Claudine Kirsch is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences at the University of Luxembourg and member of the Institute for Research on Multilingualism (MLing). She specialises in Language Learning and Teaching, Multilingualism, and Early Childhood Education. She read Science of Education at the ISERP (Teacher Training Institution) in Luxembourg and subsequently worked for nine years as a primary school teacher in Luxembourg. She took both her Masters and her PhD in Education at Goldsmiths, University of London, funded through the British Council and a grant from the ESRC. While carrying out her PhD, she was a visiting tutor at the University of Luxembourg where she delivered continuous professional development in didactics of language learning and mathematics. She also worked part-time in the research project DECOTEC (Development of Expertise in Collaborative Open Technologically enriched Educational Contexts). From 2003-2011 she worked as a lecturer at Goldsmiths and taught on BA, MA and PhD programmes and the Primary PGCE. She set up and coordinated several courses including the primary Modern Foreign Languages programme and the bilateral exchange programmes between England, France, Germany and Spain. This required close collaboration with the Teacher Development Agency (TDA), an executive agency of the Department of Education, and the National Centre for Languages (CILT) where she acted also as a national languages trainer. Claudine Kirsch was as an external examiner for an MA programme in Languages at King’s College in London and the BA in Education, Culture and Childhood at the University of Sheffield. In January 2012, she was appointed at the University of Luxembourg. She teaches on BA, MA and PhD programmes.

Claudine Kirsch’s research interests include foreign/second language learning and teaching, multilingual pedagogies, translanguaging, multilingualism, family language policies, early childhood, and language learner strategies. Since her appointment in Luxembourg, she has been the PI of four research projects: 

• iTEO (2013-2017) which examined the use of the App iTEO for teaching and learning languages in preschools and primary schools (funding: Ministry of National Education, Childhood and Youth (MENJE) and the University of Luxembourg)
• MuLiPEC (Developing Multilingual Pedagogies in Early Childhood) (2016-2019) which investigated the influence of professional development on the development of multilingual pedagogies in formal and non-formal early childhood education settings (funding: Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) and MENJE)
• COMPARE (Collaboration with Parents and Multiliteracy in early Childhood Education, 2020-2023) which examines the development of multilingual literacies and collaboration in crèches (funding: FNR, MENJE, National Youth Service (SNJ) and the University of Luxembourg)
• COVID-KIDS (Understanding the influence of COVID-19 on children’s and adolescents’ school experience and subjective well-being  (01.05 2020– 30.04.2021) which examines the ways in which social distancing coupled with the challenges of home schooling affects children’s and adolescents’ educational experiences and subjective well-being.

She also takes part in the project CALIDIE (Capitalising on Linguistic Diversity in Education) (2017-2022) led by Adelheid Hu, in Gabrijela Aleksić's FNR CORE Junior project TRANSLA (2019-2021) and in the EERA funded project Developing Multilingual Literacies – Exploring the role of communities for literacy development in multilingual families (January 2020 – December 2020) with Sabine Little (PI, University of Sheffield), Joana Duarte (University of Stenden), Mirjam Günter-van der Meij (University of Stenden), and Irina Usanova (University of Hamburg).

Last updated on: vendredi 05 mars 2021

Download Claudine Kirsch's full CV

Professional and Academic Qualifications

• 2007 National languages trainer (CiLT, UK)
• 2006 PhD in Education, Goldsmiths, University of England (UK)
• 2000 MA in Education, Goldsmiths, University of England (UK)
• 1990 BA, ISERP (Teacher Training), Luxembourg

Academic appointments and professional carrier

• 2012-current: Associate-Professor, Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education, University of Luxembourg
• 2003-2011: Lecturer in Education, Goldsmiths, University of London (UK)
• 2007-2011: National languages trainer for CiLT (UK)
• 2003: Visiting Tutor at Goldsmiths
• 2000-2001: Research assistant for the Project DECOTEC, University of Luxembourg
• 1990-1999: Primary school teacher in Luxembourg

