Education
since 2024 Doctoral Candidate at the Chair of English Didactics, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
2021–2023 Master's student at the Chair of English Didactics, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
2021 First state examination for teaching at secondary schools (English & Mathematics)
2020 Bachelor of Arts at the Chair of English Linguistics, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Professional Experience
2022-present Research assistant, Chair of English Didactics
2024-2025 Teacher (English/Mathematics) and author of digital teaching and learning materials, CK Academy
2020–2022 Software author and junior mentor, Digital Education Foundation
2019 Shadow internship throughout the 2019 summer semester, Schrobenhausen High School
2017 Collaboration on DFG project as student assistant at the Chair of English Linguistics, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Research Interests
Foreign Language Anxiety
Outdoor Teaching & Learning
Emotion Regulation & Affective Language Strategies
Intercultural Awareness & Sensitivity
Digital Teaching and Learning Materials
Previous Courses
Emotional English Learning – Advanced Module (in collaboration with Prof. Boettger)
The Fear Factor – Language Anxiety in the English Classroom (co-design of the course under the direction of Prof. Boettger)
Neurodidactics of Early Foreign Language Learning (vhb course) (vhb course)
Global Education – Focus on Languages (vhb course)
Promoting Cultural Understanding – Advanced Module
ResearchGate – Fundamentals of Scientific Work
Theoretical Insights into Teaching Methodology – Emotions when Speaking English (in collaboration with Dr. Mario Oesterreicher at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg)
Introduction to English Didactics – Lecture (jointly with Prof. Boettger)
Presentations & Teacher Training Seminars
March 11, 2026 “Teaching English Outdoors: Practical Introductory Workshop” together with Andrea Steinbach; RLFB, Hilpoltstein
February 26, 2026 “Culture-Reflective Practices: Creating Momentum for Understanding in the Foreign Language Classroom” (Poster Presentation), Conference “Developing Multilingualism and Fostering Reflective Skills, Intercultural and Transcultural Learning
in Language" (International multilingual conference), Innsbruck
December 17, 2025 “Foreign Language Anxiety" together with Andrea Steinbach: Teacher training ALP Dillingen
November 18, 2025 “Designing, Evaluating, and Presenting Scientific Posters" together with Andrea Steinbach: Teacher training at Schrobenhausen High School.
October 11, 2025 “More than Words: Exploring (Inter-)Cultural Perspectives through Comics & Cartoons” together with Andrea Steinbach; GMF conference, Nuernberg
May 13 & 21, 2025 “Teaching Outdoors: Practical Introductory Workshop at the KU Outdoor Campus” together with Andrea Steinbach
October 12, 2024 “Why might outdoor education be a solution to foreign language speaking anxiety?” together with Andrea Steinbach; GMF conference, Regensburg
March 28, 2024 Keynote “Spotlight on language instruction in Germany: The journey from translation to mediation” together with Andrea Steinbach, Ukrainian university Приазовський державний технічний університет in Mariupol
October 7, 2023 “Accurate Understanding – Cultural Self-Reflection in Foreign Language Teaching,” GMF Conference, Bamberg
June 29, 2023 “Implementing Storytelling, Gamification, and Implicit Learning into Digital Learning Environments – The Case of Brainix,” The Future of Education, Florence
April 25, 2023 “Fighting the Fear Factor – Xenoglossophobia,” OSU (Ohio State University) – KU Workshop “Evidence-based language teaching”
April 7, 2022 “Holistic Digital Teaching Materials,” 2nd Symposium on Digital Education
Event Organization & Moderation
December 12, 2025: Event organization of the symposium “An Anxiety Afternoon” (hybrid) that included keynotes by Prof. Joseph E. LeDoux (https://as.nyu.edu/faculty/joseph-e-ledoux.html), Prof. Karla Jensen (https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/campus-directory/karla-jensen) and Prof. Heiner Boettger
October 10-11, 2025: Head of section chairs and co-organizer of the GMF conference in Nuernberg
October 11–12, 2024: Section chair & moderator of the keynote speech in English at the GMF conference in Regensburg
June 21, 2024: Event organization of the symposium “Fundamentals & Milestones: Symposium on Foreign Language Teaching in Primary Schools” (hybrid) with members of the BIG Circle (https://www.stiftung-lernen.de/big-mitglieder.html)
July 7, 2023: Event organization of the symposium “Healthy Minds Morning” (hybrid) with Prof. Karla (https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/campus-directory/karla-jensen) and Prof. Daniela Elsner (https://daniela-elsner.com/)
March 8–11, 2023: Organization of the project meeting of the European inclusion project V:InD:O:W with participants from Italy, Poland, Spain, Greece, and Germany (vgl. https://www.vindow.eu/)
February 9, 2023: Organization of the “Music & Language Morning” event with Dr. Anja Bossen (https://www.musik-sprache.de/) and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Pfeiffer (https://www.musik.phil.fau.de/person/prof-dr-wolfgang-pfeiffer/)
Scholarships
2026 DGFF research fund for data collection purposes
2017–2021 Scholarship holder of the German Economy Foundation (sdw) – preparatory college (teaching scholarship)
2014-present Scholarship holder of the e-fellows online scholarship
Memberships & Networks
LAI Initiative – Language Anxiety Initiative (Information HERE)
AKED – Association of Bavarian university researchers in English Didactics
DGFF – German Association of Foreign Language Research (more HERE)
E&M – Association for English and Multilingualism in the General Association for Modern Foreign Languages GMF
GMF Bayern – General Association for Modern Foreign Languages Bavaria e.V.
