Rebecca Davies

Dr. Rebecca Davies

Lecturer & Coordinator | English Language Section
she/her

rebecca.davies@anglistik.uni-freiburg.de
☎ +49 761 203-3339

R 4218 | KG IV

ACADEMIC INTERESTS

In addition to teaching grammar and writing, pronunciation, a range of translation classes and oral competence, I am particularly interested in comparative linguistics, history of the English and German languages, etymology, and British cultural history.

I regularly attend the annual symposium for university teachers of foreign languages in the German-speaking countries (BuTa), where I have presented papers on teaching and assessing Landeskunde, testing and evaluating grammar and writing, using translation in language teaching, and ways to put neurodivergent students more at ease in the foreign language classroom.

I am also interested in e-learning, blended learning and the use of e.g. wikis and other asynchronous communication platforms for teaching and learning.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

I am strongly committed to supporting students in their mental health and emotional wellbeing. I am a trained Mental Health First Aider and would like to encourage anyone who is experiencing difficulties to come and talk to me in confidence.

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

CONFERENCE PAPERS

All given at the 'Bundestagung für Fremdsprachenlehrkräfte an Hochschulen im deutschprachigen Europa':

• "Möglichkeiten und Probleme bei der Bewertung studentischer Leistungen in der Landeskunde" (Usedom, September 2009)
• "Grammar and Writing: Entwicklung und Durchführung eines einheitlichen Testformats" (Königswinter, September 2013)
• "Autismus und Fremdsprachenunterricht" (Potsdam, August 2017)
• "Lost in Translation: skurrile Übersetzungspannen als Unterrichtsmaterial" (Schweinsburg, September 2018)
• "Wortschatz durch Dichtung: Transkreative Arbeit mit Gedichten im Übersetzungskurs" (Rendsburg, September 2019)

PUBLICATIONS

All published by Ernst Klett / PONS, Stuttgart:

• Powerkurs Englisch in 4 Wochen (2007) — ISBN: 978-3-12-561315-7
  Intensive 4-week course for adults with little or no knowledge of English. A 208-page book with double audio CD comprising exercises in fluency, writing, listening and pronunciation, step-by-step explanations, with an in-depth grammar appendix, glossary and keys / transcripts.
• Gewusst wie! Englisch ohne Fehler (2008) — ISBN: 978-3-12-561420-8
  Exercise material and explanations aimed at school pupils with 3 years plus of English. The 95-page book has as its main points of focus typical errors made in the areas of lexis, grammar, spelling / punctuation, pronunciation and British / American differences.

• Auf einen Blick: Typische Fehler Englisch (2008) — ISBN: 978-3-12-561477-2
  Foldout laminated reference pack for users of all ages and levels, consisting of 6 A4-sized pages of detailed reference material on typical errors made in the areas of lexis, grammar, spelling / punctuation, pronunciation and British / American differences, and how to avoid them.
• Englisch rund um die Insel: Quiz, Sprachrätsel und Skurriles (2013) — ISBN: 978-3-12-561921-0
  A book of quizzes and puzzles about language, culture, history, customs and geography in Britain (and Ireland). Aimed at anyone who is interested in Britain and who wants to deepen their knowledge of it while having some fun.

INTERESTS

Cooking, crosswords, genealogy, walking, photography, Ingress, social media for ELT.

SOCIAL MEDIA

You can follow me – if you wish – on Twitter (@bexxi) and Instagram (@bexxi71). Please note that these are personal accounts and not primarily aimed at providing academic content. :)