Academic functions at the University of Luxembourg

• Member of the Faculty Council
• Member of the steering committee of the Bachelor in Educational Sciences
• Vice-director of the institute for Research in Multilingualism (MLing) (2018-)
• Member of the steering committee of the Doctoral Training Unit CALIDIE (DTU CALIDIE) (2017-2022)
• Vice director of the Bachelor des Sciences de l’Education (BScE) (2012-2015)
• Vice-director of the institute of Applied Educational Sciences (AES) (2014-2015)
• Co-leader of the Cluster ‘Early Childhood’ of the Research Priority ‘Education: Focusing on Multilingualism and Diversity’

Principal investigator or researcher in recent research projects

• January 2020-December 2023: COMPARE (Collaboration with parents and Multiliteracy in early Childhood Education), Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI), Dr. Sascha Neumann, Dr. Gabrijela Aleksić, postdoctoral researcher, doctoral candidate, research assistant. Funding: MENJE, SNJ, FNR, University of Luxembourg
• January 2020-December 2021: Developing Multilingual Literacies – Exploring the role of communities for literacy development in multilingual families.  Dr. Sabine Little (PI, University of Sheffield), Dr. Claudine Kirsch, Dr. Joana Duarte (University of Stenden), Dr. Mirjam Günter-van der Meij (University of Stenden), and Dr. Irina Usanova (University of Hamburg), EERA funding
• January 2017-December 2022: Doctoral Training Unit CALIDIE (Capitalising on Linguistic Diversity in Education). Prof. Dr. Adelheid Hu (PI), 11 supervisors (of which Claudine Kirsch is one) and 11 PhD students
• May 2016-April 2019: Developing multilingual pedagogies in Early Childhood (MuliPEC). Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI), Dr. Katja Andersen, Dr. Gabrijela Aleksis, Simone Mortini, Laurence Di Letizia. Funding: FNR and Ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth
• July 2014-June 2016: Family Language Policies among Greek Migrants in Luxembourg. Dr. Nikolaos Gogonas (PI) and Dr. Claudine Kirsch. Funding: FNR
• May 2014-December 2014: MULTORA (Multilingual Oracies). Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI) and Dr. Katja Andersen. Funding: Ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth
• September 2013-February 2017: iTEO, a tool for learning and teaching languages. Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI), Dr. Gérard Gretsch (2013-2015), Laurence Di Letizia (2013-2015), Dr. Asuncion Bes (2016), Dr. Roberto Gomez (2014-2015). Funding: University of Luxembourg, Ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth
• January 2012-October 2012: Researching language acquisition with the tool iTEO. Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI) and Dr. Gérard Gretsch. University of Luxembourg

Memberships and Representations

• Member of the scientific advisory council éducation plurilingue (Ministry of Education, Youth and Early Childhood; National Youth Service)
• Founding Member of the LuxERA
• Member of network 31 ‘Network on Language and Education’ of the European Educational Research Association (EERA)
• Member of network 07 ‘Social Justice and Intercultural Education’ of the European Educational Research Association (EERA)
• Editorial board member of the journal Language, Culture and Curriculum (LCC)
• Editorial board member of the journal Zeitschrift für Grundschulforschung.Bildung im Elementar- und Primarbereich (ZfG)
• Reviewer for the journals International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, International Multilingual Research Journal, Language, Culture and Curriculum, Language and Education, Language Policy, Zeitschrift für Grundschulforschung. Bildung im Elementar- und Primarbereich
• Reviewer for the National Research Fund (FNR) (2008-2011)
• One of the 12 women selected by the National Research Fund (FNR) to represent the ‘Women in Science and Engineering in Luxembourg’ (WISE), (2017)

