Heather Allen                                                      

heather@heathergallen.com                             

                                                                                                                                                         

 

Summary

 

Current PhD Student: ISGP, UBC, interdisciplinary application of neuroscience to literary theory, interaction between reader and text

 

Research Interests

 

Interdisciplinary, neuroscience, literary theory, cognitive science, reading processes in the mind and the brain, empathy, neural learning processes, neural reading processes, cognitive linguistics, cultural theory, development of literary theory experiments, narratology, historiography, inter- and extra-academic communication of research

 

Education

 

2011                    University of Manitoba, Canada

M.A. in German Studies

Department of German and Slavic Studies

Supervisor: Dr. Stephan Jaeger

 

2008                    University of Manitoba, Canada

                            B.A. Double Honours in German and English

 

Additional Education

 

2007                    Business German Certificate

                            Issued by the Federal Republic of Germany.

 

2001                    Sprachdiplom 2 (with Honours)

                            Goethe-Institute German Fluency Exam

 

Academic Papers/Research Contributions

 

2014                    Out of the Box: Annual ISGP Conference (UBC)

                            “Coming out of the Box”

                            A discussion of the challenges and advantages to interdisciplinary work.

 

2012                    Conference Presentation (Languages and Cultures of Conflicts and Atrocities – Languages and Cultures Circle of Manitoba and North Dakota)

                            Bridging the Gap of Apathy: Representations of History through Fiction in the Works of Tomson Highway”

 

2011                    Master’s Thesis

“Experiencing Literature – Learning from Experience: the Application of Neuroscience to Literary Analysis by Example of Representations of German Colonialism in Uwe Timm’s Morenga”. (Supervisor: Dr. Stephan Jaeger)2011           

 

2012                    Conference Presentation (CCSSH/CAUTG)

“Learning and Empathy inherent in Historical Fiction by Example of Representations of German Colonialism in South West Africa”

               

2010                    Conference Presentation (Marshall McLuhan in a POMO World: Is the Medium the Message?)

“Constructing Realities: the Medium vs. the Mind”

 

2008                    Honours Thesis

 “Experiencing History through Fiction from Theoretical and Experiential Perspectives”

Supervisor: Dr. Stephan Jaeger

 

2008                    Conference Presentation (Colloquium on German Studies, Goethe-Institute Toronto)

 “Experiencing History through Fiction”

 

Teaching Experience

 

09/2013-12/2013    Teaching Assistant – Introduction to Canadian Studies (RITS Program)

 

Teach class of Japanese exchange students (Ritsumeikan Exchange) Canadian economics, politics, history, Native Studies, culture and social studies, literature and poetry.

Apply English as an Additional Language training to facilitate students in learning academic writing, presentation styles, formal and informal classroom discussion skills, lecture preparedness, adjustment to UBC standards in preparation for taking UBC courses and integrating into North American academic life.

Develop and conduct discussion classes and assignments.

Mark short assignments and essays.

Provide constructive feedback and support to students.

 

09/2011 – 12/2011      Teaching Assistant (Language Lab)

05/2011 – 06/2011      German 1120, University of Manitoba

09/2010 – 04/2011     

05/2010 – 06/2010      Work together with professors to create and teach lessons that supported and enforced learning in German 1120 classes.

                                    Independently prepare all assignments, created marking scheme, evaluated student’s progress and performance

                                    Independently develop and conduct discussion classes

                                    Facilitated listening, comprehension, grammar, and pronunciation skills in students

 

Work Experience

 

11/2013-Present     Research Assistant

Dr. Markus Hallensleben, Central, Eastern, and Northern European    Studies, UBC

 

   Edit and critically comment on articles and a book for publication.

   Organize and check sources and bibliography.

   Source bibliographic material.

   Contact sources internationally for copyright images, obtain copyright

   permissions, rights of reproduction and printing.  

Languages used: German, English.

 

01/2011 - 2013       Private Tutor 
 

Tutor university students in the following subject areas: German Language, English as an Additional Language, German Literature,  
English Literature, Canadian Literature, Canadian History, World History, Critical Theory, Philosophy. 
Teach essay writing (MLA and APA styles), composition, and grammar. 
Tutor students in library usage, research, and referencing. 
Teach English (academic and conversational) to International Students. 

 

05/2008 – 11/2008      Translator/Interpreter

                                    Brunstad Training and Resources, Kråkstad, Norway

 

                                    Work as part of an international team, translating and interpreting according to the needs of the corporation.

                                    Organize and direct corporate training events.

                                    Update English website. Wrote and translated articles as per demand.

                                    Languages used: English, Norwegian, German, Danish.

 

09/2007 – 05/2008      Research Assistant

Dr. Stephan Jaeger, German Department, University of Manitoba

 

                        Conduct bibliographical searches for research materials.

Collect, analyze and summarize data and other research materials.

Provide organizational assistance during research workshop “Depiction and Definition; Representing War across the Disciplines” (Winnipeg, MB, March 7-9, 2008).

Scan teaching materials, creating PDF files, make copies, page-checking, ordering books through inter-library loan.

Languages used: German, English.

 

Scholarships

 

2011                            Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) Travelling Scholarship ($600)

                                    Endowment from the Faculty of Arts Endowment Fund (University of Manitoba) ($975)

2010-2011                   Manitoba Graduate Scholarship ($15,000)

                                    University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship ($12,000) (declined)

                                    James Gordon Fletcher Graduate Research Award in Arts ($3000)

2010                            Faculty of Arts J.G. Fletcher Award ($3000)

2009-2010                   SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship ($17,500)

2009                            Manitoba Graduate Scholarship ($15,000) (declined)

                                    University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship ($12,000) (declined)

2008                            Dorothy I. Jones Memorial Honours Award (Department of English - $ 400.00)

Alexander Robert Leonard Scholarship (Department of English - $ 487.50)

Aitkins Scholarship in the English Language and Literature (Department of English - $ 950.00)

2007-2008                   Endowment from Faculty of Arts Endowment Fund ($732.00)

 

Honours and Awards

 

2012                            Graduate Student Award (Faculty of Arts, University of Manitoba)

2011                            Best Canadian MA Thesis in German Studies awarded by the Canadian Association of University Teachers of German (CAUTG)

2008                            Dean’s Honours List

2007-2008                   Annual Award for Outstanding Work in the German Honours Program.

2007                            Dean’s Honours List

2006-2007                   Annual German Literature and Culture Award for Excellency

2006                            Literature and Culture Award for Excellence awarded by the German Canadian Congress, Manitoba

2005-2006                   Annual German Literature and Culture Award for Excellency

 

University Volunteer Work

 

Feb. 2011                    Marking Judge at the Manitoba German Language Contest

2010-2011                   Graduate Representative to the German and Slavic Department Full Council

Feb. 2010                    Represented German Studies at the University of Manitoba Info Days

2009-2010                   Graduate Representative to the German and Slavic Department Full Council

Feb 2008                     Represented German Studies at the University of Manitoba Info Days

2008                            Undergraduate Representative to the German and Slavic Department Full Council

 

References

 

References provided on request