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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. I have taught German language across a range of levels on the Languages for All programme and on some modules in Undergraduate programme. Also, I have delivered 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 University Lecturer and Research Fellow in the Institute for German 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 the 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 aim to describe and explicate the acquisition of German syntax and its implications for classroom-based foreign language learning.

I can deliver training programmes for MFL Teachers. I have expertise in foreign language pedagogy and delivered seminars in language pedagogy and psycholinguistics on Postgraduates courses. I acted as a supervisor of bachelor’s thesis and as peer-evaluator of Master’s thesis in foreign language pedagogy. Furthermore, I was a co-designer of the program of study for PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages and delivered several modules for teachers of German.

I am passionate about learning and teaching languages. I am confident in using different teaching techniques and technologies while preparing and delivering seminars to students on several language proficiency levels. In answer to Covid-19 contingency I successful developed, planed and delivered a wide range of online seminars and classes for students on Undergraduate and LFA programmes for synchronous and asynchronous learning; I am confident in using Zoom, Teams, BBCU for learning sessions and have expertise in adopt technologies to enhance online or blended delivery. 

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

Publication

2022

2009

2008

Book sections

Books

Monographs

Research

My research interests focus on the development of grammatical competence of learners of German as a second or foreign language. I am particularly interested in description and explanation of foreign language acquisition process to identify and better understand its principles which could be further reflected in the pedagogical process. Furthermore, I am intrigued by the question to what extend the existing language skills can have an impact on the acquisition of a new language (positive transfer and interference).

Teaching

Languages for all Programme: German section, across all levels of proficiency, module lead for B1 and B2

Undergraduate Programme in German

Part-time Courses for Adults, German courses

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 and Polish

2000 - 2015     MARIA CURIE-SKLODOWSKA UNIVERSITY OF LUBLIN (UMCS), GERMAN STUDIES AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS INSTITUTE

Assistant professor (Adjunkt) in Department of Glottodidactics

2003 - 2004    R. KUDLINSKY OLYMPUS UNIVERSITY IN WARSAW

Lecturer in Glottodidactics in PGCE

2002 - 2004     UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION IN ZAMOSC (WSZiA)

Lecturer in Postgraduate Studies in PGCE for MFL teachers

1999 - 2000     UNIVERISTY OF MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION IN ZAMOSC (WSZiA)

German Tutor in Foreign Language Centre

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCES

2018 - 2019 HOWELL’S SCHOLL, LLANDAFF, SIXTH FORM COLLEGE, CARDIFF

German Language Teacher

2017 - 2018  LANGUAGES SERVICES DIRECT LIMITED / PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGES SOLUTIONS LONDON

Language Trainer for Foreign and Commonwealth Office

2006 - 2007  SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRE FOR FAMILIES IN LUBLIN (MOPR)

Translator and interpreter in project EduPart Educational Partnership Activates Families

2006  FOUNDATION HAPPY CHILDEHOOD IN LUBLIN

Volunteer for a local nongovernmental organization for children with special needs

RELEVANT EDUCATION

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

1993 - 1999     Master’s level studies in German Philology, Master’s Degree in German Philology, First Class Honor (wynik 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

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

CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS

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

Research themes

Specialisms

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