Unsere Lehrkräfte

Barig Nalbantian

From:
Philadelphia, PA/ New York, NY

Academic Background:
B.A. in Liberal Arts (English Literature/ Voice Performance) from New York University, NY (1993)

M.A. in Voice Performance from Manhattan School of Music, NY (incomplete) (2000)

ESL-CELTA certification from Cambridge University, NYC (2001)

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Upper-Intermediate Conversation (Thursday evenings), Intensive Courses 

Special Interests/ Hobbies:
Singer/Actor (Lyric-coloratura); always taking a dance class, too, but won't achieve the title 'dancer' in this lifetime,
Post-Impressionist to Contemporary Art, Human Rights Issues 

Way of Teaching:
“Creating a comfortable atmosphere and establishing good working relationships between the students; connecting mistakes using interactive exercises or games; staying up-to-date with topics and using students themselves as a resource.”

Carolyn Murphey Melchers

From:
Detroit, Michigan; now at home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 

Academic Background:
B.A. in German,

M.A. in Comparative Literature – German English University of Michigan 

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Grammar, Conversation 

Special Interests:
Poetry and the Writers' Club at the d.a.i., Book Discussion at the d.a.i.
Initiating and encouraging exchange opportunities between people of the partner cities Tübingen and Ann Arbor, Michigan, through the Verein Freunde der Städtepartnerschaft Tübingen - Ann Arbor e.V.

www.tuebingen-annarbor.de

Catie Steidl

From: Hanover, NH

Academic Background: 

B.A. in Archaeology & German Studies from Wesleyan University

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Business English

Special Interests:

Rowing, baking, cooking, knitting, archaeology (especially classical archaeology), taiko drumming

Way of Teaching:

"My goal for each class is to have all of my students talking, interacting, and hopefully laughing! When it's appropriate to what we're learning, I like to use a combination of work sheets, small group or partner activities and sharing, games, and discussion about different cultural topics to get students using and practicing their new language skills in as many different ways as possible. Everyone learns differently, and I like to make sure I include at least one method that each person will find most helpful."

Christine Asch

From: Originally, she is from Taunton, Massachusetts, but for the past 30 years, she has been living in Tübingen. 

Academic background:

B.A. Mount Holyoke College,

M.A. Tufts University,

M. Phil. University of Kansas 

Courses at the d.a.i.:

Intensive Grammar Review, Abi-Vorbereitung 

Special interests:

Film, American literature, Krimis, English Grammar 

Way of Teaching:

“group work – emphasis on interaction among students"

Colleen Dockery

From: Ohio 

Academic Background:
B.A. in Psychology; currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Tübingen 

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Private lessons (scientific/medical or technical English); Schülerkurse 

Special Interests:
Singing; dancing; yoga; jogging; speaking foreign languages

Daniel Lambert

From: Canada

Academic Background:

B.A. in French Linguistics and Grammar from Collège universitaire Saint-Boniface

Courses at the d.a.i.:

Schülerkurse, Intensive Courses, Business Communication, Conversation

Special Interests:

Philosophy, Humamistic Beliefs, Cultural Differentiation, Foreign/Classic Literature

Way of Teaching:

 “I am a very active and passionate conversationalist and I like talking about everything from general cultural opinions to morals and ethics, to philosophy and literature.”

Elizabeth Dickie

From: Seattle, Washington

Academic Background:

B.A. in German and Comparative Studies from University of Washington, Seattle

M.A. in German Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington

ESL-Certified

Courses at the d.a.i.:

Intensive Courses, Kids' Camp

Special Interests:

Cooking, Filmmaking, Reading, Playing Music, Running & Hiking

Way of Teaching:

“I believe language learning can and should be fun, and that an English lesson should be much more than just grammar. Grammar is very important, but there is so much more to learning a language, such as culture, customs and idioms! I always adapt my lessons to the needs and interests of my students, and I hope they leave each session motivated to learn more.”

Jennifer Henschel

From: Waterford, Connecticut

Academic Background: B.A. in Therapeutic Recreation, University of Southern Maine

Courses at the d.a.i.:

Upper Intermediate Refresher (Thursdays), Schülerkurse

Special Interests:

My main hobby is making pottery.

Way of Teaching:

"I enjoy teaching English because I like the interaction with the students in my classes and I find them all very interesting."

Julie Crimp

From: Canada

Education/Certification: I graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science (International Relations and Second Language Teaching) from the University of Ottawa in 2007.

I financed my studies by working for the government of Canada (Nova Scotia Tourism) at travel trade shows across the country.

I am an internationally TESOL/TEFL certified to teach English.

My experience ranges from small children (Haus der Familie Stuttgart, Kinderhaus Tuebingen), to professional business English (Deutsche Telecom, Ritter Sport), to senior beginners. I have also taught a few specialized courses like piloting, medicine, and law (Berlitz International).

Way of Teaching:

"First of all, you need to know that I love my job. I look forward to seeing my students after a holiday and would continue teaching English if I won the lotto. I am organized and patient, and you will feel comfortable in my class."

