Prof. Dr. Claudia Riemer

Born 1965 in Aalen (Ostalbkreis, Baden-Württemberg)
Married since 1993

Appointments

• Since summer semester 2002: Professor of German as a Second Language at Bielefeld University
• 2019-2020: Visiting professor for German as a foreign language at Zhejiang International Studies University (ZISU) in Hangzhou/China
• 2011: Declined the offer of a professorship for German as a foreign language at the University of Vienna
• Since 2004: Short-term lectureships and guest lectureships at the universities of Thessaloniki/Greece, Riga/Latvia, Antananarivo/Madagascar, Ulaan Baatar/Mongolia, Vienna/Austria, Poznan/Poland, Tehran/Iran, Yaoundé/Cameroon, Shanghai/China, Hangzhou/China
• 2008: Lectureship at the University of Vienna
• 1996-2002: Research assistant (C1) in language teaching research at the Institute for General and Comparative Linguistics at the University of Hamburg
• 1998-1999: Lecturer at the Universities of Flensburg and Leipzig
• 1991-1995: Research assistant (with degree) at Bielefeld University, LiLi Faculty/German as a foreign language

Academic education

• 2002/01 Post-doctoral habilitation in language teaching research at the University of Hamburg
• 1996/02 Dr phil., German as a foreign language at Bielefeld University (summa cum laude)
• 1991/05 M.A. German as a Foreign Language, German Studies, Sociology at Bielefeld University (very good)

Scientific project management

• 2013-2023: German Studies partnership with the University of Yaoundé/Cameroon (third-party funded, DAAD)
• 2019-2023: "Language-sensitive subject teaching at secondary level - developing language-sensitive diagnostic and support skills in practice" (sub-measure in the sub-project "Inclusion-sensitive teacher training: from diagnostics to support and didactics" in the Bielefeld research programme BiProfessional, quality offensive teacher training) (third-party funded, BMBF) https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/einrichtungen/biprofessional/teilprojekte-(tp)/tp-4-inklusionssensible-l/tm_18.xml/
• 2016-2019; 2022: Dhoch3; development of the modules "Lehren und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning]" (third-party funded, DAAD) https://www.daad.de/de/der-daad/was-wir-tun/die-deutsche-sprache-foerdern/das-projekt-dhoch3/
• 2016-2019: "Diagnostic and support competence for language-sensitive subject teaching at secondary level" (sub-project in the cluster "Inclusion-sensitive diagnosis, support and didactics" in the Bielefeld research programme BiProfessional, quality offensive teacher training) (third-party funded, BMBF)
• 2008-2013: German Studies Institute partnership with the University of Antananarivo/Madagascar (externally funded, DAAD)
• 2006-2011: Accompanying research on pre-school language support for foreign migrant children at Bielefeld kindergartens and day-care centres (third-party funded, City of Bielefeld)
• 2002-2008: PunktUm: Counselling and training for international students at Bielefeld University (third-party and state-funded)
• Since 2002: FörBi: remedial teaching for pupils who do not speak German at Bielefeld University (third-party funded; foundations, City of Bielefeld)

Other functions

• Since 2013: Member of the management team of the "Spring Conference on Research into Foreign Language Teaching"
• Since 2020: Book series "Grundwissen DaF/DaZ", Schöningh / UTB.
• Since 2014: Scientific advisory board of the "Zeitschrift für Fremdsprachenforschung" (editorial board member 2001-2014, editorial management 2004-2008)
• Since 2002: Scientific advisory board member of the journal "Fremdsprachen Lehren und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning]"
• Since 2002: Book series "Perspektiven Deutsch als Fremdsprache" (together with Uwe Koreik and Udo Ohm, Schneider-Verlag Hohengehren.

Activities in the academic self-administration of Bielefeld University

• Since 2020/10: Spokesperson for the subject German as a Foreign and Second Language
• Since 2020/12: Member of the Faculty Conference of Linguistics and Literary Studies
• 2020/10-2023/1: Spokesperson for the Department of German as a Foreign and Second Language / Multilingualism
• 2009/12-2019/11: Vice rector for studies and teaching at the university, member of the rectorate
• 2010-2012: Planning and Development Officer of the Bielefeld School of Education
• 2007-2008: Member of the Development Commission [Language Centre]
• 2003-2008: Member of the University Commission for Studies and Teaching
• 2003-2010: Member of the Faculty Conference of Linguistics and Literary Studies
• 2005-2009: Deputy Chairwoman of the Faculty Commission for Research and Young Researchers
• 2002-2022: Member of the German Language Certificate Committee
• 2002-2009: Spokesperson for the subject German as a Foreign and Second Language

Memberships and participation in scientific associations and institutes / policy advice

• Since 2020: BAMF, Federal Ministry of the Interior, member of the evaluation commission for the integration course system
• 2011-2016: Federal Office of Administration/Central Agency for Schools Abroad, member of the Scientific Advisory Board
• 2008-2014: Goethe-Institut, member of the Language Advisory Board (2008-2014), Deputy Chair of the Language Advisory Board (2009-2011), Chair of the Language Advisory Board (2012-2014)
• 2006-2007: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), nationwide integration programme, member of the working groups "Language promotion in kindergarten/daycare/preschool and school" and "University in the immigration society - language education and integration"
• German Society for Foreign Language Research (DGFF), member of the board 2004-2008
• Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (fadaf), member of the scientific advisory board and the BAMA advisory board (2005-2013), member of the board (since 2023)
• Association for the promotion of pupils whose mother tongue is not German, First Chairwoman
• Westfälisch-Lippische Universitätsgesellschaft [University Society], Member
• Visib. Association for the Promotion of International Students in Bielefeld e.V., Member

Supervised doctorates (completed, only main supervision)

