Heiner Böttger

Heiner Böttger is a Full Professor of English Didactics and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany, where he has served since 2007. He holds the Professorship for Didactics of English Language and Literature within the Faculty of Languages and Literature. His academic journey includes positions at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and visiting professorships at institutions including Akdeniz University in Turkey, Aristotle University in Greece, and Long Island University in New York.

Professor Böttger's research focuses on the intersection of language education and neuroscience, with particular expertise in foreign language anxiety (xenoglossophobia), sensitive phases of language development, multilingual didactics, and evidence-based foreign language teaching. His work bridges theoretical knowledge with practical classroom applications, emphasizing how insights from neuroscience can transform language teaching methodologies. He has pioneered approaches to early foreign language learning, corporate language instruction, and the psychological aspects of language acquisition including memory, resilience, and mindfulness.

His extensive publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory toward integrating neuroscientific findings with language education. Recent works focus on language educational neurosciences (LEN), outdoor language learning, storytelling techniques, and the neuromotor foundations of speaking skills. Böttger's research shows increasing sophistication in connecting brain-based learning principles with practical language teaching strategies across diverse contexts from primary education to corporate settings.

As an active academic, Böttger serves as Chairman of the Early language learning advisory board BIG (foundation Lernen, Munich) and as an External Academic Reviewer to the Greek state. His professional activities demonstrate a commitment to advancing evidence-based language education through both theoretical contributions and practical implementation.