Curriculum Vitae

I studied German Linguistics and English Literature & Culture at the University of Potsdam. Before and after graduating with a Magistra Artium degree, I worked as a language teacher and intercultural trainer in Berlin (Germany), Johannesburg (South Africa), Cordoba (Argentina) and Reading (England).

I joined the German Department at the University of Warwick in September 2008 as a DAAD Lektorin. As a DAAD representative I advise students on study opportunities in Germany and on possible sources of financial support.

Research Interests

The subject of my Magistra Artium dissertation was “Interkulturelles Lernen im DaF-Unterricht mittels aktueller deutschsprachiger Popmusik”.

My main research interests are representations of Germany within and outside Europe, theories and practices of language teaching, especially intercultural learning, communication and the effectiveness of different media in the teaching of languages.

My PhD, however, falls within the field of applied linguistics. I critically evaluate and extend existing theories relating to the use of German for specific purposes. My chosen case study is German legal language, which includes practical research into questions often only raised in theory. I have therefore set up an agreement with Dr Lydia Scholz, tutor on the German Law Module run in the Law School at Warwick, which enables me to perform teaching observations and evaluations. Together we work on a project, entitled "DaF trifft auf Jura", on Legal Methodology for non-native German speaking students, primarily focusing on reading and writing strategies for German legal codes.

Our textbook "Einführung in das deutsche Bürgerliche Recht für ausländische Studierende" will hopefully be published at the end of 2012 by C.F. Müller, Heidelberg.

Teaching

I currrently teach German Language Classes (conversation, grammar and essay writing) across all year groups at the German Department.

I also teach courses on German Legal Language at the School of Law Warwick, at the Universität Konstanz/ Germany and at the Université Lille II/ France.

In April 2012, I was giving a week-long teacher training at the University of Krasnojarsk/ Russia on "Didaktik und Methodik der Fachsprache Jura für Deutschlernende", which is intended to be continued in the next academic year. In the meantime, online ressources will be jointly developed and discussed.

Find out more about the DAAD and the Lektorat here.

Contact Details

Direct telephone: (024) 765 73159
Room H215
Office hours: Monday 2-3 pm
E-mail: S.Lippmann@warwick.ac.uk