Student Travel Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
2016
Teaching Innovation Award, University of Duisburg-Essen
2014
Award for Outstanding Achievement in the First State Examination 2013, University of Duisburg-Essen
2013
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Florida Atlantic University, FL, $13,988.85
2010
Scholarship, Association of German-American Clubs (VDAC), $30,744.00
Certificates
2016
Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, University of Duisburg-Essen
2015
Authorization to teach integration and literacy courses, German as a Second/Foreign Language (DaZ/DaF), Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
2011
Teaching English as a Second Language Studies (ESL & TESOL Certificate), Florida Atlantic University, USA