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Sabina Barczyk-Wozniak

Dr Sabina Barczyk-Wozniak

(she/her)

Teacher in German

School of Modern Languages

Overview

I am a University Teacher in the School of Modern Languages at Cardiff University which I joined in 2016. Since then, I have taught the German language across a range of levels in the Undergraduate programme and Languages for All programme. Also, I deliver Part-time courses for adults. As part of my role in MLANG, I have been responsible for reviewing and designing learning and assessment resources for the LfA German modules at B1– C1 language proficiency levels. I am an experienced Gothe-Institut examiner for language level proficiency A1-B2.

Before coming to Cardiff, I worked as a Lecturer and later as an Assistant Professor (Adjunkt) in the Institute for Germanic Studies and Applied Linguistics at Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin (Poland) where I carried out interdisciplinary research on Foraging Language Acquisition, Psycholinguistics, and Language Pedagogy. In 2006 I gained my PhD in Humanities with a specialization in German and Applied Linguistics. In 2009, I published my monograph Der Erwerb syntaktisch-topologischer Regularitäten des Deutschen durch polnische Lerner und seine glottodidaktischen Implikationen, which aims to describe and explicate the acquisition of German syntax and its implications for classroom-based foreign language learning.

I specialize in delivering language pedagogy and training programs for Modern Foreign Language (MFL) teachers. I co-designed the program of study for the PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages and have delivered several modules for teachers of German. With extensive expertise in foreign language pedagogy, I have conducted seminars in language pedagogy and psycholinguistics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I have supervised bachelor’s theses and served as a peer evaluator for master’s theses in the field of foreign language pedagogy.

I am passionate about learning and teaching languages. I am confident in using various teaching techniques and technologies to prepare and deliver seminars to students at multiple language proficiency levels. I have broad experience and high confidence in online and hybrid seminar delivery. I have successfully developed, planned, and delivered a wide range of online seminars and classes for undergraduate and LfA programs, catering to both synchronous and asynchronous learning. I am proficient in using Zoom, Teams, and BBCU for learning sessions and have expertise in adopting technologies to enhance online or blended delivery.

I am a native speaker of Polish and can deliver courses in Polish as a foreign language.

Publication

2022

2009

2008

2007

Adrannau llyfrau

Llyfrau

Monograffau

Research

My research interests center on language acquisition, with a particular emphasis on the development of grammatical competence in learners of German as a second or foreign language. I am deeply engaged in describing and explaining the foreign language acquisition process to identify and better understand its underlying principles. These insights can then be applied to enhance pedagogical practices in language teaching. Additionally, I am interested in the questions to what extent learners' existing language skills influence the acquisition of a new language, focusing on both positive transfer and interference.

Some outcomes of my research I have presented at conferences, including:

  1. Language Acquisition: Focusing on the development of grammatical competence in learners of German as a second or foreign language.
  2. Psycholinguistics: Exploring the cognitive processes involved in language learning and usage.
  3. Language Pedagogy: Discussing innovative teaching methods and the integration of technology in language education.
  4. Interference and Transfer in Language Learning: Investigating how existing language skills impact the acquisition of new languages, including both positive transfer and interference.

 

 

Teaching

I teach in the following Modules on Undergraduate Programme in German

  • English-German Tandem
  • Ex-Advanced Language Year 2 in German
  • High-Level Proficiency in German Language
  • The World & Language of Business (German) - module convenor

I also teach on Languages for all Programme across B1 and B2 levels of proficiency and in Part-time Courses for Adults delivering courses across all levels in German.

Biography

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 

2016 onwards   Cardiff University, School of Modern Languages

German Teacher in MLANG, German Teacher in Adult Education

2019 onwards     St. David’s Catholic Sixth Form College, Cardiff 

Teacher of German

2000 - 2015 Maria Curie-Sklodowska University of Lublin (UMCS), Institute for Germanic Studies and Applied Linguistics 

Assistant Professor (Adjunkt) in Department of Glottodidactics

2003 - 2004 R. Kudlinsky Olympus University in Warsaw

Lecturer in Glottodidactics in PGCE

1999 - 2004 University of Management and Administration in Zamosc

Lecturer in PGCE for MFL teachers, German Tutor in Foreign Language Centre

RELEVANT EDUCATION

2001 - 2006     Doctoral studies, PhD in Humanities in a field of German and Applied Linguistics - Maria Curie-Sklodowska University of Lublin (UMCS)

1993 - 1999     Magister studies in German Philology, Master’s Degree in Germanic Philology, First Class Honor (bardzo dobry) - Maria Curie-Sklodowska University of Lublin (UMCS)

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Certified Goethe-Institutes Examiner (A1-B2) – Goethe-Institut London

Qualified Teacher Status, TP Ref. No. 0934808 - General Teacher Council of Wales

Accredited i-act Practitioner for positive mental healt and Wellbeing

Licenced First Aider in Mental Health Wales

 

Honours and awards

Award of the Rector of Maria Curie-Sklodowska University of Lublin for outstanding achievements at work (2010)

Award of the Rector and Chancellor of University of Management and Administration of Zamosc for innovative methods of teaching of German language (2002)

Professional memberships

Member of a linguistic association Gesllschaft für Sprache und Sprachen GeSuS e.V.

Speaking engagements

30th Linguistics Study Days of the Society for Language and Languages (GeSuS) "Europe and the Diversity of its Languages" Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (UAM); Paper delivered: "Förderung der Mehrsprachigkeit durch Languages for All Programm an der Universität Cardiff: Eine Fallstudie zu Deutschmodulen / Promoting multilingualism through the Languages ​​for All Programme at Cardiff University: a case study of German modules", June 2024

German Studies Conference at the University of Nottingham; Paper delivered: “German Courses in Institution-Wide Language Provision at Cardiff University – Programme Design and Student Profiles”, September 2022

Innoconf21 University of Reading; Paper delivered: “Strategies for effective online teaching – experiences form teaching during Covid-19 pandemic”, September 2021

AULC Conference, King’s College London; Paper presented: “Developmental Profiles of Adult German Learners in Classroom Context – Implications for language teachers and learners”, January 2019

International Conference on Linguistics of Society Gesellschaft für Sprache und Sprachen e.V., Department of Translation studies at University of Helsinki, Kouvola; Paper delivered: “Schwierigkeitsgrad deutscher Verbstellungsmuster für polnische Sprachlerner auf Niveaustufe B1”, March 2008

International Conference on Linguistics and Foreign Language Teaching ”The Role of Linguistics in Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching”, Department of English and German at the State School of Higher Vocational Education, Chelm; Paper delivered: “Możliwości i granice modelowania procesu akwizycji składni języka niemieckiego u ucznia polskiego  – próba weryfikacji Hipotezy Teachability”, June 2007

International Conference on Linguistics of Society Gesellschaft für Sprache und Sprachen e.V., The Ruhr University, Bochum; Paper delivered „Entwicklungsprofile im Syntaxerwerb des Deutschen durch polnische Lerner – psycholinguistische und glottodidaktische Aspekte“, February 2007

 

Contact Details

Email Barczyk-WozniakS@cardiff.ac.uk

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Applied linguistics and educational linguistics
  • German language
  • Foreign language acquisition
  • Foreign language pedagogy