Vera LeierSenior Lecturer

About me

I am a teacher of German language and a researcher in the field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL). My particular interest lies in presenting students with computer applications that are part of their daily lives and provide them with an authentic learning experience. My research includes integrating podcasts into the language curriculum to enhance listening skills and social media such as Facebook for informal writing and Instagram for visual literacy development.

Social media in a second language learning environment was the topic of my PhD, which is itled 'The effect of Facebook-Social Media on the learning and teaching of German at tertiary level in New Zealand'.

I have taught German and language teacher education in New Zealand and Sweden, and since 2023, I have been teaching German at Stockholm University. Prior to working at university, I taught German in high schools in Great Britain and New Zealand. 

My research interests are:

Social presence in online classrooms

Task-based language teaching (TBLT)

Informal language teaching and learning

Some publications:

Korkealehto, K. & Leier, V. (2024). Boosting Interaction Skills: How Social Presence Transforms Synchronous Online Language Learning for Adults. EuroCALL conference, Trnava University, Slovakia, 26 Aug-29 Aug 2016.

Leier, V. & Gruber, A. (2021). Team New Zealand-Sweden-Germany: A joint venture exploring language learning in digital spaces. JALT CALL Journal, 18 (3).

Korkealehto, K. & Leier, V. (2021). Facebook for engagement: Telecollaboration between Finland and New Zealand in German language learning. International Journal of Computer Assisted Language Learning, 11(1).