Organisation of conferences and events

• Conference and workshops: Multilingualism in early childhood, final conference of the project ‘Developing Multilingual Pedagogies in Early Childhood’, 27.11.2019. University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval
• Conference and workshops: L’Education plurilingue dans l’éducation formelle et non-formelle, 26.04.2018. University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval
• Conference: Présentation des vidéos réalisées dans le cadre des projets de recherche MuLiPEC et iTEO, 29.11.2017. University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval
• Conference: Mehrsprachigkeit in der frühen Kindheit: Ideologien und Praxis, 13.10.2016. University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval
• Conference and workshops: Förderung der mündlichen Sprache von mehrsprachigen Kindern, 18.02.2016. University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval
• Conference: Bilingual myths, monolingual ideologies and (trans)languaging, 8.5.2014. University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval
• Conference: Sprachförderung für mehrsprachige Kinder, 29.11.2012. Lycée Technique de Bonnevoie

Leaves

• Maternity leave: February-September 2009
• Maternity leave: February-September 2007

Last updated on: 05 mars 2021

Research interests

• Foreign/second language learning and teaching
• Multilingualism
• Early Childhood
• Family language policy
• Language learner strategies

Current research projects

• May 2020-April 2021: COVID-KIDS (Understanding the influence of COVID-19 on children’s and adolescents’ school experience and subjective well-being). Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI), Dr Pascale Engel de Abreu, Dr. Sascha Neumann (Universität Tübingen), Dr Drorit Lengyel (Universität Hamburg)
• January 2020-December 2023: COMPARE (Collaboration with Parents and Multiliteracy in early Childhood Education). Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI), Dr. Sascha Neumann (January-April 2020), Dr. Gabrijela Aleksić, postdoctoral researcher, doctoral candidate, research associate. Funding: FNR, MENJE, SNJ, the University of Luxembourg
• January 2020-December 2021: Developing Multilingual Literacies – Exploring the role of communities for literacy development in multilingual families (January 2020 – December 2020).  Dr. Sabine Little (PI, University of Sheffield), Dr. Claudine Kirsch, Dr. Joana Duarte (University of Stenden), Dr. Mirjam Günter-van der Meij (University of Stenden), and Dr. Irina Usanova (University of Hamburg), EERA funding
• February 2019-January 2021: TRANSLA (Translanguaging Training Programme for Teachers Working with Language Minority Preschool Children in Luxembourg). Dr. Gabrijela Aleksić (PI), Dzoen Bebic-Crestany, Claudine Kirsch. Funding: Core Junior
• January 2017-December 2022: CALIDIE (Capitalising on Linguistic Diversity in Education). Prof. Dr. Adelheid Hu (PI), 11 supervisors (of which Claudine Kirsch is one) and 11 PhD students
• May 2016-April 2019: Developing multilingual pedagogies in Early Childhood (MuLiPEC). Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI), Dr. Katja Andersen, Dr. Gabrijela Aleksis, Simone Mortini, Laurence Di Letizia. Funding: FNR and Ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth

Earlier research projects

• January 2017-December 2018: MIGREC (New Migration of Families from Greece to Europe). Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI), Dimitra Tsagkogeorga. Funding: University of Luxembourg (internationally: Prof. Panagiotopoulou (University of Cologne), Prof. Rosen (University of Cologne), Associate Prof. Chatzidaki (University of Crete), Claudine Kirsch).
• January 2017-December 2018: New Migration: Perspectives of teachers, parents and children on learning Greek at the Greek school in Luxembourg. Dr. Claudine Kirsch, Dimitra Tsagkogeorga. Funding: University of Luxembourg
• July 2014-June 2016: FLPAGL (Family Language Policies among Greek Migrants in Luxembourg). Dr. Nikolaos Gogonas (PI) and Dr. Claudine Kirsch. Funding: FNR AFR
• May 2014-December 2014: MULTORA (Multilingual Oracies). Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI) and Dr. Katja Andersen. Funding: Ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth
• September 2013-February 2017: iTEO, a tool for learning and teaching languages. Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI), Dr. Gérard Gretsch (2013-2015), Laurence Di Letizia (2013-2015), Dr. Asuncion Bes (2016), Dr. Roberto Gomez (2014-2015). Funding: University of Luxembourg, Ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth
• January 2012-October 2012: Researching language acquisition with the tool iTEO. Dr. Claudine Kirsch (PI) and Dr. Gérard Gretsch. University of Luxembourg
• October 2011-May 2012: Changing country, changing language. Dr. Claudine Kirsch. University of Luxembourg
• 2009-2011: Creativity in the community languages classroom: pedagogies and professional development. Dr Jim Anderson (PI), Prof. Eve Gregory, Dr. Clare Kelly, Dr. Charmian Kenner, Dr. Claudine Kirsch, Dr. Ana Souza, Prof. Yangguang Chen and Yu-Chiao Chung. Funding: Nuffield project
• 2009-2011: Storytelling in modern language lessons in primary schools. Dr. Claudine Kirsch. Goldsmiths, University of London
• 2009-2010: Childhood bilingualism: Luxembourgish parents raising their children bilingually in England. Dr. Claudine Kirsch, University of London
• 2007-2008: The development of trainee teachers’ intercultural competence. Dr. Claudine Kirsch, University of London
• 2004-2007: New developments in teacher education and the benefits and challenges of the PGCE students’ month-long school experience in a foreign country. Dr. Claudine Kirsch, University of London
• 2001-2006: English children’s practices of learning foreign languages at home and at school and the development of their language learning strategies. Claudine Kirsch. Funding: ESRC
• 2001-2003: Luxembourgish children using and learning foreign languages at home and at school.Claudine Kirsch. Funding: ESRC
• 2000-2004: DECOTEC (Development of expertise in a collaborative open technologically enriched educational context). Gérard Gretsch (PI), Charles Max, Claudine Kirsch (2000-2001), Brigitte Stammet. University of Luxembourg
• 1996-1999: DECOPRIMI, II, III (Development of oral and written communication skills at primary school). I was a teacher-researcher. Funding: Ministry of Education (MENFP)
• 1995-1996: DECOLAP (Development of oral and written communication skills at pre-school). I was a teacher-researcher Funding: Ministry of Education (MENFP)
• 1992-1995: Differenzieren im offenen Unterricht I and Differenzieren im offenen Unterricht II. ISERP

Last updated on: 06 jan 2021

• Bachelor in Sciences of Education (BScE)
• Master in Learning and Communication in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts
• Zertifikat Tutoring/ Mentoring im Bildungsbereich
• Doctoral School in Humanities and Social Sciences (DSHSS)
• Doctoral Training Unit CALIDIE
• Doctoral Education (Transferable skills training)
• CPD at the Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC)

Last updated on: 20 fév 2020

• Melanie Noesen: Mehrsprachigkeitsdidaktik - Sprachlernwerkzeuge durch Portfolioarbeit entwickeln (University of Luxembourg, starting date: autumn 2015)
• Flavia Bley: Brazilian Children in Luxembourgish Multilingual Public Schools (University of Luxembourg, starting date: autumn 2015)
• Simone Mortini: An ethnographic study of the interactions and language use of emergent multilingual children in formal and non-formal education settings in Early Childhood in Luxembourg (University of Luxembourg, FNR/CORE MuLiPEC, starting date: summer 2016)
• Sarah Degano: Translanguaging for learning: A study of multilingual practices in the primary school (University of Luxembourg, FNR/PRIDE CALIDIE, starting date: 15.01.2017)

Member of the CET

• Peiru Bai: Plurilinguisme, représentations et identité des familles d'immigrés chinois en milieu multilingue et multiculturel luxembourgeois : choix entre héritage et intégration dans les pratiques langagières (starting date: 2018)
• Kevin Simoes:  The Luxembourgish Plurilingual Education Policy in Early Childhood Education and Care (starting date: 2019)

Last updated on: 04 fév 2020