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Areas of expertise
Biography
Current position: Professor in Language Teaching and Learning, School of Languages and Translation Studies. Head of the Departments for German, Italian and Spanish.
Previous professional experience:
Deputy Vice Dean (study and international affairs) of the Faculty of Humanities, January 2022–June 2022
Associate Professor in Language Teaching and Learning, School of Languages and Translation Studies, August 2019–March 2022
University Lecturer in German, School of Languages and Translation Studies (SLT), Faculty of Humanities, University of Turku, August 2018–July 2019
University lecturer in German, Language Centre, University of Turku, August 2004 to July 2018 (on leave of absence August 2013 to July 2016, part time January 2018 to July 2018)
Pedagogical university lecturer (part time), Language Centre, University of Turku, January 2018 to July 2018
University lecturer in foreign language education, Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku, August 2013 to July 2016
Title of Docent in Foreign Language Education, Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku, December 2011
2021-2024, I was a member of the executive committee (utuCYL) of the strategic research and education profile of 'Children, young people and learning' (https://www.utu.fi/en/research/thematic-collaborations-in-research/children-young-people-and-learning).
Teaching
Teaching German for BA/MA-students, research in the field of teaching and learning German as a foreign language. Supervisor of doctoral students in the doctoral programme Utuling in SLTS.
Research
My main research fields are teaching and learning foreign languages, cultural aspects in foreign language teaching and learning, intercultural learning and research on textbooks and other teaching materials. In recent years, the scope of my research has been extended through research on various aspects of pre-service language teacher cognition. I am responsible leader for the following research projects: ‘Ethical and sustainable language teaching’ (EKKO, 2021–2025, Kone Foundation), 'From Forest Words into Forest Action' (SeedLING, 2024-2028, Kone Foundation) and 'Implementation of sustainable development goals in language teaching and learning' (SustainLANG, 2024–2028, Research Council of Finland). Further, the collaboration in the RoboLang-research group (PI Marjut Johansson, ks. https://sites.utu.fi/robolang/) has led me to the research of robot-assisted language learning.
Moreover, I am a member of the steering group of the Centre for Language Learning Research Leala (SLTS), University of Turku (see https://sites.utu.fi/kielen-oppimisen-tutkimuskeskus/en/).
Further, I am a member of the editorial committee of the journal Informationen Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Info DaF).