• Burbat, Ruth (2016): Discovering language comprehension with authentic texts: How does the beginner experience and judge so much autonomy? University of Granada, Spain.
• Boyanova Marinova, Gergana (2007): Learner attitudes towards the benefits of play in foreign language learning. An explorative empirical study. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• David, Monika (2019): Fossilised structures of the interlanguage of GFL learners. A longitudinal study on the defossilisation of syntactic and verbal morphological structures in integration course participants. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Demirkaya, Sevilen (2017): Preschool language support for children with a migration background. A qualitative longitudinal study from a socio-ecological perspective. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Feldmeier, Alexis (2010): Literacy of adults who are not native speakers of German. Reading processes and application of strategies when reading isolated words with special consideration of the colour and typographic marking of letter groups. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Grünewald, Matthias (2004): "Images of Germany and Germans held by Japanese students of German - a longitudinal study at a selected Japanese university". (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Gültekin-Karakoç, Nazan (2015): "Preschool second language acquisition under consideration of influencing factors: Results of a two-year quantitative longitudinal study". (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Harting, Axel (2010): "Requests in emails from Japanese learners of German. Difficulties in the acquisition of target language text norms, taking into account the influence of native German and Japanese text patterns." (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Hinrichs, Beatrix (2010): "Es wurden schon mehrere Säue durchs Dorf getrieben" - Reflexionen zur Wirkung von Lehrerfortbildungen am Beispiel des Themas Schreibvermittlung in multinationalen Regelklassen. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Introna, Silvia (2021): "The acquisition of foreign language academic reading skills. An Educational Design Research Study on Reading Competence in the L2 German of International Students in the Humanities and Social Sciences. ". (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Kenne, Augustin (2014): "Language acquisition and language teaching. An investigation into the teaching and learning processes of tertiary languages in Cameroon using the example of German with special consideration of the effects of previously learnt languages". Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
• Maleki, Mostafa (2017): "On the motivation of DaF learners in Iran. An operationalisation of the "L2 Motivational Self System" theory. Empirical study on the relationship between language learning success and motivation of Iranian GFL learners from the perspective of L2 self-concepts". University of Tehran, Iran.
• Mejia Casas, Alfonso (2014): When and how learner roles are negotiated. A study on the conditions, strategies and consequences of promoting learner autonomy in foreign language teaching in Colombia. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Rabevala, Haingo (2018): "Pronunciation error diagnosis from a perceptual perspective and didactic suggestions. Sequential studies in GFL lessons in the Malagasy context". (doctoral) thesis in German Studies, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar.
• Rahamaliarison, Oliva (2009): "Motivation of German learners in Madagascar. General profile". (doctoral) thesis in German Studies, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar.
• Richter, Julia (2007): Phonetic reduction in German as an L2. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Rizopoulou, Aikaterini (2017): Focus-on-form and noticing in DaF lessons. A pilot study. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.
• Tsamo Fomano, Williams (2016): "Interaction in the Cameroonian German classroom: coping with learning difficulties". Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon
• Toumi Njeugue, Bertrand (2021): "The teacher plays a central role": on teachers' perceptions of their own role in school-based GFL lessons in Cameroon. A qualitative practice-based case study. (doctoral) thesis in German as a foreign language, Bielefeld University.

Lectures

• 2025, Goethe-Institut Sweden in Stockholm, 19 September 2025, German Teachers' Day Stockholm 2025; Keynote: "Motivation for DaF - how motives, perseverance and commitment (could) interact".
• 2025, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Delhi and Indian German Teachers' Association InDaF, German Teachers' Conference North India & Nepal on the topic "Back to Basics", 29-31 August 2025; Keynote: "Didactic-methodological principles for GFL teaching and their foundation in foreign language research".
• 2025, workshops with lectures at Indian Goethe-Instituts: GI Delhi on "Motivating for activity-based teaching"; GI Chennai on "Fostering motivation and perseverance in GFL teaching"; GI Bangalore on ""Teaching GFL with principles (focus on teaching principles, esp. interaction orientation, learner orientation, need orientation)."
• 2025, 18th International Conference of German Teachers (IDT 2025), 28.07-01.08.2025 in Lübeck on the topic of "Daring diversity - with German", Section B.5.I Motivation for learning German in the area of conflict between individual goals and social developments; keynote speech.

social developments; keynote speech at the end of the section: "Long-term motivation and perseverance for DaF/DaZ - a neglected perspective?"

