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Faculty of Education and Language Studies > People Profiles > Uwe Baumann

Uwe Baumann

HoD/Senior Lecturer (German)

The Open University Faculty of Education and Language Studies Department of Languages


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Profile

I started work at the Open University in 1995 as Lecturer in German where I was involved in designing the first suite of German language courses at the OU. In 1999, I became Head of German with overall responsibility for the German programme and the colleagues who work in this programme. Since September 2005 I have been Head of Department of the Department of Languages. We are offering courses from beginners to degree level in French, German and Spanish, beginners' and intermediate courses in Italian, beginners' courses in Mandarin-Chinese and Welsh and courses in English for Academic Purposes.

 

Teaching Interests

I have worked on the first ever distance learning module in German at the OUUK, L130 Auftakt and the other German modules that formed the original Diploma in German. More recently, I have authored units for L203 Motive (second level), L193 Rundblick (the German beginners' unit) and the remake of L130 Auftakt. I have also acted as sole or joint Course Team Chair for L196 Croeso, the beginner's module in Welsh. I am currently a team member for the beginners' and intermediate Italian courses.

Research Interests

My main research interests are in the area of intercultural communication and the attributes and competencies needed by Open and Distance language tutors. I have undertaken several research projects into intercultural competence among students of German at the OUUK, including a study for my doctorate, disseminated the findings at national and international conferences and published the results in book chapters and journals. I have been involved in an international collaborative research project on tutor competences which has yielded several publications and conference presentations.

Current Research

Intercultural communication

Tutor competences in ODL teaching

Publications

Book Chapter
Baumann, Uwe (2007). Developing autonomy and intercultural competence in a distance learning environment. In: Gardner, David ed. Learner autonomy: integration and support. Learner autonomy, 10. Dublin: Authentik Language Learning Resources Ltd, pp. 93–112.
Baumann, Uwe (2006). Erlebte Geschichte. In: Baumann, Uwe and Duensing, Annette eds. Developing writing skills in German. London: Routledge, pp. 144–162.
Baumann, Uwe and Hampel, Regine (2006). Medien - von der Zeitung zum Internet. In: Baumann, Uwe and Duensing, Annette eds. Developing writing skills in German. London: Routledge, pp. 60–84.
Coleman, James A. and Baumann, Uwe (2005). The World as a classroom. In: Hurd, Stella and Murphy, L. eds. Success with languages. Routledge Study Guides. Routledge, pp. 140–160.
Baumann, Uwe and Shelley, Monica (2005). Assessing intercultural competence gain in a German distance learning course for adults. In: Holmberg, Borje; Shelley, Monica and White, Cynthia eds. Distance education and languages: evolution and change. New perspectives on language and education. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters, pp. 119–139.
Baumann, Uwe (2005). Managing change in an academic environment: the German programme at the OUUK. In: Evans, T.D.; Smith, P. and Stacey, E. eds. Research in Distance Education (RIDE). Geelong: Deakin University, pp. 98–107.
White, Cynthia; Murphy, Linda; Shelley, Monica and Baumann, Uwe (2005). Towards an understanding of attributes and expertise in distance language teaching: tutor maxims. In: Evans, T.; Smith, P. and Stacey, E. eds. Research in Distance Education (RIDE). Geelong: Deakin University, pp. 83–97.
White, C.; Murphy, L.; Shelley, M. A. and Baumann, U. (2005). Towards an understanding of attributes and expertise in distance language teaching: tutor maxims. In: Evans, T. D.; Smith, P. and Stacey, E. eds. Research in Distance Education (RIDE). Geelong: Deakin University, pp. 83–97.
Conference Item
Baumann, Uwe; Shelley, Monica; Murphy, Linda and White, Cynthia (2006). Language tutors at the OUUK – their (e)-competencies in Open and Distance Learning. In: EDEN 2006 Annual Conference, 14-17 June 2006, Vienna, Austria.
Murphy, Linda; Shelley, Monica; White, Cynthia and Baumann, Uwe (2006). Developing effective distance language tutors: Are generic competencies enough? In: 22nd ICDE World Conference on Distance Education, 3-6 September 2006, Brazil.
Murphy, L.; Shelley, M. A.; White, C. and Baumann, U. (2006). Language teaching at a distance: establishing key principles to develop professional practice. In: CILT/LLAS Conference: Crossing Frontiers: Languages and the international dimension, 6-7 July 2006, Cardiff University.
Baumann, U.; Shelley, M. A.; Murphy, L. and Whit, C. (2005). Teaching languages at a distance: Towards an understanding of the tutor’s role. In: EADTU Conference, 10-11 November 2005, Rome.
Baumann, Uwe (1999). Deutsch im Fernstudium an der Open University. In: Wege zur Mehrsprachigkeit im Fernstudium, 13-14 November 1998, Hagen, Germany.
Journal Article
Murphy, L. M.; Shelley, M. A.; White, C. J. and Baumann, U. (2011). Tutor and student perceptions of what makes an effective distance language teacher. Distance Education, 32(3), pp. 397–419.
Murphy, Linda; Shelley, Monica and Baumann, Uwe (2010). Qualities of effective tutors in distance language teaching: student perceptions. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 4(2), pp. 119–136.
Baumann, Uwe; Shelley, Monica; Murphy, Linda and White, C. (2008). New challenges: the role of the tutor in the teaching of languages at a distance. Distances et savoirs, 6(3), pp. 364–392.
Baumann, Uwe and Shelley, Monica (2006). Distance learners of German and intercultural competence. Open Learning, 21(3), pp. 191–204.
Shelley, Monica; White, Cynthia; Baumann, Uwe and Murphy, Linda (2006). "It's a unique role!" Perspectives on tutor attributes and expertise in distance language teaching. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 7(2),
Baumann, Uwe and Shelley, Monica (2003). Adult learners of German at the Open University: their knowledge of, and attitudes towards Germany. Open Learning, 18(1), pp. 61–74.
Baumann, Uwe (1999). Ab initio vs. A level students of German: how does their performance compare? Language Learning Journal, 20(1), pp. 8–14.
Baumann, Uwe (1999). Learning German at a distance - the Open University experience. Interface : Bradford studies in language, culture & society., Ab Initio German: trends and perspectives(4), pp. 149–161.