2005: Venia docendi in English Linguistics, University of Berne

Habilitation (post-doctoral) Thesis: “Advice Online. Advice-giving in an American Internet Health Column”

Habilitation presentation: “From angst to zeitgeist: German loanwords in the English lexicon”


2002 - 2004: Certificate Higher Education, University of Berne


1999 - 2001: PhD "The Interface of Power and Politeness in Disagreements: An Analysis of Three Speech Situations"; supervisor Prof. Dr. R. J. Watts, External expert Prof. Dr. G. Tottie


2000 - 2001: Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University, Washington DC; sponsored by Prof. Dr. D. Tannen


1992 - 1998: University of Zurich; studies of English literature and linguistics, general history and British and American history (Lizentiat/MA; thesis supervisor Prof. Dr. G. Tottie)


1997: Czech language course at the Charles University in Prague


1994 - 1995: Courses at the Open University in Edinburgh