• 2025, XV IVG Congress 2025, 20.07.2025-27.07.2025, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Graz, XV Congress of the International Association for German Studies on "Language and Literature in Times of Crisis - Challenges, Tasks and Opportunities of International German Studies", Section 51: German Studies and German as a Foreign Language Worldwide: Training Concepts and Practical Orientation in Post-Digital Contexts; Keynote (together with Paulo Soethe): "Developments in international German teacher training and the contribution of the Dhoch3 programme".
• 2025, symposium of the Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache at the University of Paderborn on 23 May 2025 on the topic "More language(s) - more perspectives", participation in the panel discussion "More language(s) - more perspectives - with fewer resources?" Specialist political discussion format with representatives from practice, education policy, education administration and intermediary organisations.
• 2025, DaFWEBKON 2025 (22-24.1.2025), web conference, 15th episode of "ZusammengeDACHt - Facherbände im Dialog" on the topic of "Promoting individual learning in language teaching", impulse interview: "Dealing with individual differences" (with Anja Häusler); recording at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFRfOG2ovcY&list=PLTfRJK2RI4HwzxDyp3LZM45MdKYjq_gJ0&index=33.
• 2024, 50th Annual Conference on German as a Foreign and Second Language (9-12 October 2024), organised by the German as a Foreign and Second Language Association at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen on the topic "Zukunftskompetenz Deutsch", panel discussion: "Das Fach DaF/DaZ - Bilanz und Aufgaben der Zukunft", with Iris Beckmann-Schulz, Olaf Bärenfänger, Simone Heine.
• 2024, IDV Continental Conference Latin America 2024 of the International Association of German Teachers on 22.6.2024 on the topic "(Further) education, mobility, inclusion" (online), keynote: "Lehren und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning] macht mobil?"
• 2024, Society for German Studies Osaka Kyoto and Goethe-Institut Osaka Kyoto, Japan. Lecture at the Goethe-Institut Osaka on 21 March 2024: "Wendezeit(en) in der Fremdsprachenforschung und ihre Bedeutung für DaF"
• 2024, Chuo University, Institute of German Studies, Japan on 19 March 2024; Lecture: "Fremdsprachenlehren und -lernen erforschen: Empirical foreign language research and research methodology for German as a foreign language"
• 2024, Goethe-Institut Tokyo, Japan; Lecture: "Giftedness and/or motivation? On the explanatory power of selected factors for successful foreign language learning"
• 2024, 28th DaF Seminar of the Japanese Society for German Studies on the topic "On the role of the textbook in DaF lessons - reflections on learning-theoretical and methodological-didactic principles and their implementation with and without a textbook" from 11-13 March 2024, Tokyo, Japan. Lecture 1: "On the role of textbooks in GFL lessons - functions and side effects"; Lecture 2: "Didactic-methodological principles and teaching materials for GFL lessons at university"; Lecture 3: "Impulses for the adaptation of teaching materials"
• 2023, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), symposium on 8 December 2023 at Friedrich Schiller University Jena on the topic of "DaF/DaZ teachers with a first language other than German: challenges and potential", plenary lecture: "Impuls - DaF/DaZ teachers with a first language other than German: challenges and potential"
• 2023, Università di Trento, Italy; Dipartimento Lettere e Filosofia, 26-28 October 2023, on the topic "DaF heute zwischen Anwendung und Empirie. Tendencies and perspectives", plenary lecture: "Relevance and dimensions of research methodological training in GFL"
• 2023, Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon, 1.6.2023, Lecture: "Learning and teaching German in a globalised world: digitalisation - sustainability - German studies and German teacher training"
• 2023, University of Curitiba & University of Niteroi & Colégio Cruzeiro, Brazil, 9.2.2023; Lecture: "Motivation and motivation to learn German in a globalised world"
• 2022, Hybrid lecture series "Didaktik Deutsch als Fremdsprache: Beiträge aus Wissenschaft und Praxis", Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, 9.11.2022 (online); Lecture: "Motivation und Motivieren zum Deutschlernen in der globalisierten Welt"
• 2022, Prague Didactics Meeting of Czech Chairs of German Language and German Studies, 29 October 2022 (Goethe-Institut Prague); lecture: "Motivation for German as a foreign language: Perspectives for research - teaching - learning"
• 2022, XVII International Conference of German Teachers - IDT 2022, 15-20 August 2022 at the University of Vienna on the topic "mit.sprache.teil.haben"; lecture in section F5 "Language acquisition and its research": "Wendezeit(en) in der Fremdsprachenforschung"
• 2022, 17th Romance Languages Study Day at the FU Berlin (online) on 11 June 2022 on the topic of "Motivation for (further) learning of 2nd/3rd foreign languages"; opening lecture: "Motivation in foreign language teaching"
• 2022, DAAD symposia: German as a foreign language in the digital world. On current developments in teaching and research; 1 - 3 June 2022 (online); opening lecture (together with Paulo Soethe): "Dhoch3 and international cooperation in GFL/German studies and higher education: opportunities and challenges"; lecture (together with Sandra Ballweg): "University training of teaching staff in Europe. Subjective perspectives of trainers and local needs"
• 2022, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China: Closing event of the National Writing Competition for Bachelor students of German Studies, 28 May 2022; Lecture: "Development of sustainability in and through foreign language teaching (DaF)"
• 2022, D-A-CH-Seminar, 25-27 April 2022 at the PH Vienna on the topic "DaF-DaZ-DaM - professional and institutional ways to synergies in the educational language German in the context of multilingualism". Workshop "Teaching skills and teacher training - every lesson is language teaching"; lecture: "DaZ competences for language support and language-educating subject teaching: Where do we want to go and will we get there?"
• 2021, Bielefeld University, BiSEd colloquium "(Teacher) educational research made in Bielefeld" on 16 December 2021, presentation: "Developing sustainability in and through foreign language teaching (GFL)"
• 2021, "DaF-Sofa" - virtual, informative, interactive. Series of events for the further training of German teachers in China; organised by the DAAD Lektorat of Tongji University in Shanghai. Impulse and discussion on the topic "5 thoughts on motivation in German lessons", together with Yuan Li, Zhejiang University Hangzhou, China
