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Katharina von Elbwart

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.

Portrait of Katharina von Elbwart
Dr. Katharina von Elbwart, Akademische Rätin, Applied Linguistics and TEFL

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