Dr. Jean Conacher
Responsibilities
- Senior Lecturer in German
- Course Director: BA (Education) in Languages
- Section leader in German
- Associate Director, Centre for Applied Language Studies (CALS)
- Member, Course Board, Graduate Diploma in Languages (Education)
Academic background
- MA (Hons) in French and German, Aberdeen, Scotland
- PhD in GDR Studies, Aberdeen, Scotland
- 1990-present: University of Limerick
- 1996-present: Senior Lecturer in German
- 1991-1996: Lecturer in German
- 1990-1991: Assistant Lecturer in German
- 2002-2004: Research & Development Fellowship, Scottish CILT, University of Stirling, Scotland
- Spring Semester 1994: DAAD-funded Guest Lectureship, University of Rostock
- 1986-1987: Gastlektorin, Institut für Fremdsprachen, Wilhelm-Pieck-Universität, Rostock, GDR
Teaching interests/activities:
My teaching activities cover a wide-range of areas within German Studies from text analysis and grammar in context to literary & cultural developments in 20th/21st century German-speaking areas of Europe. My particular interests lie in GDR and post-Wende literature. I also teach translation into English and bilateral interpreting in Year 4. I co-ordinate undergraduate and postgraduate modules on Language Pedagogy, within which I teach extensively, particularly in relation to classroom management, target language teaching and self-directed learning. I am also involved in classroom supervision of language education students teaching German in post-primary schools in Limerick and the Midwest.
Research interests/activities:
- Self-directed learning
- Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) and new learning environments
- Language policy and planning
- Language education
- GDR and post-Wende literature and cultural politics
- The writings of Helga Königsdorf
I am currently working on a number of publishing projects, including:
- an edited volume of papers with Barbara Geraghty exploring aspects of intercultural contact, language learning and migration
- a monograph on representations of education processes in GDR literature
Research supervision
If you would be interested in pursuing postgraduate research in any area related to my research interests, please feel free to send me an initial proposal or make an appointment to discuss your ideas.
I am available to supervise taught MA theses in relevant areas undertaken by students registered on the MA in French and the MA in English Language Teaching. I also welcome proposals from anyone interested in undertaking MA or PhD research, particularly as part of the Structured PhD programme in Applied Language Studies.
Completed Supervision
Mishan, Freda M (co-supervision with Prof. Angela Chambers) ‘Authenticity in Language Learning Materials Design’, PhD awarded 2001.
Current Supervision
Diggins, Y. (co-supervision with Yvonne Cleary) ‘ICT policy in higher education in Ireland’. (PhD)
Earls, C. ‘A study of language policy in Higher Education and its impact on educational practice: the experience of international degree programmes in Germany’. (PhD – ISSP Government of Ireland Scholar)
Jeanneau, C. (co-supervision with Dr Françoise Blin, Dublin City University) ‘The development of learning communities in a virtual learning environment (VLE) in the context of a language learning centre’ (P/T)
Scholz, K. ‘Exploring identity in a selection of Christoph Hein’s prose works (1997-2007)’ (PhD – IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar 2008-2010)
Szymczak, R. ‘Language policy and pedagogical practice: Student and teacher experiences with German L1 and L2 teaching at higher education level in Ireland’ (PhD – LLCC Scholar)
Selected publications
Kelly-Holmes, H and J.E. Conacher, J.E. (2009) ‘Contact, community and continuity: The case of German speakers in mid-west Ireland’ in Ch. Fäcke, Sprachbegegnung und Sprachkontakt in europäischer Dimension, Frankfurt/Main: Peter Lang.
Conacher, J.E. (2008), Home Thoughts on Abroad‘: Zur Identität und Integration irischer ERASMUS-StudentInnen in Deutschland, gfl-journal 2008/2: 1-20. (ISSN 1470 – 9570)
Conacher, J.E. (2007) ‘Die Sehnsucht nach Zugehörigkeit’: An exploration of Heimat in the essays and short stories of Helga Königsdorf. In: R. Rechtien and K. von Oppen (eds) Local/Global Narratives. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 99-119.
Conacher, J.E. and H. Kelly-Holmes (eds) (2007) New Learning Environments for Language Learning. Moving beyond the classroom? Frankfurt am Main, Peter Lang.
Conacher, J.E. (2005) New learning environments: holistic approach or challenge? In: C. Penman (ed) Holistic Approaches to Language Learning. Frankfurt am Main, Peter Lang: 103-116.
Chambers, A., Conacher, J.E. and J.M. Littlemore (eds) (2004) ICT and Language Learning: Integrating Pedagogy and Practice. Birmingham: Birmingham University Press.
Selected external activities & membership of professional bodies
2009-present: Elected member, Royal Irish Academy Committee for Modern Language, Literary and Cultural Studies (member of working group on language policy).
2000-present: Member, Langscape (network of European universities aiming to internationalise research into foreign language acquisition, promote postgraduate research and encourage the exchange of ideas across different academic traditions. (2008-present: member of Management Committee)
1999-present: Member, Association of Third-Level Teachers of German in Ireland (2007-2008: Committee Member, 2008-2010: Co-Chair – representing university sector)
1993-present: Member, Irish Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association (1994-1997, Executive Member)
1992-present: Member, German Senior Cycle Course Committee, Irish National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
1991-present: Member, Association for German Studies in Great Britain and Ireland (‘Conference of University Teachers of German’ until 2009)