• 2021, 29th Congress of the German Association for Foreign Language Research at the University of Duisburg/Essen (online), 22-24 September 2021, lecture and workshop at the conference for young researchers on the topic: "Professional future in foreign language research"
• 2021, XIV Congress of the International Association for German Studies (IVG) in Palermo, 26 July - 31 July 2021: "Wege der Germanistik in transkulturellen Perspektiven"; Section D5: "Motivation zum Deutschlernen - zum Stellenwert des Sprachenlernens für die internationale Germanistik". Opening lecture: "Language and regional specificity in L2 motivation research. Overview of the state of L2 motivation research"
• 2021, 48th Annual Conference of the German as a Foreign and Second Language Association (FaDaF) on 3-5 June 2021, digital-hybrid at the PH Freiburg in cooperation with the University of Kassel. Main topic "The GeR and Companion Volume". Plenary lecture: "GeR and GeR Companion Volume. A political interjection with a view to education, immigration and integration policy perspectives"
• 2021, MaMLiSE seminar: Multilingualism and Second Language Provision in Schools. Bielefeld University, 23-24 March 2021 (Erasmus+ project). Lecture: "Complementary Second Language Provision and Teacher Education: Good Practice from 20 Years of FörBi Project"
• 2021, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore and Indian German Teachers' Association InDaF, Virtual symposia for German teachers on the topic "DaF in Bewegung: Teaching Successfully in Real and Virtual Landscapes", 29-31 Jan 2021: Keynote 1: "Motivation for Learning German in the Globalised World", Keynote 2: "Presence - Distance - Analogue - Digital - Synchronous - Asynchronous: The Importance of Emotion, Interaction and Collaboration in Learning German"
• 2021, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai and Indian German Teachers' Association InDaF, virtual symposia for German teachers on the topic "DaF in Bewegung: aktuell - virtuell - interkulturell", 22-24 January 2021, keynote lecture: "Motivation zum Deutschlernen in der globalisierten Welt"
• 2020, Goethe-Institut China in cooperation with Zhejiang University, Virtual German Teachers' Days, 16-18 October 2020: Lecture with workshop: "Research in your own GFL lessons: opportunities and challenges of action research and educational design research"; panel discussion: "So, here, now and therefore - this is how GFL continues"
• 2020, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, lecture series "Inklusion und Heterogenität im Fremdsprachenunterricht" (9 June 2020 via video conference), lecture: "Inklusion und Integration - gehört das zusammen?"
• 2020, VHS Oelde-Ennigerloh (15 January 2020, lecture: "The role of emotions in language learning - what we can learn from foreign language research for language teaching"
• 2019, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China; German Studies Department at the Institute for Foreign Languages, Culture and International Exchange (13 December 2019), lecture: "Fremdsprachenlehren und -lernen erforschen: Empirical foreign language research in German as a foreign language; example of action research"
• 2019, Zhejiang International Studies University in Hangzhou, China; German Department at the Institute for European Languages and Culture (11.12.2019), lecture: "DaF-/DaZ-Studiengänge an der Bielefeld University und in Deutschland"
• 2019, Conference of the Educational Linguistics research group at Justus Liebig University Giessen on "The CEFR Companion Volume: New concepts, competences, scales" (8 November 2019), presentation: "The CEFR Companion Volume from the perspective of DaF and DaZ"
• 2019, 28th Congress of the German Association for Foreign Language Research on the topic "Languages, Cultures, Identities: Umbrüche durch Digitalisierung?" at the University of Würzburg (26-28.9.2019), section "Heterogeneity and Inclusion", presentation: "Inklusion und Integration - bildungspolitische Entwicklungen und (verpasste?) Chancen"
• 2019, advanced training for young German teachers at Zhejiang University, organised by the Goethe-Institut China and the Guidance Committee for German Studies of the Chinese Ministry of Education on the topic: "Research in Teaching" (12-14 April 2019), keynote lecture: "Practice-oriented GFL research: researching teaching and learning processes in the classroom"
• 2018, DAAD branch office Cairo, AlMena Conference 2018 on the topic: "German Studies and GFL in the MENA region" (5-6 November 2018), keynote lecture: "Fremdsprachenlehren und -lernen erforschen: Empirical foreign language research and research methodology in German as a foreign language", panel discussion: "Everything the same or off to new shores? GFL curricula in the field of tension between tradition and innovation"
• 2018, German Teachers' Day at the Goethe-Institut Portugal, Lisbon on the topic of "Motivation German" (20 October 2018), keynote speech: "Motives and motivation for German as a foreign language - What we can learn from L2 motivation research for GFL lessons"
• 2018, GFL Conference 2018 at Tongji University Shanghai; organised by the Goethe-Institut China and the Guidance Committee for German Studies of the Chinese Ministry of Education on the topic: "German as a Foreign Language - New Opportunities for German Studies in China" (20-22 September 2018), keynote speech: "The importance of empirical foreign language research and research methodology in German as a foreign language", chair of the working group "Career opportunities for young GFL teachers at university" (moderation and presentation of results)
• 2018, Zhejiang International Studies University in Hangzhou, China; German Studies Department at the Centre for German Studies;19.9.2018, lecture: "Insight into the research fields of German as a foreign language. Example: Motivation"
• 2018, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon; German Studies Department at the Faculty of Arts, Literature and Humanities; 23 May 2018, lecture: "Dhoch3 - Impulses for German teacher training at universities worldwide"
• 2018, DAAD. Project kick-off Dhoch3, 4 May 2018 in Berlin, panel discussion: Curricular developments and regional adaptation in the context of Dhoch3
• 2018, 10th German Teachers' and Germanists' Conference in Belarus, Minsk on the topic "With German into the future" (19-21 April 2018), plenary lecture: "Talent and/or motivation? On the explanatory power of selected factors for successful foreign language learning", panel discussion on the topic "More languages - more opportunities in the future?"
• 2017, University of Tehran/Iran, Research Institute for World Languages (ReCeLLT), 10 September 2017, Lecture: "Approaches, concepts and methods of L2 motivation research"
