I am an Associate Professor of German and Applied Linguistics in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies. I am also the Coordinator of the German Language Program.
I have been teaching at the University of Alberta since 2003.
I grew up in Germany and completed an M.A. in American Studies, Political Sciences, and German Literature at the Johannes Gutenberg-University in Mainz. I also hold an M.S. in Foreign Language Education from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching from the University of Arizona.
I am an applied linguist who also has some training in literary and cultural studies. My research interests focus on computer-mediated communication, teacher training, curriculum development, and foreign language pedagogy.
Last year, I co-authored a cultural history of Germany called Ekstase und Elend. Deutsche Kulturgeschichte 1900 bis heute. This book (and its accompanying website) focuses on politics, social issues and cultural history, including the history of women, the LGBTQ+ community, Germans of colour, and other underrepresented groups. Written by an interdisciplinary team of scholars (German Studies, Second Language Acquisition, History), our book provides a scaffolded approach to bridging the gap from language courses (which focus on teaching students to handle concrete situations such as work and travel) to advanced courses where students engage in literary and cultural analysis by offering supportive language learning materials (vocabulary and comprehension activities).
Heidt, T., Kost, C., & Sencer, E. (2020). Ekstase und Elend. Deutsche Kulturgeschichte 1900 bis heute. Indianapolis, IN; Cambridge, MA; USA: Focus/Hackett Publishing Company.
https://www.hackettpublishing.com/modern-languages/german/ekstase-und-elend
Most recently, I co-authored an innovative first-year German language e-textbook called Willkommen: Deutsch für alle, designed as Open Educational Resource (OER), for learning German at the college/university level. It features a task-based, communicative approach which provides students with opportunities to communicate in German in a variety of contexts and situations. The e-textbook follows a blended-learning model, a combination of alternating in-class (face-to-face) instruction and interaction, and online (self-paced) individual learning.
https://openeducationalberta.ca/willkommen-deutsch/
I teach a variety of German language courses and a fairy tale class at the undergraduate level, as well as courses in applied linguistics at the undergraduate and graduate level. I have supervised students in Honors, MA and PhD programs on topics related to vocabulary acquisition as well as a variety of technological aspects.
I also coordinate the German Language Program at the University of Alberta. In Spring 2007, we received the Faculty of Arts Teaching Unit Award for our First Year German team.
Intended to expand comprehension and production skills in written and oral German with a focus on intercultural communicative competence. Prerequisite: German 30 (or equivalent) or GERM 112 or consent of Department. Note: not to be taken by students with native or near native proficiency.
Fall Term 2021Prerequisite: GERM 211 or consent of Department. Note: not to be taken by students with native or near native proficiency.
Winter Term 2022