Dr. Subin Nijhawan

Sprechstunde im Semester:
Do, 16-17 Uhr
Raum: IG 3.152
Tel. 069 798 32508

(Please email for an appointment!)

E-Mail: nijhawan@em.uni-frankfurt.de

About me

My postdoc project gravitates around the role of language within education for sustainable development (ESD; the German counterpart is Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung - BNE). Do you know that, should we continue the business-as-usual, a secure and prosperous future for our and next generations is out of reach? I also joined the Scientists 4 Future (S4F) Regional Group Frankfurt, to support the mission of Fridays for Future. There, I perpetually receive fresh and novel ideas, out-of-the-box, in a blend of natural and social sciences with humanities, with a strong impact on my own teaching at university and school. The lessons learned are inestimable for the grand transitions we need for the 21st century, I try to foster as one of the team leaders of the Social Sciences working group under the auspices of KMK/BMZ for the development of a conceptual framework for ESD in High Schools.

The relationship of multilingualism & sustainability is something many don’t think about at first instance. But to make transitions happen democratically, while preserving unity in (super)diversity, language is central within any process of change – it is culture, enables cross-cultural and transnational cooperation, ultimately enabling a cosmopolitan vision from the grassroots, as I also argued in my dissertation project, published as a full monograph. Also, emotions matter…! And they closely juxtaposed with your first, second or foreign language use, respectively. And talking about emotions: do you believe artificial intelligence (AI) can ever develop emotions close to human emotions, and be guided by their existence? I don’t think so… however, another focus area of my postdoc deals with the question how AI can (possibly) facilitate language learning or taking the role of a learning assistant. Within the ViFoNet-project, made possible by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), I am designing teaching concepts and material, along with an AI-based language didactics, for practical implementation in school. I am not that negative with AI per se as some parts of public opinion are. We had similar concerns when Sesame Street came to German TV (that time unrightly seen as “underclass TV”), when Wikipedia emerged, when the SmartPhone was produced in masses… as we see, here we are yet to remain! Listen to my interview on public radio together with a former student of mine (hr-info) if interested (fast-forward to 16:27 for direct access).

Before, I successfully completed my doctorate, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Daniela Elsner, within a theory-practice cooperation between the PolECulE-project of Goethe University and Heinrich-von-Gagern-Gymnasium Frankfurt, where I have also been continuing my work as a teacher for English and Politics & Economics. I wrote my paper-based dissertation in the school’s Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) program in Politics & Economics. Within my bilingual classes, I developed a comprehensive model with L1 use in CLIL in Politics & Economics, together with my students as main stakeholders. As a matter of fact, we even added other first languages than German, making the model truly multilingual. Of course, my research interests are manifold. They include, inter alia, literature from New Anglophone Literatures and Cultures (focus on global South Asian literature and film, also inspired by our NELK Department and my jury membership for the New Generations Independent Indian Film Festival Short Film Wallah Award), Cartoons in English Language Teaching (focus: The Simpsons), research methods, International Economics and Politics (with a focus on global justice)… and much, much more!

Before entering education as my professional field at all, I attained quite some working experience in an international bank, in international cooperation and a handful of other insightful I started this journey as a SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London) graduate, full of passion and with a vocation of being a change agent towards cosmopolitan education in the 21st century with the ultimate goal to promote global justice and solidarity. This again brings us to the beginning, namely sustainability, underlining my plea for ESD. Talking about ESD and entering a more personal level (yes, I am a human as well!): there is “much more than just work” in my life, to stay sustainable and mentally fit on an individual level. I am passionate about homemade cooking and gardening, love my racer and cycling and discovering hidden pearls all around as a whole: e.g., I have biked from Cologne to Basel the Rhein trailer, from Helsinki (*) to Liepaja in Southern Latvia, enjoying the borderless European society at both instances and celebrating to have a “global hood”, being a “cosmopolitan bumpkin” myself. (*) And if you ask yourself, why Helsinki: I am a true supporter of the soccer team Eintracht Frankfurt and did not want to miss the opportunity to support them during the Super Cup in 2022!

Selected publications, presentations and projects

Information for prospective WHA and Master theses as well as oral exams

Please email me for the passwords and read the following information beforehand:

General information on (WHA and MA) thesis

General information on oral exams as well as sample thesis paper L3 and L1