• 2017, University of Fribourg/Switzerland, International Conference of German Teachers (IDT), 31 July - 4 August 2017, keynote speech: "Entwicklungslinien des Fachs Deutsch als Fremd- und Zweitsprache - wo stehen wir heute und wo woll(t)en wir hin?
• 2017, DAAD Bonn in cooperation with the University of Bonn, symposia for DAAD lecturers and foreign language lecturers at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn at the Gustav-Stresemann-Institut Bonn, 18 July 2017, lecture and workshop on the topic: "Tertiary language acquisition: on learning and teaching other foreign languages"
• 2017, Kick-off of the further education initiative German as a Second Language of the Mercator Institute for Language Promotion and German as a Second Language at the University of Cologne, 20 March 2017, Panel discussion: "DaZ in der Diskussion: Perspektiven und Ausblicke"
• 2017, Annual Conference of the Austrian Association for German as a Second Language ÖDaF at the Vienna University of Teacher Education, 17/18 March 2017, on the topic "'Man lernt nicht mit dem Kopf allein'. On the role of emotions in German as a foreign/second language lessons", keynote lecture: "Affective factors in L2 acquisition: The role of attitudes, motivation and fear"
• 2016, Annual Conference of the Korean Association for German as a Foreign Language at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, 19 November 2016 on the topic of "GFL and key competences: creative, autonomous and cooperative", keynote speech: "Promoting key competences in GFL lessons: two sides of the same coin?"
• 2016, symposium (Ministry for Schools and Further Education NRW and Mercator Foundation): Lehrerbildung in Nordrhein-Westfalen im Kontext der aktuellen Fluchtmigration";1.7. 2016, Wissenschaftspark Gelsenkirchen, panel discussion: "Lehrerbildung und Fluchtmigration: Was es zu tun gibt"
• 2016, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon : International Symposium: "Cultural Studies: Concepts, Theories, Practices and Challenges"; 5-7 April 2016, Lecture: "International German Studies and German as a Foreign Language: How does that fit together?"
• 2015, DAAD, Bonn: Symposia of the project managers and coordinators of the German Institute Partnerships (GIP) and the doctoral schools in the Vladimir Admoni Programme (VAP); 29.11.-1.12.2015, lecture: "Strengthening academic German teacher training by promoting young academics, especially in the field of foreign language didactics and language teaching/learning research using the example of the GIP Bielefeld/Yaoundé, Cameroon"
• 2015, Goethe-Institut Sweden in Stockholm, conference on the topic "Varför och hur lär man sig språk?" - "Why and how do you learn languages?", 23 November 2015, lecture: "Reasons and motivation for learning other foreign languages at school - also in Sweden"
• 2015, Goethe-Institut China & German Studies Instruction Committee of the Chinese Ministry of Education, 8 May 2015 at Tongji University Shanghai: German teacher training 2015 on "Scientific work and empirical research in the field of German as a foreign language", lecture 1: How to initiate research in the field of German as a foreign language? The complexity of research objects and research questions - research approaches and quality criteria", Lecture 2: "The research process: challenges of empirical research. Planning empirical studies"
• 2015, Goethe-Institut China & Guidance Committee for German Studies of the Chinese Ministry of Education, 6 May 2015 in Beijing: EduCamp 2015: "Wege zur Deutschlehrerqualifizierung", opening lecture: "Stellenwert der Deutschlehrerqualifizierung: Zur Bedeutung der fremdsprachenwissenschaftlichen Ausbildung"
• 2015, Regional German Teachers' Conference of the Hungarian German Teachers' Association at the Andrássy University of Budapest, (17-19 April 2015) on the topic: "Content redesign of university GFL teacher training. Ways to secure young researchers in foreign language didactics", plenary lecture: "Empirical research in foreign language didactics: The importance of training in research methodology".
• 2015, First symposia of the Cameroon German Teachers' Association on the topic "German language teaching and training in Africa - what can be achieved? (6-7.4.2015), University of Yaoundé I, Ecole Normale Supérieure/Departement de Langues Etrangères, Cameroon, keynote lecture: "Was Lehrer über den Lerner und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning] wissen sollten: Recent findings from language teaching and learning research"
• 2015, University of Osnabrück, Writing Workshop at the Language Centre. Symposium: "Unterstützung von L2-Schreibkompetenzen an deutschen Universitäten: Englisch und Deutsch als Fremd- oder Zweitsprache" / "Supporting L2 Writing Competencies at German Universities: English and German as a Second or Foreign Languages" (12/13 March 2015), keynote speech: "Wissenschaftliches Schreiben in der L2 Deutsch: Herausforderungen für internationale Studierende - und die internationalisierte deutsche Hochschule"
• 2014, University of Cologne, Mercator Institute for Language Promotion and German as a Second Language: 3rd Round Table "DaZ-Modul in der Lehrerausbildung in NRW" (28 November 2014), lecture: "Verhältnis von DaZ und Inklusion", panel discussion: "Inklusion und DaZ in der Lehrerausbildung - Synergien und Unterschiede"
• 2014, University of Leipzig, Herder Institute: "50 Jahre Zeitschrift Deutsch als Fremdsprache. Podium and festive event on the topic of 'The subject of German as a foreign language - status quo, professional developments and future prospects'" (7 November 2014), statement and panel discussion: "Development perspectives and dynamics in the university subject of German as a foreign language in German-speaking countries"
• 2014, University of Duisburg-Essen; Symposium "Sprachstand von Kindern mit Migrationshintergrund und Probleme der Sprachaneignung/Sprachlehre - Deutsches Bildungswesen und frühkindliche Sprachförderung und Sprachaneignung in der Vorschule", organised by the German-Turkish newspaper "Die Gaste" (18 October 2014), presentation: "Vorschulische Sprachförderung: eine Erfolgsgeschichte?"
• 2014, University of Yaoundé I, Ecole Normale Supérieure/Departement de Langues Etrangères, Cameroon (2 June 2014), lecture (together with Heike Brandl): "Academic text production in German as a foreign language - (Why) Do we need German learning programmes to accompany studies?"
• 2014, Goethe-Institut Yaoundé, Cameroon - educational cooperation (31 May 2014), lecture with workshop with multipliers on the topic: "(More) orality in GFL lessons"
• 2013, University of Fribourg/Switzerland, Institute for Multilingualism, Doctoral Programme Multilingualism, PhD workshop "Mehrmethodenansätze in der Fremdsprachenforschung", 4.10.2013, Lecture: "Mehrmethodenansätze in der Fremdsprachenforschung: Chancen und Herausforderungen"
