Dr. Michaela Sambanis

Biography

Michaela Sambanis is a Professor of English Didactics at the Free University of Berlin. She holds an Habilitation in English and French Didactics and has been a key figure in developing interdisciplinary research that connects didactics and neuroscience. Throughout her career, she has prioritized evidence-based teaching practices and positive language learning strategies that integrate findings from neuroscience. Her research interests include the integration of positive psychology in language education, the application of neuroscience in teaching practices, and the exploration of performative methods in teaching. She has been actively involved in various research projects and conferences focused on the dialogue between theory and practice in language education. Additionally, she has held leadership roles, such as serving as the Executive Director of the Institute for English Philology at the Free University of Berlin and has been involved in initiatives to strengthen teacher health and wellbeing in the educational setting. Sambanis has published extensively on topics related to language teaching, pedagogy, and the cognitive aspects of language acquisition. Her work contributes significantly to the field of modern foreign language education, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach that considers both cognitive and emotional factors in language learning.

Research Interests