Hannah Berner

Hannah Berner is an Academic Advisor (Akademische Rätin) in German Didactics at the Institute for German Language and Literature (IdSL) at Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg (University of Education Freiburg), a position she has held since April 2024. She previously served as an Academic Staff Member in German Didactics at the same institution from April 2021 to March 2024, and completed training as a writing consultant at the university's Writing Center in 2022-2023.

Dr. Berner earned her PhD in Newer German Literary Studies from the University of Geneva in 2019 with the highest distinction ('très honorable avec félicitations du jury'). Her academic journey includes a Master's degree in German Literary Studies and French Language and Literature, and a Bachelor's degree in German Language and Literary Studies and Art History, both from the University of Bern. She also holds a teaching diploma for secondary schools from Pädagogische Hochschule Bern.

Her research focuses on German literature, particularly ballads and poetry from the 18th and 19th centuries, examining how folk elements are staged within literary works. She has increasingly incorporated educational perspectives, developing didactic approaches for teaching literature and critical thinking. Recent publications demonstrate her expanding interest in children's literature, intercultural competence through literature, and practical applications of literary analysis in educational settings.

Dr. Berner's publication record shows consistent scholarly output since 2016, with increasing focus on educational applications of literary analysis. Her work spans traditional literary scholarship on historical texts to contemporary applications in teaching methodology, reflecting her dual expertise in literary studies and education. Recent collaborations indicate a growing interdisciplinary approach connecting literary analysis with educational practice.

• très honorable avec félicitations du jury (summa cum laude equivalent) for PhD at University of Geneva

Dr. Berner is currently developing an interdisciplinary online course 'Critical Thinking and Argumentation at Universities' as part of a Fellowship for Teaching Innovations in Baden-Württemberg. This project demonstrates her commitment to translating scholarly expertise into practical educational tools. While she has supervised students in teaching roles, her primary focus appears to be on curriculum development and scholarly research rather than extensive doctoral supervision.

Though she doesn't lead a formal research laboratory, Dr. Berner is actively engaged with the Writing Center at PH Freiburg and collaborates with colleagues across institutions on interdisciplinary projects focused on educational innovation and literary scholarship.