Kelly Neudorfer

From:
Moline, Illinois

Academic Background:

B.A. in Political Science from Valparaiso University

M.A. in Peace Studies and International Politics at the University of Tuebingen

Currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Tuesday Intermediate Refresher, Intensive Courses 

Special Interests:
Languages, Religion, Politics, Horseback Riding, Reading, Gardening 

Way of Teaching:
“Lots of partner and small group work to allow for maximum talking time, making learning English fun.”

Laurence Stallings

From: West Los Angeles (Brentwood), California 

Academic Background:

Stanford University (1960-64). B.A. in Political Science - International Relations Theory. East-West Center, University Hawaii 

Courses at the d.a.i.:

Reading and Discussion; Saturday Special. 

Special Interests:

Philosophical Anthropology (Cassirer, Jaspers, Heidegger) and its Relation to Field Ethnography (Malinowski, Evans-Pritchard, Geertz). 

Way of Teaching:

Excitement, Enthusiam, Motivation (Presentation of Topics of intrinsic interest from American history, politics and culture which fascinate the student to such an extent that he/she automatically tends to transcend him/herself - In short, my job is to turn people on, to create interest which did not exist beforehand.

Lucas Ogden

From:

Oroville, California, USA

Academic Background:

M.A., Tübingen;

B.A., Chico, California.

Also studied in Mainz, Basel and Strasbourg

Courses at the d.a.i.:

Business English, Legal English, Firmenkurse, Intensivkurse, Abivorbereitung

Presentations and speeches at/for the d.a.i.:

Religion; California; Presidential Elections; U.S. Government; The Civil Rights Movement; The American Legal System

Way of Teaching:

"I encourage my students to get over their hesitations and to simply speak and write English. Furthermore, I hope they will learn to see making mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve."

Marc Strain 

From:
Albany, New York

Academic Background:
2010 BA in Economics, NYSU Albany

Currently attending Tübingen University to get M.A.  in International Economics and Finance

Special Interests/ Hobbies:

For fun, I play sports, trade stocks, and travel. 

Courses at the d.a.i.:

Seniorenkurs A 1, Seniorenkurs Pre-Intermediate (B 1), Upper and Lower Intermediate Courses, Advanced Conversation as well as various Schülerkurse (inkl. Prüfungsvorbereitung EUROKOM) and private courses 

Way of Teaching:
“I like to teach because it’s fun and rewarding.  Also, it’s a good way to meet new and interesting people."

Marilies Föhlisch

From:

Santiago, Chile

Academic background:

Lawyer, Licenciada en ciencias sociales y jurídicas en la Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago de Chile

Courses at the DAI:

Spanisch Kinderkurs,

Spanisch Konversationskurs,

Spanisch Grund- und Aufbaukurse (B1/2),

Spanisch Abi-Vorbereitungskurs 

Martha Barreto

From:
Lima, Peru 

Academic Background:
Master in Geographie an der Universität National Mayor de San Marcos 

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Grund- und Aufbaukurse Spanisch, Spanisch Konversationskurs für Anfänger

Pedro Jimenez

From:
Chicago, IL 

Academic Background:
Bachelor in Linguistics

Currently doing the English Linguistics Master in Tübingen 

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Intermediate Conversation
Schülerkurse 

Special Interests:
"In my spare time, I'm a pro wrestler."

Penelope Burr Pinson

From:
Sautee-Nacoochee, Georgia. 

Academic Background:
Master Degree, Foreign Language Education. 

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Beginning levels, Conversation, Teacher refreshers, private instruction. 

Special Interests:
Interested in international dialogue, to explore new global co-operation. Former modern dance/arts administrator. 

Way of Teaching:
“My main focus is getting students to speak! I enjoy especially beginners because I like to give them a good start and make them enthusiastic about the language. I have taught for many many years and enjoy working with all kinds of students in the English classes, it is a two-way learning experience. I do all that I can to make the classes lively and participatory.”

Scott Stelle

From:
Southern and Northern California 

Academic background:
1998, B.A. in Philosophy and Liberal StudiesCalifornia State University.

2001, M.A. in Human Communication and Information, California State University.

1999-2001, Academic Researcher and Teaching Assistant at CSU, Chico Department for Religious Studies

Currently working towards a PhD under Professor Harvey 

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Schülerkurse, Intensive Courses, Conversation 

Special interests:
World History, Rhetoric and Imperialism, American Culture & History 

Way of Teaching:
“Teaching through active communication. Reading articles and making sense of newspapers”

Todd Goldfinger

From:

Westchester, NY 

His Academic Background is a B.A. in Music / Studio Composition 

Courses at the d.a.i.:

Schülerkurse, Private Lessons, Technical English, and Intermediate as well as Intensive courses.

His special Interests are teaching English especially when he is not playing music.

He describes his way of teaching as “Energetic, personable, and exciting. Students  have a good time learning English in a relaxed and  comfortable, fun, environment.

A place where the students can speak freely and be encouraged to learn.”

Timothy Sailors

From: Minnesota, USA 

Academic Background:
Master of Philosophy in Theology from the University of Cambridge, England 

Courses at the d.a.i.:
Schülerkurse, Intermediate 2 

Special Interests:
"I like watching movies - especially classic ones, which don`t match the typical Hollywood style. Moreover, I enjoy traveling and history."