Overview
Carolin (Caro) Jolitz holds a dual-title Ph.D. in German Applied Linguistics and Language Science from Penn State University and an M.A. in Educational Science and German Linguistics from the University of Kiel, Germany. Her research centers on instructed second language acquisition and educational technology, particularly how digital tools can enhance second language learning in and beyond the classroom.
Supported by a Duolingo Dissertation Grant and a Max Kade Dissertation Fellowship, her doctoral work examined the effects of audiovisual input (i.e., captioned and non-captioned videos) on beginner German learners’ pronunciation and perception skills. In her research, she also investigates how first-language orthography influences learners’ ability to produce and perceive sounds in a second language, with a focus on developing instructional strategies to mitigate challenges when orthography interferes with phonological development.
Carolin has taught German at all proficiency levels and co-developed a sustainability-focused short-term study abroad program in Switzerland. She also completed a three-month internship at the Goethe-Institut in Bangkok, Thailand, where she designed and taught conversation courses and co-organized the first Asia-Pacific German Olympics. In both her research and teaching, Carolin is committed to integrating digital tools and developing innovative instructional methods to motivate and engage diverse learner groups. Her primary goal is to help students develop practical communication skills they can confidently apply beyond the classroom in real-world contexts.
To learn more about her research and teaching, visit her homepage at www.carolinjolitz.weebly.com.