Katherine Kerschen

Katherine Kerschen

Lecturer in Germanic Languages and Literatures
research interests:
  • Second Language Acquisition
  • Vocabulary Learning
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Foreign Language Pedagogy
  • Inclusive Teaching Practices

contact info:

mailing address:

  • Department of Comparative and Thought
    MSC 1104-146-319
    Washington University
    1 Brookings Drive
    St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

Katherine Kerschen’s research focuses on second language learners’ lexical knowledge and the process of vocabulary acquisition in a second/foreign language.

Kerschen’s research explores how different instructional methods affect the processes and outcomes of adult second language acquisition. Her dissertation investigated the impact of semantic feature-focused and retrieval-based training activities on intermediate German learners’ productive vocabulary knowledge. Her research incorporates both psycholinguistic and classroom-based approaches. She also works on curriculum development to bring innovative pedagogical methods and a social justice-oriented, equitable, and inclusive approach to the foreign language classroom.  

Kerschen earned her bachelor’s degree in German and Psychology, with a minor in Applied Linguistics, from Washington University in St. Louis. She was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grant and moved to Germany to teach English in a secondary school. Following that, she earned her master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the Technische Universität (TU) Dortmund and taught in the TESOL and Applied Linguistics program. Upon returning to the US, she completed a dual-title doctorate in German Applied Linguistics and Language Science from the Pennsylvania State University.

Kerschen is also a member of the Applied Linguistics Steering Committee.

Recent Courses

German Reading Knowledge for Graduate Students I

Concentration on reading and recognition skills. Mastery of basic high-frequency German vocabulary and of basic German morphology and syntax. Students with prior knowledge of German should enroll in L21 5081. This course must be followed by L21 5081.

Basic German: Core Course I

Introductory program; no previous German required. Students will develop their competence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing German by means of interpersonal, interpretive and presentational communicative practice. This first course serves as an introduction to German grammar and culture; goals range from developing the communicative skills necessary to find an apartment, to being able to read modern German poetry. Students will learn how to apply their knowledge of basic cases and tenses in order to hold a conversation or write a letter describing their interests, family, goals, routines, etc. and to discover personal information about others. Students who complete this course successfully should enroll in German 102D.

Theory and Practice of Foreign Language Pedagogy

This third course in the pedagogical series takes a look back and forward to inform future language instruction. Instructors in their second semester of teaching German at Washington University will consider various theories that have been employed for the purpose of second/foreign language acquisition and how these have been incorporated into or overlooked in contemporary SLA methodology. Students will be introduced to important journals as well as professional organizations that assist language instructors at all levels and will present one journal article of their choice to the class. They will also have an opportunity to begin construction of the materials portfolio - gathering exemplary syllabi, lesson plans and evaluations, and creating their first drafts of a statement of teaching philosophy to start them on these aspects of job market preparation. The course will be comprised of active class discussion and group and individual document development. Attributes: