Ingeborg Walther

Office Location:	116J Old Chem Bldg
Office Phone:	+1 919 660 3163, +1 919 660 3160
Email Address:
Web Page:

Education:

• PhD University of Michigan, 1987
• MA Tufts University, 1974
• BA Stanford University, 1973

Specialties:

Applied Linguistics
Pedagogy
20th Century Literature

My interest in German culture and literature, already present due to an early passion for the writings of Thomas Mann, developed further during my undergraduate years at Stanford University. Originally a music major, I switched to German Studies after spending my junior year in Vienna. Upon receiving my Master's Degree in German literature from Tufts University in Tübingen, I continued my studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where I received my PhD in 1987 with a specialization in 20th century poetry and drama. Before joining the faculty of Duke University in 1994, I was deeply involved in proficiency oriented language teaching and testing at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, and its European branch in Munich, where I chaired the German department. Engaged as I was in teaching, teacher training, and curriculum development, I was naturally drawn to the fields of second language acquisition and foreign language pedagogy. In addition to my literary training, my experience and expertise in these areas prepared me well to undertake the duties of Language Program Director in the German department here at Duke, where I coordinate the German Language Program, and prepare graduate students to teach. I have also served as Director of Undergraduate Studies, and as Chair of the German department. I am currently serving as Associate Dean of Trinity College and Director of the Office of Curriculum and Course Development.

Curriculum Vitae

Recent Conference Talks, Lectures and Workshops

  Invited Lectures:

1. “The Use of Electronic Teaching Portfolios in Graduate Student Teacher Training”, Duke University, April 26, 2007
2. “Ecological Perspectives on Language and Literacy: Implications for Foreign Language Instruction at the Collegiate Level.”, Duke University, December 14, 2006
3. Keynote Lecture: "Language and Culture from the Bottom Up: Re-thinking the Foreign Language Curriculum", West Virginia Foreign Language Teachers Association, Morgantown, West Virginia, October 08, 2005
4. “Fostering Language Acquisition and Literary Studies in First Year German", NC AATG (North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German) Spring Conference, Duke University, 7 February 2004
5. "Second Language Acquisition Theories: An Overview", Duke University, 22 January 2004

1. "Cultural Studies from the Bottom Up? Curricular Planning along the Faultlines between Instrumental and Academic Agendas", MLA Convention, Chicago, IL, December 30, 2007
2. “Too Much Literature? The Role of Literary Studies in the German Classroom.”, NC AATG Conference, Elon University, October 19, 2007
3. "From Culture to Cultural Studies: New Paradigms in Foreign Language Education and Why They Matter", ACTFL / AATG Annual Convention, Nashville, TN, November 18, 2006
4. "Turning on to Nietzsche in First-Year German", ACTFL / AATG Convention, Nashville, TN, November 17, 2006
5. "Ecological Perspectives on Language and Literacy: Implications for Beginning and Intermediate Foreign Language Instruction", American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL )/ American Association of Teachers of German (AATG ) Annual Convention, Baltimore, Maryland, November 17, 2005
6. "Beginning Foreign Language Study in Higher Education: Service Activity or Academic Enterprise", ACTFL / AATG Annual Convention, November 21, 2004
7. "Doing Cultural Studies from the Bottom Up", ACTFL / AATG Annual Convention, November 21, 2004

1. New Chairs Workshop, ADFL Seminar East, Hunter College, NY, June 8 - 11, 2006
2. "Drama in the German Language Class", Rutgers University, April 21, 2006
3. "Teaching Literature: Strategies and Techniques for Teaching Foreign Language Literature at the Upper Levels", North Carolina State University, March 01, 2006
4. "Speaking in Another’s Voice: Performing Language as Culture through Theater", West Virginia Foreign Language Teachers Association Convention, Morgantown, West Virginia, October 07, 2005

1. I. Walther. The Theater of Franz Xaver Kroetz. Peter Lang, 1990.
2. I. Walther. "Franz Xaver Kroetz." Encyclopedia of German Literature. Chicago, London, Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 2000. 
3. I. Walther. Teaching Assistant Handbook. Spring, 2001. (German Department publication for Teachers of German, Fall, 1996; updated and revised Spring 2001)
4. I. Walther. Articulation of the German Language Curriculum. Fall, 2000. (German Department publication)