About
Heidi Rajamäe-Volmer is a Junior Research Fellow in German Language and Literature at the Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Tartu (since 2024). She is currently pursuing a PhD focusing on 'Early German in Estonian Kindergarten and School - Perspective, Potential and Didactics,' advised by Reet Bender and Merje Miliste. Previously, she held roles including Teacher of German at Tartu Katoliku Hariduskeskus (2010–present), and academic affairs roles at the University of Tartu's Faculty of Social Sciences and Education (2009–2012).
Education:
- Master's student in 'Integration of Other Subjects with Religious Education' at the Faculty of Theology, University of Tartu (supervisor: Pille Valk)
- Postgraduate teacher training in German and Religious Education (1997–2000)
- Bachelor's degree in Theology from the University of Tartu (1993–1997)
Research Interests: German language didactics in Estonian early education, multilingualism in schools, and cultural aspects of language acquisition. Her work bridges philology, pedagogy, and applied linguistics, particularly in multicultural educational contexts.
Publications: Contributed to the textbook Kasvatus ja aated (2001), focusing on educational methodologies and child development. Her current PhD research explores innovative didactic approaches to German language instruction in Estonian pre-school and primary education systems.
Grants & Advising: No grants explicitly listed. Currently a doctoral student under active supervision. Prior roles included curriculum development and administrative coordination in educational contexts.
Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures' German language research group.