Cultural and linguistic diversity in language teaching and learning

Description

My research in this area focusses on the representation of cultural and linguistic diversity in language teaching and learning. I am interested in teacher and learner attitudes towards variation (including dialects, colloquial language/slang, forms of online communication) as well as the potential of variation to create an authentic and motivating language learning experience. In September 2023, Judith Eberharter and I organised a symposium on cultural and linguistic diversity in German language teaching, and we co-edited a special issue of the German as a Foreign Language Journal on the same topic in 2025. I also work on gender and LGBTQ+-inclusive approaches to language teaching and learning, and was a member of the International Research Networking Project “Language and Gender: Academic Research and Practical Implementation” (2023-2024).

Publications and outputs

Conference on “Cultural and linguistic diversity in German language teaching”: https://celt.leeds.ac.uk/events/the-german-network-meeting-cultural-and-linguistic-diversity-in-german-language-teaching/

Workshop “Gender-inclusive language in language teaching: opportunities for the classroom”: https://celt.leeds.ac.uk/events/workshop-gender-inclusive-language-in-language-teaching-opportunities-for-the-classroom/

Special issue of the German as a Foreign Language Journal on “Cultural and linguistic diversity in German language teaching and learning”  (co-edited with Judith Eberharter”: http://gfl-journal.de/current-issue/?=2025-issue-1

Journal article/policy paper “Linguistic variation in language learning classrooms: considering the role of regional variation and ‘non-standard’ varieties” in Languages, Society and Policy: https://www.lspjournal.com/post/linguistic-variation-in-language-learning-classrooms  and https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.62274 

Workshop report: Gender-inclusive language and what it means for the Modern Foreign Languages classroom: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/186965/

Journal article ““Ich bin dann mal Deutsch lernen!”: Der Absentiv im DaF-Unterricht” in German as a Foreign Language: http://gfl-journal.de/article/ich-bin-dann-mal-deutsch-lernen/

Radio interview on Money FM 89.3, “The Hot Seat: Should Gen-Z slang be included in the dictionary?”: https://omny.fm/shows/moneyfm-evening-show/the-hot-seat-should-gen-z-slang-be-included-in-the-dictionary

Article in The Conversation “Learning German has many benefits for young people – and it’s not as hard as its reputation suggests”: https://theconversation.com/learning-german-has-many-benefits-for-young-people-and-its-not-as-hard-as-its-reputation-suggests-253263

Research discussed in Swedish article “Låt slangen ta plats i plugget!” in Språktidningen: https://spraktidningen.se/sprakbloggen/lat-slangen-ta-plats-i-plugget/

Research cited in National Geographic article “Dude! Your kid’s slang isn’t as bad as you think”: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/article/dude-your-kids-slang-isnt-as-bad-as-you-think