• 2013, University of Bolzano/Italy, International Conference of German Teachers (IDT), 29 July - 3 August 2013, presentation: "Approaches, concepts and methods of L2 motivation research", panel participation: "German at school, at university and in appointments"
• 2013, University of Leipzig, Herder Institute, guest lecture on 19 June 2013, lecture: "Qualitative data analysis: Struggle in the data jungle or methodically controlled theory development?"
• 2013, Goethe-Institut Yaoundé, Cameroon - educational cooperation (18 May 2013), lecture and workshop with multipliers on the topic: "Why and why do people still learn German as a foreign language today? Motivation, motivating and maintaining interest in learning in GFL lessons"
• 2013, Goethe University Frankfurt a.M. in cooperation with the University of Duisburg-Essen (4/5 January 2013): "Endspurt für Dis(s)-Orientierte" - Symposium for doctoral students in foreign language didactics in the final phase, lecture: "Lebensläufe/Werdegänge an Universitäten. Evaluation criteria for doctoral theses in foreign language didactics"
• 2012, City of Bielefeld, City Hall (6 November 2012) Laudatory speech at the public presentation of the Bielefeld Integration Awards 2012 under the motto "Integration starts small"
• 2012, Second Bielefeld Education Day (City of Bielefeld) on 26 October 2010 on the topic of "Early childhood education", focus: language support in the elementary sector, presentation: "Importance of the language of education and the associated difficulties for children with a migration background"
• 2012, 4th Conference for German as a Foreign Language in Greece, Pallini/Athens, Greece "Lehren und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning] in theory and practice" (7/8.9.2012), opening lecture: "Learner variables in foreign language learning", workshop: "Motivation and motivation"
• 2012, Lions Club Bielefeld-Marswidis, (23 May 2012), Lecture: "Language support for children and young people with a migration background: Insights into practice and research"
• 2012, 7th German Teachers' and Germanists' Conference in Belarus, Minsk, "Learning German. An investment in the future" (18-21 April 2012), lecture: "Why German is (still) being learnt - an international research project", seminar: "Motivation and motivation in GFL lessons"
• 2011, University of Duisburg-Essen in cooperation with the Western Ruhr region branch of the German Language Society (GfdS) (22 December 2011), lecture: "Why do people still learn German as a foreign language today? Results from motivation research
• 2011, 2nd Siberian German Teachers' Day, University of Irkutsk/Russia (10 December 2011), keynote speech: "German teaching in transition - motivation research on German as a foreign language", workshop: "Motivation, motivating and maintaining interest in learning German"
• 2011, International Association of German Teachers, working meeting in Winterthur/Switzerland (1.8.-5.8.2011), Institute for Language in Appointments and Education, Department of Applied Linguistics at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, lecture and workshop: "Why and why do people still learn German as a foreign language today?"
• 2011, University of Bremen, lecture series "Empirical teaching research in the Master's thesis - but how?" (01.06.2011), lecture: "First steps in empirical research: topic identification, research planning, research methodological decisions"
• 2011, Madrid, Spain. VII Congreso estatal de Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas (EOI Congress), (31 March - 2 April 2011), Plenary lecture: "Acquisition, retention and loss of foreign languages"
• 2011, Junior Researchers' Conference "Empirical Methods of German as a Foreign and Second Language" at Bielefeld University (24.02.-26.02.2011), plenary lecture: "Zur Forschungsmethodologie DaF/DaZ", participation in the panel discussion: "State-of-the-art der Forschungsmethodologie DaF/DaZ und Desiderata"
• 2011, DAAD conference "German Studies in Dialogue. Zukunftsfragen der Germanistik" with the partner countries France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, 16-20 February 2011 in Weimar, lecture: "Motivation und Motivieren für Deutsch als Fremdsprache: Fremdsprachenlernen und Germanistikstudium in nicht deutschsprachigen Ländern"
• 2010, University of Odense, Denmark, Den Danske Germanistforening, annual meeting (12 November 2010), lecture: "Motivation research on German as a foreign language: an international study"
• 2010, Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and Goethe-Institut: Nuremberg Days for Integration (17/18 June 2010), keynote speech and workshop: "Continuous language support", panel for the final discussion: "Is successful integration measurable? Language and education"
• 2010, Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), 37th Annual Conference on German as a Foreign Language (13 - 15 May 2010), plenary lecture: "Why German is (still) learnt - motivation research on German as a foreign language"
• 2009, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, International German Teachers' Conference IDT (3-8 August 2009), keynote speech: "And they do learn it! Motivation for German as a foreign language"
• 2009, Bielefeld, Ostwestfalen-Gespräche on the topic "Integration! But how?"; Organiser idiz e.V. (19.6.2009), lecture: "Integration und Sprache. German as a Second Language - Multilingualism: Does it go together?"
• 2009, Goethe-Institut Beirut/Lebanon on 30 May 2009, teacher training/lecture with seminar: "Well motivated is half learnt? Seminar on motivation, motivating and maintaining interest in learning German as a foreign language"
• 2009, Bielefeld, symposium "MitSprache in Bielefeld - Wege zur sprachlichen Bildung" on 9 May 2009 at the Gesamtschule Stieghorst; organised by the Office for Integration and Intercultural Affairs of the City of Bielefeld, plenary lecture: "Baustelle Bielefeld - vorläufige Bilanz und Perspektiven der Sprachförderung DaZ für Kinder und Jugendliche mit Migrationshintergrund" (Bielefeld construction site - preliminary assessment and prospects for language support for children and young people with a migration background)
• 2009, University of Bremen, Second Bremen Symposium on Autonomous Foreign Language Learning (6/7 March 2009), participation in the panel discussion: "Autonomy and Motivation"
• 2009, Bielefeld University, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research (2/3 March 2009), symposium on "Study-related offers for academic writing in German as a foreign language; organised by the German as a Foreign Language Association (FaDaF), presentation: "10 years of study-related language support in German as a foreign language at PunktUm Bielefeld".
