ongoing research projects

• 01/01/2017-31/12/2020: VLIR-UOS Joint (Inter)national Academic Networking (JOINT) Project on EAP: 'Anglais Académique – Phase IV: Qualité, Extension, Durabilité'
• 01/01/2017-31/03/2018 (+ AUHA-funded extension until 31/12/2018): ‘Van startbekwaam naar stadsbekwaam. Bouwstenen voor een teamgericht perspectief op het opleiden van leraren en het omgaan met diversiteit.’ (Departement Onderwijs en Vorming)
• 01/09/2017-31/08/2018, with W. Smets, D. De Neve (Karel de Grote Hogeschool, promoters) & K. Struyven (VUB): 'Formatieve evaluatie in het moderne vreemde talenonderwijs' (Projectvoorstel Projectmatig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Karel de Grote Hogeschool)

research proposals (launch pending)

• FWO New research project proposal, with T. Mortelmans: 'Up to the Task: Scenario Pedagogy with Construction Grammar'

publications in press

• Smits, T.F.H. (in press). Die deutschen Regionalsprachen im Grenzkontakt. In: Herrgen, J. & J.E. Schmidt (eds): Areale Sprachvariation im Deutschen. Language and Space: An International Handbook of Linguistic Variation (= HSK 30.4). Berlin/Boston: de Gruyter Mouton. (VABB-SHW)
• Aster Van Mieghem, Mathea Simons, Ellen Vandervieren, Jordi Casteleyn, Tom F.H. Smits,  Elke Struyf (in press). Een competentiegericht personeelsbeleid uitbouwen: een hybride delphi-studie naar randvoorwaarden. In: Tijdschrift voor Onderwijsrecht en Onderwijsbeleid (T.O.R.B.). ISSN: 0778-0443. 11 p. (VABB-SHW)
• Smits, T.F.H. (in press). The Dialectological Approach to Political and Linguistic Boundaries. In: Janczak, B. A. (ed): Language contact and language policies across borders: construction and deconstruction of transnational and transcultural spaces. Berlin: Logos Verlag. 18 p.

publications under review

• Smits, T.F.H., P.-J.Schittecat & P. Janssenswillen. Multicultural teacher education: a cross-case exploration of pre-service language teachers’ approach to ethnic diversity. In: International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education. 34 p. ISSN: 0951-8398. (WoS/VABB-SHW)
• Smits, T.F.H. Die Grenzdialekte des Deutschen (Working Title). In: Palliwoda, N., Sauer, V. & S. Sauermilch (eds): (Title Unknown) (Linguistik - Impulse & Tendenzen, LIT). Berlin: de Gruyter. 21 p. (VABB-SHW)

publications in preparation

• Smits, T.F.H. & C. Grobler. Learner-centred pedagogy through CALL instructional design: a theoretical framework for CALL research on fostering speaking skills. In: South African Journal of Education. ISSN: 0256-0100. (VABB-SHW)
• Schelfhout, W., T.F.H. Smits & E. Vandervieren. Trainee teachers engaging in an equilibrium model for creating powerful and differentiating learning environments [Working title].
• Grobler C., E. Fourie & T.F.H. Smits. Validating the language anxiety questionnaire for technology-assisted oral foreign language learning [Working title].
• Simons, Mathea, C. Vanhees, T.F.H. Smits & K. Van De Putte. Remedying Foreign Language Anxiety through CLIL? A Mixed-Methods Study with Students, Teachers and Parents.

PhD projects @ UAntwerpen

• PhD Student: C. Grobler
• Project Title: A digital pedagogical pattern to support the development of beginner students' oral proficiency in a foreign language
• Supervision Type: Supervisor

• PhD Student: J. T'Sas
• Project Title: The effectiveness of exploratory talk in group work in primary education
• Supervision Type: PhD Committee Chairman

• PhD Student: D. Aba
• Project Title: Linguistics and Cultural Communication Needs of International Exchange Students
• Supervision Type: PhD Committee Member

• PhD Student: G. Romkes
• Project Title: Verschillen in taalgebruik/gedrag in de klas als mogelijke indicator voor professionele groei bij studenten uit de tweede graads lerarenopleiding
• Supervision Type: PhD Committee Chairman

External PhD projects

• PhD Student: D. Hansen
• University: Université Catholique de Louvain
• Project Title: Leveraging Collaborative Work for Game-Based Language Learning.
• Supervision Type: PhD Committee Member

• PhD Student: L.-M. Hohenstein
• University: Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
• Project Title: Konvergenzen und Divergenzen im westkontinentalgermanischen Dialektkontinuum. Zur subjektiven und objektiven Wahrnehmung der deutsch-niederländischen Sprachgrenze als Dialektgrenze.
• Supervision Type: Co-supervisor

• PhD Student: H. Nur Ozcelik
• University: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
• Project Title: Do peer collaboration and autonomy enhance L2 Listening Comprehension?
• Supervision Type: PhD Committee Member

• PhD Student: H. Gerits
• University: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
• Project Title: The relation between listening comprehension and grammar acquisition: a study into the effectiveness of teaching the grammar of Hungarian through listening tasks.
• Supervision Type: PhD Committee Member

PhD defences @ UAntwerpen (current year only)

• PhD Student: C. Fourie
• Dissertation Title: Metacognition in healthcare communication training: a critical analysis of blended second language learning
• Supervision Type: PhD Jury Member

• PhD Student: J. T'Sas
• Project Title: The effectiveness of exploratory talk in group work in primary education
• Supervision Type: PhD Jury Chair

• PhD Student: D. Aba
• Project Title: (forthcoming)
• Supervision Type: PhD Jury Member