Michelle Zirkel

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 (ISW?) 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

DiSo-SGW 

PhD project (working title): English language education for sustainable development through immersive learning environments: Investigating teachers' beliefs and professional development throughout a research-based training course

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)

ISW? (Irish Studies Würzburg)

Educators in VR

Klimabildung e.V.

Scientists for Future Bamberg

Publications

Zirkel, Michelle (2025). Immersive virtuelle Realit?t im Fremdsprachenunterricht: Virtuelle Welten, reale Lernerfolge. In: E. Thaler (eds.), Impulsgeber Fremdsprachen: Best Practice und Diskussionen aus der Tagung des Gesamtverbands Moderne Fremdsprachen Bayern. Cornelsen.

Schnellb?gl, C., Zirkel, M., B?send?rfer, A. & Summer, T. (2025). Foreign Language Teachers’ Perspectives on Global Education, Digital Media, and Extended Reality. In: Summer, T. & Gie?ler, R. (eds.), Digital Textualities and Spaces in ELT. Studies in English Language Teaching (SELT). Narr.

Summer, T., Zirkel, M., Fischer, P. & Krug, M. (2024). Exploring Poems and Song Lyrics in an Interdisciplinary Seminar with Pre-service English Teachers: Opportunities and Hurdles. In: Fischer, P. & Summer, T. (eds.), Impulses for Teaching Poetry and Song Lyrics: From Shakespeare to Pop Music (pp. 271-294). Heidelberg: Universit?tsverlag Winter.

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 Diversit?t f?rdern. Englisch 5-10 63 (2023), 38-39.

Grund, R., & Zirkel, M. (2022). Leseverstehen mithilfe von song lyrics überprüfen: Grundlegende ?berlegungen, 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: B?ttger, 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

Implementing Immersive Virtual Reality in Foreign Language Education: Evidence from a Teacher Training Course in the Context of Globabl and Digital Citizenship Education (presentation). CALICO 2025 (international conference), San Diego, U.S., 29.05.2025 (mit Theresa Summer & Claudia Schnellb?gl).

The Potential of Immersive Virtual Reality for Teaching the SDGs in the Context of English Language Education (Talk). eLearning Africa 17th International Conference & Exhibition on Digital Education, Training & Skills Development, Kigali, Rwanda, 29.-31.05.2024.

The potential of immersive virtual reality for English language classrooms (Guest lecture). Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universit?t 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 F?cher, Universit?t Duisburg-Essen, 03.-04.11.2023.

Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung und Fremdsprachenlernen in Immersive Virtual Reality (Talk). Gesamtverband Moderne Fremdsprachen (GMF)-Tagung, Otto-Friedrich-Universit?t Bamberg, 06.-07.10.2023.

Northern Irish songs in the EFL classroom (Guest Lecture). Julius-Maximilians-Universit?t 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-Universit?t 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.