• 2008, University of Darmstadt (18 July 2008), doctoral colloquium on German as a foreign language. Guest lecture and subsequent workshop: "Transcription, analysis and triangulation of qualitative data in empirical foreign language research"
• 2008, University of Bern/Switzerland; Swiss-wide symposia for German teachers (20/21 June 2008) on "Teaching German between DaF, DaZ and DaM", plenary lecture: "DaF- und DaZ-Lernende: Similarities and differences from the perspective of multilingualism research"
• 2008, University of Hamburg, Department of Educational Science (3 June 2008), guest lecture in the lecture series "Empirical research in the state examination thesis - but how?", lecture: "First steps in empirical research: topic identification, research planning, research methodological decisions"
• 2008, University of Düsseldorf, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), 36th Annual Conference on German as a Foreign Language (22-24 May 2008), lecture: "Topic identification, research planning, research methodological decisions"
• 2008, Bielefeld University, Children's University (3rd and 4th grade) on 15 February 2008; together with Sevilen Demirkaya, lecture: "Why is it different when Mehmet learns German and Marie learns English?"
• 2007, Justus Liebig University Giessen, German Society for Foreign Language Research (DGFF), 22nd Congress for Foreign Language Didactics on the topic of "Learning languages - educating people" (3-6 October 2007), presentation (together with Sevilen Demirkaya and Nazan Gültekin): "Preschool language support for children with a migration background: the Bielefeld research project MIKI"
• 2007, Freie Universität Berlin, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), 35th Annual Conference on German as a Foreign Language (31 May - 2 June 2007), plenary lecture: "DaF/DaZ and empirical research: changing challenges"
• 2006, DAAD Bonn, Germanist Meeting South-East Europe 1-7 October 2006, Workshop Bologna Process, Lecture 1: "Deutsch als Fremdsprache an der Bielefeld University. Example of a consecutive Bachelor's/Master's course", Lecture 2: "Practical relevance - language acquisition"
• 2006, University of Tunis/Tunisia on 21 April 2006, together with Philippe Blanchard, lecture: "Higher Education Reform in Germany: The Bielefeld Model"
• 2006, Bielefeld University, Children's University (3rd and 4th grade) on 24 March 2006; together with Sevilen Demirkaya, lecture: "Why is it different if Mehmet learns German and Marie English?"
• 2005, University of Hanover; symposium "Bachelor and Master in German as a Foreign Language. Problems and Perspectives"; organised by the Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaf) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) (17-19 November 2005), lecture: "DaF-/DaZ-Studiengänge und Studiengänge mit DaF/DaZ in Deutschland: Versuch eines Länderberichts"
• 2005, University of Osnabrück; Regional DGFF symposia: "Synergieeffekte in der Fremdsprachenforschung: empirische Zugänge, Probleme, Ergebnisse" (11-12 November 2005), presentation: "Theoriegenerierung mit qualitativen Daten - geht das?"
• 2005, University of Munich; German Society for Foreign Language Research (DGFF); 21st Congress for Foreign Language Didactics at the University of Munich on the topic of "Languages create opportunities" (3-6 October 2005), lecture: "Sprachlernbiographien in der empirischen Fremdsprachenforschung. Motivational research on German as a foreign language"
• 2005, University of Graz, Austria; International German Teachers' Conference (IDV) (1-6 August 2005), keynote lecture: "DaF-Lernende - alles Exoten? Motivation research and German as a foreign language", participation in panel "Motivation for German - Motivation through German - Motivation in the classroom"
• 2005, University of Freiburg, DAAD and HRK symposia on "German Studies in the European Higher Education Area. Studienstruktur, Qualitätssicherung und Internationalisierung" (16-18.6.2005), lecture: "Reformierte DaF-Studiengänge an der Bielefeld University: Bachelorstudiengang Deutsch als Fremdsprache und Master course Deutsch als Fremdsprache und Deutschstudien"
• 2004, Humboldt University Berlin: "Funktion, Form und Arbeitsresultate der Förderung von young researchers in der Fremdsprachenforschung. First conference for the dialogue between young academics and university teachers in Germany", lecture: "Topic identification, research planning and research methodological decisions"
• 2004, Goethe-Institut New York/USA on 18 September 2004, Trainer Network Seminar on the topic of "Foreign and Second Language Acquisition Theories"
• 2004, German Academic Exchange Service DAAD, Bonn, Lecturers' Summer Meeting, 14-16 July 2004), lecture and workshop: "Why German? Motives and motivations for learning foreign languages and studying German abroad"
• 2004, University of Wuppertal, lecture series "Lehren und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning] foreign languages" (14.7.2004), lecture: "The sociopsychology of foreign language learning"
• 2004, Bielefeld University, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), 32nd Annual Conference on German as a Foreign Language (20-22 May 2003), Lecture: "L2-Motivationsforschung und Deutsch als Fremdsprache (mit exemplarischen Länderanalysen)"
• 2004, Collège Francais, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar, teacher training on 6 April 2004, lecture: "Individual differences between learners and learner autonomy"
• 2004, Goethe-Zentrum/Cercle Germano-Malagasy Antananarivo, Madagascar, teacher training 31.3.-1.4.2004, lecture: "Individual differences between learners and learner autonomy"
• 2003, Bielefeld, Brackweder Rathaus, SPD discussion event on 19 November 2003 on the topic: (K)eine Chance für Migrantenkinder?, lecture: "(K)eine Chance für Migrantenkinder? Opportunities through language."
• 2003, University of Göttingen, Language Teaching Centre, colloquium on modern foreign language acquisition: interculturality - teaching and learning methods - multimedia, on the occasion of Klaus Vogel's farewell, 11 October 2003, lecture: "Acquisition and loss of foreign languages: two sides of the same coin?"
• 2003, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main. 20th Congress for Foreign Language Didactics, organised by the German Association for Foreign Language Research/DGFF (1-4 October 2003), lecture in the working group "Learner constructions - human images and research methods": "A learner is a learner is a learner is a learner. Individual differences in foreign language learning"
• 2003, University of Kassel, guest lecture (8 July 2003), lecture: "The motivation factor in foreign language research"
