Michelle Zirkel
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Room 03.19, Luitpoldstr. 19, D-96052 Bamberg
E-Mail: michelle.zirkel(at)uni-bamberg.de
Office hours
Tuesdays from 11-12 am (online, by appointment via e-mail)
During semester breaks: by appointment via e-mail.
Curriculum Vitae
since January 2022: Lecturer and Research Assistant at the Department of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Fachdidaktik Englisch), University of Bamberg
2021: First State Examination (English and Spanish, Gymnasiallehramt); Bachelor of Arts with Distinction (Spanish, English and American Studies)
February 2021-September 2021: Teaching Assistant at Irish Studies Würzburg (ISWÜ) and Academic Tutor, involved in the project of “WueGlobal - Writing, Learning, Digital Connection”, University of Würzburg
April 2020-March 2021: Student Research Assistant at the Department of Teaching English as a Foreign Language, University of Würzburg
2019: Foreign Language Assistant at Glenstal Abbey School, County Limerick (Ireland)
2018-2019: Erasmus+ Term in Spain (Universidad de Zaragoza)
October 2017-January 2022: Academic Tutor at the Department of Teaching English as a Foreign Language, University of Würzburg
2017-2018: Erasmus+ project at Glenstal Abbey School in County Limerick (Ireland) and at Collège du Servois in La Chapelle-en-Serval (France)
2014-2021: Studies in English, Spanish and French for secondary school teaching, University of Würzburg
Research Interests
Learning with Digital Media (Focus: Virtual Reality)
Inter-, Transcultural and Global Education (Focus: Critical Environmental Literacy)
Irish Studies in the EFL Classroom
Interdisciplinary Teacher Education
Popular Culture in the EFL Classroom
Pragmatics in the EFL Classroom
Projects
PhD project (working title): The potential of virtual reality for English language education and the development of critical environmental literacy
Memberships
DGFF (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Fremdsprachenforschung)
EFACIS (The European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies)
IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)
ISWÜ (Irish Studies Würzburg)
Educators in VR
Klimabildung e.V.
Scientists for Future Bamberg
Publications
Zirkel, M. & Summer, T. (2024). Empowering English Language Teachers to Use Immersive Virtual Reality for Global Citizenship Education. WorldCALL2023: Official Conference Proceedings. Nagoya, Japan: The International Academic Forum. 217-224. DOI: 10.22492 https://papers.iafor.org/wp-content/uploads/conference-proceedings/WorldCALL/WorldCALL2023_proceedings.pdf
Zirkel, M. & Grund, R. (2023). TaskCards im Englischunterricht: Sprachbewusstheit mit Fokus auf Diversität fördern. Englisch 5-10 63 (2023), 38-39.
Grund, R., & Zirkel, M. (2022). Leseverstehen mithilfe von song lyrics überprüfen: Grundlegende Überlegungen, Aufgabenformate und ein Beispieltest zum Song Hero of War der Band Rise Against. Englisch 5-10, 58. 30-32.
Judaschke, M. & Zirkel, M. (2022). This will get better: Mithilfe des Songs I Beg to Differvon Billy Talent das Thema mentale Gesundheit in den Fokus rücken. Englisch 5-10, 58. 10-13.
Zirkel, M. (2022). The potential of picturebooks in primary ELE: Fostering language skills and addressing pressing concerns of modern-day society. In: Böttger, H. & Summer, T. (eds.), English in primary education: concepts, research, practice. Bamberg: University of Bamberg Press. 117-140. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367334722_English_in_Primary_Education_Concepts_Research_Practice
Conferences, Guest Lectures, Presentations, and Workshops
The potential of immersive virtual reality for English language classrooms (Guest lecture). Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität München, 17.01.2024.
Virtual reality and global learning in English language education: innovations for English teacher education (Talk). WorldCALL Conference, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 09.-13.11.2023.
Das Potenzial von Virtual Reality für den Fremdsprachenunterricht und Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (Talk). Arbeitstagung Unterricht auf einem bedrohten Planeten – Perspektiven und Herausforderungen einer Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung im Unterricht sprachlicher Fächer, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 03.-04.11.2023.
Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung und Fremdsprachenlernen in Immersive Virtual Reality (Talk). Gesamtverband Moderne Fremdsprachen (GMF)-Tagung, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 06.-07.10.2023.
Northern Irish songs in the EFL classroom (Guest Lecture). Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 15.12.2022. Videocast available on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch
Songs in ELT: A survey on university students’ beliefs and their experiences in English lessons (Talk with Theresa Summer and Regina Grund). Anglistentag, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. 02.-05.09.2022.
Northern Irish songs in the EFL classroom: theoretical justification and practical suggestions (Talk). IATEFL 55th International Conference & Exhibition, Belfast. 17.-20.05.2022.