Welcome to the ‘Teaching English as a Foreign Language’ team led by Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann. Merle Bergmann and Sarah Lellé joined our team in the summer of 2025 and Dr. Rebecca Schlieckmann has already been working in the English Language Education Team since 2021.
We currently focus on teaching English to young learners, Global Englishes Language Teaching (GELT), multilingualism in the English language classroom, teaching English in heterogeneous classrooms, Design-Based Research (DBR), oral communication exams, the transition from primary to secondary school, picturebooks in language education as well as anti-racist language education.
We work in close cooperation with the Chair of English Language Education, that is Prof. Matz and her team.
On our website, you find more information about our team, current and past projects, as well as numerous events and activities that we organise or take part in.
Latest news, activities and publications:
Grundschule Englisch "English Around the Globe"
Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann, in collaboration with teacher educator Miriam Nienhaus, has edited the latest issue of the Grundschule Englisch practice journal, which focuses on the topic of 'English Around the Globe'. This issue features background articles and classroom-based contributions exploring "Global Englishes Language Teaching" in the primary school.
Oracy in English Language Education
The edited volume Oracy in English Language Education: Insights from Practice-Oriented Research (Reckermann, Siepmann & Matz, 2024) explores how spoken language competence can be fostered and evaluated in English language classrooms. Drawing on practice-oriented research, it bridges the gap between theory and teaching practice across educational levels.
A Clear YES to Foreign Language Education in Primary Schools
This position paper, led by Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann and Prof. Dr. Stefanie Frisch (Goethe University Frankfurt) takes a clear stand in favour of foreign language education at the primary level on behalf of the German Association for Foreign Language Research (DGFF). It outlines the scientific and societal arguments of early foreign language learning and formulates key recommendations for its further development. The paper is available on the DGFF website for public access and distribution.
FFF-Network (Forschung zum frühen Fremdsprachenlernen)
In 2023, Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann and Prof. Dr. Stefanie Frisch (Goethe University Frankfurt) founded the FFF Network. The network aims to connect research activities in this field within the German-speaking context and invites members, primarily from academia, but also from related areas, to contribute actively.
Further information is available on the network’s website.
Guest article in Die Zeit
As part of the ongoing debate on how English should be taught in primary schools, Prof. Dr. Stefanie Frisch (Goethe University Frankfurt) und Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann have contributed a guest article for Die Zeit. This piece draws on current research findings and challenges some misleading conclusions put forward by secondary-school teachers.
The full article can be found here.
Podcast on TEFL
At the invitation of QUA-LiS Soest, Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann participated in a podcast discussing current issues in English language teaching. The podcast is aimed at anyone interested in English language education and addresses topics such as English language teaching in primary schools, the discussion of empirical research findings, and Global Englishes Language Teaching.
Stay Abroad on Nias
Julia Reckermann cooperates with the Villa Warna Warni-Team, a non-profit organisation that built and supports a children’s home on Nias, Indonesia. If you’re interested in volunteering in this project, please see Prof. Dr. Julia Reckermann in her office hours or send her an e-mail.