• 2003, University of Duisburg-Essen, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), 31st Annual Conference on German as a Foreign Language (29-31 May 2003), lecture (together with Beatrix Hinrichs): "The Bielefeld University project 'Förderunterricht für Schülerinnen und Schüler nicht deutscher Herkunftssprache' and its potential within the reform of teacher training"
• 2003, University of Göttingen, Language Teaching Centre, 10th Göttingen Conference on Foreign Language Training at the University on the topic of "Emotion and Cognition in Foreign Language Research" (5-7 March 2003), lecture: "On the relevance of qualitative data in recent motivation research"
• 2002, University of Hamburg, habilitation lecture: "Der Lerner als Einzelgänger. Consequences for the Theory, Empiricism and Practice of Lehren und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning] of Foreign Languages with Special Consideration of German as a Second Language"
• 2001, Dresden University of Technology, 19th Foreign Language Didactics Congress, organised by the DGFF (4-6 October 2001), WG "Research designs in foreign language research", presentation: "Qualitative research - and nothing else?"
• 2001, University of Kiel, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), 29th Annual Conference on German as a Foreign Language (24-26 May 2001), lecture: "Aspects of research into learning languages, language acquisition and multilingualism in teacher training: some suggestions"
• 2001, Bielefeld University, Faculty of Linguistics and Literary Studies (24 April 2001), Lecture: "Lernerautonomie. Ein modisches Konzept, seine mögliche lerntheoretische Fundierung und einige Implikationen für die Theorie, Empirie und Praxis des Lehrens und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning German as a foreign language]"
• 2001, University of Göttingen, Language Teaching Centre, 9th Göttingen Conference on Foreign Language Education at the University on the topic of "Grammar and Foreign Language Teaching" (7-9 March 2001), lecture: "Confrontation with learner language in e-mail"
• 2000, University of Malaga, Spain, FAGE Congress, 3rd Congreso de la Federación de Asociaciones de Germanistas en España (21-23 September 2000), plenary lecture: "The role of affects and cognitions in the acquisition of German as a foreign language: recent empirical research and implications for practice"
• 2000, University of Münster, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), German Teachers' Conference (14-16 September 2000), lecture: "Für und über die eigene Unterrichtspraxis forschen: Suggestions for teacher action research"
• 2000, University of Dortmund, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), 28th Annual Conference on German as a Foreign Language (1 - 3 June 2000), Lecture: "German as a Foreign Language - German as a Second Language - German as an Element of Multilingualism: Some Basic Differences and Similarities"
• 2000, University of Hamburg, Central Foreign Language Institute, 2nd Hamburg May Conference on Language Teaching Research (26-28 May 2000), lecture: "Acquisition, maintenance and loss of the foreign language: research methodological considerations and initial pilot studies"
• 2000, Studienkolleg Hamburg, regional conference on German as a foreign language (22 January 2000), lecture: "Von der Unterrichtsreflexion zur Handlungsforschung. Suggestions for systematic reflection on Lehren und Lernen [Centre for teaching and learning] of German as a foreign language"
• 2000, University of Hamburg, lecture series Intercultural Education. Pädagogische und didaktische Grundprobleme (11 January 2000, lecture: "Deutsch als Fremdsprache - German as a Second Language. Some fundamental differences and similarities"
• 1999, University of Dortmund, German Society for Foreign Language Research (DGFF), 18th Congress for Foreign Language Didactics (4-6 October 1999), lecture: "Individual differences in foreign language acquisition: the loner hypothesis"
• 1999, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, 30th Annual Conference of the Society for Applied Linguistics (GAL) e.V. (30 September - 2 October 1999), lecture: "Einige Spezifika lernersprachlicher Gesprächsdaten" (Some specifics of learner language conversation data)
• 1999, University of Regensburg, Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache (FaDaF), 27th Annual Conference on German as a Foreign Language (3-5 June 1999), presentation (together with Karin Aguado): "Empirische For-schung: aus der Praxis für die Praxis?" (opening lecture on the thematic focus "Empirical research and its effects on practice"), participation in the panel discussion "Which research methodology for practice?"
• 1999, University of Göttingen, Language Teaching Centre, 8th Göttingen Conference on Foreign Language Education at the University on the topic of "Standards and Foreign Language Teaching" (3-5 March 1999), lecture: "On the role of self-evaluative perception and subjective theories of the learner"
• ,1999 Salzau near Kiel, symposia of the KVFF, Conference of the Chairmen of Specialised Didactic Societies, on the topic of "Teaching/Learning Research in Specialised Didactics" (25-27 February 1999), lecture: "Individual differences in foreign language acquisition: the loner hypothesis"
• 1998, University of Hamburg, Central Foreign Language Institute, Hamburg May Conference on Language Teaching Research (21-23 May 1998), lecture: "Subjective Theories and Awareness in the Study of Foreign Language Acquisition"
• 1998, Karpacz (Poland), Organiser: Görlitzer Kreis, German-Polish conference for young researchers, topic: "Glottodidakatik - Fremdsprachenerwerb und benachbarte Disziplinen" (14-17.5.1998), lecture: "Individuelle Unterschiede im Fremdsprachenerwerb: die Einzelgänger-Hypothese"
• 1997, Bielefeld University, Faculty of Linguistics and Literary Studies, Department of German as a Foreign Language, colloquium on research methodology in foreign/second language acquisition research (27-28 November 1997), lecture: "Der interpretative Mehr-Methoden-Ansatz" (The interpretative multi-method approach)
• 1997, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute for German Studies Abroad/DaF, Colloquium on Foreign and Second Language Acquisition Research (23-24 January 1997), Lecture 1: "Zur Erforschung individueller Unterschiede im Fremdsprachenerwerb", Lecture 2: "Empirische Forschungsmethoden"

Awards'

• 2013: "Deichmann Prize for Integration (Regional Winner NRW)" for the project "Förderunterricht für Schülerinnen und Schüler nicht deutscher Herkunftssprachen / Verein zur Förderung von Schülerinnen und Schülern nicht deutscher Herkunftssprachen".
• 2012: "Bielefeld Integration Prize" for the remedial teaching project for pupils with non-German languages of origin
• 1999: "Göttingen Prize for Foreign Language Acquisition Research" (award for doctoral thesis)