Motivation for the visit
As a scholar and lecturer in German language education, I find German-speaking countries outside Germany particularly interesting. In recent years, my work has increasingly focused on topics such as language norms, discrimination through and with language, and their role in the education system. I was therefore eager to connect with colleagues working on these themes in the context of migration pedagogy and multilingualism research. Vienna has a longstanding tradition in precisely this area.
Preparation
What helped most was a detailed professional exchange with the host institution, specifically with my host, Prof. Dr. Assimina Gouma. We discussed in advance which university teaching formats would be interesting for me and which of my offerings would fit well into the Vienna program. Both sides knew what to expect, and the plan that both would benefit from the exchange really worked out.
Stay
My teaching program on site included a good mix of bachelor’s and master’s seminars, along with a subject-specific training session for colleagues. We organised the courses so that I led the first part, followed by a discussion, and then the local lecturer continued. The informal meetings with the wider group of colleagues in the evenings were also very enjoyable and enriching.
Conclusion
My overall impression of the Erasmus+ teaching stay in Vienna is entirely positive. I was able to gain insight into new teaching formats and approaches in the field of language-related discrimination research and how these can be applied to teacher education. The colleagues provided valuable input for my work, and future research collaborations are under consideration.