Current research and publications

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'
01/01/2017-30/06/2019 (AUHA-funded extension until 30/06/2019): ‘Van startbekwaam naar stadsbekwaam. Bouwstenen voor een teamgericht perspectief op het opleiden van leraren en het omgaan met diversiteit.’ (Departement Onderwijs en Vorming)
01/09/2017-31/08/2019, 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)

publications in press

Smits, T.F.H. (2019). 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)
Smits, T.F.H. (2019). Die Grenzdialekte des Deutschen (Working Title). In: Palliwoda, N., Sauer, V. & S. Sauermilch (eds): Politische Grenzen – Sprachliche Grenzen? Dialektgeographische und wahrnehmungsdialektologische Perspektiven im deutschsprachigen Raum. (Linguistik - Impulse & Tendenzen, 83). Berlin: de Gruyter. 21 p. (VABB-SHW)

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)
Janssenswillen, P., Meeus, W. & T.F.H. Smits. Teacher education, quo vadis? Historical perspectives on academic teacher education reform in Flanders, Belgium. In: European Journal of Teacher Education. (WoS/VABB-SHW)

publications in preparation

De Neve, D., T.F.H. Smits & K. Struyven. Supporting language teachers’ use of formative assessment through action research. In: Educational Action Research
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.
Grobler C. & T.F.H. Smits. Validating and improving an assessment instrument for oral skills of beginners students in French as a foreign language [Working title].
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].

PhD supervision

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: 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: W. Smets
University: VUBrussel
Project Title: IMPLEMENTING DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION IN SECONDARY EDUCATION: THE NEXUS BETWEEN THEORY AND PRACTICE.
Supervision Type: PhD Jury 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)