FOSTIN: Team Members: Constantin the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia


Team Members: Constantin the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia
Mária Hricková teaches at the Department of English and American Studies, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. Her research focuses mainly on the study of literature, particularly on poetry, interpersonal communication and ELT. She is the author of Empowering Encounters: On Writers, Places and Books (2022) which explores how literature, poetry and art relate to our life. At present, she is the main coordinator of two international projects, Fostering Students’ Interdisciplinary Competence through the Action-Oriented Approach and Collaborative Online International Learning, and Poetry as lingua franca – effective approaches to teaching poetry as a vehicle for personal growth within the context of international cross-cultural communication, which connect teachers and students from different countries and cultures, including Algeria, India, Iraq, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Czech Republic. Mária Hricková also works as a mentor in Regional Centre for Teachers and gives workshops in primary schools and grammar schools in Slovakia which enhance soft skills and communicative skills of learners. She is interested in positive psychology and in the use of positive strengths in pedagogical practice. She became a certified positive psychology coach (Wholebeing Institute, US) in 2022. Her other interests include areas such as interspiritual dialogue, integration of contemplative practices in education and service learning.
Having graduated a masters degree in teaching English language and Mathematics and a doctoral degree in English studies, Mgr. Martina Juričková, PhD. now works as a postdoc assistant at the Department of English and American Studies at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. She specializes in fantasy, British, and postcolonial literature. In her research, she focuses on the depiction of virtues and vices in fantasy literature, particularly J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. However, she also has experience with teaching across all age groups, from 9 year olds in primary schools, through teenagers at vocational and grammar schools, young adults at university, to seniors at language schools.
Simona Klimková works as an Associate Professor at the Department of English and American Studies at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia, where she has been teaching since 2005. Her research activities focus predominantly on literary theory, contemporary Anglophone fiction and postcolonial literature. Her pedagogical activities are centered on literary seminars which facilitate literary interpretation, improve reading skills and also focus on interdisciplinary approaches by interconnecting literature with film or visual art. Moreover, she regularly organizes literary and educational activities for students. Professor Klimková has participated in several research projects focusing on raising intercultural awareness through literature and cultural studies. She has published extensively on the abovementioned issues and has participated in numerous international conferences. She is the author of the monograph Committed Literature: the novels of Ngugi wa Thiong’o (2019) as well as the co-author of several monographs, such as Cultural Encounters in Contemporary Literature (2008), Multicultural Awareness – Reading Ethnic Writing (2008), Literature and Culture (2010) and Contemporary Short Stories in English I-II (2010, 2015).
PhDr. Katarína Michalíková obtained a degree in the study programme Teacher Training of English Language and Literature, History and Political Science from Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. Currently, she is teaching English, Civics and History in Grammar School, Golianova 68, Nitra. She also works as the coordinator of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. Since the beginning of her teaching career, she has participated in various courses and workshops for her developing her teaching skills. It is worth mentioning for example: summer course CLIL in the UK , a five- week programme in the US organised by the Fulbright Commission, where she had, as the only Slovak teacher, a chance to take part in the summer seminar “the Study of the U.S. Institute for Secondary Educators.“ In 2018 she successfully completed study at Komenského inštitút (KI). She also successfully completed a coaching-mentoring programme. Since 2018 she has been organizing Summer Schools for Teachers. She is interested in pedagogical practices that can enhance student engagement. Aside from teaching, she tries to lead students to critical thinking and to encourage them to connect freedom with responsibility.
Erik György is a third-year PhD-candidate at the Department of English and American Studies, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. He has taught English language, literature, and history for the past few years at several educational institutions, where he gained experience teaching various age groups and proficiency levels. His academic research focuses on contemporary forms of literature, such as electronic literature and print-digital hybrids, the various relational configurations of print and electronic literature or the pedagogical uses of electronic literature.
Mgr. Ivana Horváthová, PhD. is a postdoc assistant at the Department of English and American Studies, Faculty of Arts, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. Currently, her research interests focus on the usage of picture books in English lessons at primary level of education. She is an author of one monograph dedicated to teaching English at pre-primary level of education and a co-author of one course book which is primarily designed as supplementary material for the students of teacher training study programmes and other participants in academic courses dedicated to children’s literature. She leads cultural and literary seminars (Realia, history and culture of English speaking countries, Children’s literature) the topics of which are elaborated by teacher trainees in the form of complex lesson plans. In this way, pre-service teachers improve their pedagogical skills and at the same time they broaden their historical, factual and cultural background.
Doc. Elena Ciprianová, PhD. is an Associate Professor in the Department of English and American Studies, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. She received her MA in English and History from Comenius University in Bratislava. In addition, she earned a master’s degree in History at Central European University in Budapest. She holds a PhD in the Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching and has been involved in teacher training and taught courses in Sociolinguistics, Applied Linguistics, Text Linguistics, Morphology and Academic Writing. Her research focuses on language variation, the cognitive study of metaphor, intercultural communication, the integration of sociocultural content into English language teaching and the development of students’ intercultural communicative competence. She is author of two monographs: Kultúra a vyučovanie cudzieho jazyka (2008) and Metafora ako kognitívny, jazykový a kultúrny fenomén v angličtine (2013) and co-author of YES! English maturita textbooks for secondary school students. She is chief editor of the international scientific journal Topics in Linguistics published by Sciendo (De Gruyter).
Štefan Mikla is a doctoral student at the Department of Ethics and Aesthetics at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. He obtained a bachelor's degree in the study program Teaching of English Language and Literature and Ethical Education. On his master's degree, he continued the study of Applied Ethics, Ethical Expertise, and Ethical Counseling. His current aim during his studies is Ethics with a focus on innovations in teaching Ethics and interdisciplinary connections. Aside from studies, he takes a part in the Student Parliament of UKF and as a delegate of Constantine the Philosopher University in “Študentská rada vysokých škôl” which is the highest agency representing the voice of university students. He also worked as a volunteer in an international summer camp in Slovenia, where he was teaching English.
Mgr. Diana Židová, PhD. is an Assistant Professor at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. She has been working at the Department of English language and culture, Faculty of Education, since 2017. Her academic experience includes teaching courses on literature, history, and culture of the USA. In her research, she focuses on didactics of contemporary Anglophone literature emphasising its role in lifelong education and MOOCs. Moreover, she fosters innovation in students via interactive mediation assignments implementing task-based and project-based methods. She has published the following research articles: “Literature as a tool of awareness: Traits of autism spectrum disorders for students in ESP class” and “Massive open online courses (MOOCs): the promise of non-formal education in English language learning“.
Erik György is a third-year PhD-candidate at the Department of English and American Studies, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. He has taught English language, literature, and history for the past few years at several educational institutions, where he gained experience teaching various age groups and proficiency levels. His academic research focuses on contemporary forms of literature, such as electronic literature and print-digital hybrids, the various relational configurations of print and electronic literature or the pedagogical uses of electronic literature.

Last modified: Sunday, 18 February 2024, 8:59 PM