V:InD:O:W – Virtual : Inclusive Diversity focused : Open educational : Work modules (Digital tools for inclusive foreign language education, www.vindow.eu)
sdw – Member of the Alumni Association of the German Economy Foundation (sdw)
Peer Review
Language Teaching Research, Sage Journals (https://journals.sagepub.com/home/LTR)
Zeitschrift für Interkulturellen Fremdsprachenunterricht: MehrSprachen Lernen und Lehren (Journal of Intercultural Foreign Language Teaching: Learning and Teaching Multiple Languages), https://zif.tujournals.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/
Publications
Böttger, H., Höppner, B. (2026). Lost for Words: Recognizing and Preventing Xenoglossophobia. In M. Rozenberg (Hrsg.), Ziel Gesundheit: Gesundes Lehren und Lernen von Fremdsprachen: Bd. 26. Interdisziplinäre Verortungen der Angewandten Linguistik (S. 139-153). V&R unipress. 10.14220/9783737019279.139
Höppner, B. & Steinbach, A. (2025). Unterricht im Freien: Ein Lösungsansatz gegen Fremdsprachensprechangst?! In E. Thaler (Hrsg.), Impulsgeber Fremdsprachen: Bd. 2. Impulsgeber Fremdsprachen: Best Practice und aktuelle Tagungs-Diskussionen (S. 69–76). Cornelsen Pädagogik.
Böttger, H., & Höppner, B. (2025). Transferring language educational neurosciences (LEN) to primary contexts: Evincing a new perspective on language teaching and learning. ICC Journal, 7 (1), 17–51. https://icc-languages.eu/iccjournal/
Höppner, B. (2025). Zielsicher zu Verständnis: Kulturelle Reflexion im Fremdsprachenunterricht. In E. Thaler (Hrsg.), Impulsgeber Fremdsprachen: Bd. 1. Impulsgeber Fremdsprachen: Best Practice und aktuelle Tagungs-Diskussionen (S. 93–101). Cornelsen Pädagogik.
Böttger, H., Höppner, B., Hoffmann, T., Reichel, A., Stadler-Heer, S., Steinbach, A. (2024). Schriftenreihe Fachdidaktik Englisch: Bd 2. Englisch draußen Lernen: Raus aus den Klassenzimmern und Seminarräumen. edoc.ku.de/id/eprint/33956/1/Englisch%20drau%C3%9Fen%20lernen_Schriftenreihe%20Fachdidaktik%20Englisch_Band%202.pdf
Böttger, H., Höppner, B., Müller, T., Günaydın, G. (2024). From Apprehension to Expression: Exploring Foreign Language Anxiety in Adults. ICC Journal, 6(Special Issue Spring), 5–24. icc-languages.eu/iccjournal/
Steinbach, A., & Höppner, B. (2024). Spotlight on Language Instruction in Germany: The Journey from Translation to Mediation. Conference Proceedings. Problems of Modern Philology and Translation Studies in the Historical-Cultural, Psycholinguistic, Sociolinguistic and Didactic Dimensions, 69-74. drive.google.com/file/d/1GM5Cufb4f3i9LeMxXr_-ybfARJtRZlMH/view
Böttger, H., & Höppner, B. (2024). Muscle Memory and the Development of Speaking Skills: Unveiling Neuromotor Foundations and Methodological Approaches in Foreign Language Education. Journal of Linguistics and Language Teaching, 15(1), 13–32. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14791186
Höppner, B., Böttger, H., Rebecca Pape, & Lena Zitzelsberger (2023). Implementing Storytelling, Gamification and Implicit Learning into Digital Learning Environments – The Case of Brainix. Conference Proceedings. The Future of Education 2023, 1–4. conference.pixel-online.net/files/foe/ed0013/FP/8419-ELRN6104-FP-FOE13.pdf
