Work experience

• Managing Director

  Jena Paradies GmbH

  2020.09-Current

  (5 years)

  3 years 4 months Together with my husband, I successfully established 3 rental apartments in Jena that can be found and booked on www.booking.com - Jena Paradies, Jena Botanical Garden and Jena The Grand Piano Suite. I currently oversee the operations and quality management of the latter in particular, while co-managing the other 2 with my husband. The Grand Piano Suite recently received the Traveller Review Award 2024.
• English (ESL/EAP) Instructor

  University College, UAE University

  2011.07-2017.06

  (6 years)

  5 years 9 months During the 6 years in the Foundation Program, I taught English Integrated and Writing skills courses to students with a CEFR range of A1-B2 in iPad enabled classrooms. With individual online learning communities for each class, I created or adapted classroom and course book materials, targeting academic IELTS vocabulary. I also developed numerous web-based quizzes for formative and summative assessment. Through my continuous constructive feedback about course materials and computer exams, I was invited to work for the Curriculum and Assessment Committee where I have been assisting in vetting and proofreading exams since September 2015. I also worked on creating materials for a new intermediate online summer course.
• IELTS speaking examiner

  University of Wollongong, Dubai

  2014.10-2017.06

  (3 years)

  2 years 8 months Passed IELTS exam in June 2014 with 8.5–a prerequisite for non-native speakers (speaking 9, listening9, reading 8.5, writing 8). Have been examining candidates in speaking interviews on a monthly basis, attended examiner trainings and passed follow up examination (every 2 years).
• EmSAT writing examiner

  Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE

  2017.01-2017.05

  (5 months)

  Graded written essay part of the English EmSAT exam, a UAE equivalent of the English IELTS testing
• Emsat writing examiner

  Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE

  2013.12-2017.02

  (3 years)

  Invigilated the English Assessment test, graded exam papers (essay in particular) to determine students’ placement into the according English prep courses.
• Raw Food Kitchen Intern

  Gló Rejkjavik, Iceland

  2016.04-2016.07

  (4 months)

  Following my strong interest in a healthy life style and plant-based nutrition, I interned at Iceland’s most famous Vegan/Raw Food Restaurant Gló. Learnt raw food techniques to prepare pesto, sauces, cakes and dessert, as well as dehydration skills for savory dishes like raw pizza, sushi, and enchilada.
• German Language Teacher GSCE exam

  Brighton College, Al

  2015.09-2016.05

  (9 months)

  During the academic year of 2015/2016, I tutored a student who had transferred from the U.K. Since the school could not provide a German teacher, she received individual tuition to prepare for her GSCE exam. While her pre-exam was at C, she passed the final exam with an overall grade of A.
• German Language Teacher

  Faculty of Translation, German Minor, UAE University

  2012.12-2013.06

  (7 months)

  During the spring and summer semester, I was asked to preliminarily teach the language courses for 0 Level beginner students in the newly established German Minor at the Faculty of Translation. Co-created beginner’s curriculum, developed course and assessment materials.
• English Teacher

  French International School Theodore Monod

  2010.08-2011.07

  (a year)

  Taught English to children aged 4-6 in a French-English bilingual nursery and primary school. Developed the English counterpart of the French teacher’s curriculum for English, teaching pre-school reading, writing, speaking as well as math, art, music, science and P.E. activities to natives and non-natives.
• German Language Teacher

  Tawazun Engineering Program, UAE University

  2010.08-2011.03

  (8 months)

  Taught German to 0 level beginner students for an exclusive group of male Emirati students preparing them for a 3-month vocational program combined with a German family home-stay. Designed curriculum. with focus on conversation and developed course and assessment materials.
• Translator/Interpreter for English/German/Chinese

  Self-employed

  2003.08-2009.08

  (6 years)

  5 years 11 months Interpreted and translated for a variety of companies in different fields: Conferences & Lectures, Real Estate, Homeopathy, Meditation Centre, Hotel, Electrical Tools, Toys, Architecture & Finance, Biological Sewage Systems, Medicine, and Financial Consulting.
• Private Chinese and English Teacher

  Self-Employed

  2005.05-2009.06

  (4 years)

  Taught Conversational, Business and High School Diploma Prep English as well as Conversational Chinese, mainly one-on-one, to adults, teens, and children with different levels ranging from CEFR A1 to B2. Established Chinese club at a local foreign language specialist high school.
• Financial Advisor

  Tecis GmbH

  2007.09-2009.05

  (2 years)

  Worked as a Junior and later Senior Consultant, analyzing client’s risk profiles and advising correspondently. Attained “Qualified Insurance Specialist Diploma” from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
• Maternity leave

  At home

  2005.02-2006.03

  (a year)

  for my son Pascal (*20/03/05) and my daughter Jolie (*02/06/08)
• Undergraduate Assistant for Chinese Studies

  Institute of Sinology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, GER

  2001.08-2004.12

  (3 years)

  3 years 3 months Categorized and entered newly arrived Chinese library books into the library catalogue. Assisted and mentored B.A. undergraduates in their language studies, course choices and library research.
• Tutor and Scientific Research Associate

  Institute of Sociology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, GER

  2002.08-2003.06

  (a year)

  Taught B.A. tutorials for the course “Introduction into Sociology”. Proofread Prof. Armin Nassehi’s book “Geschlossenheit und Offenheit - Studien zur Theorie der modernen Gesellschaft”, Suhrkamp.
• Executive Assistant President Asia/Pacific

  Intershop Communications Hong Kong

  2000.08-2001.05

  (10 months)

  company, mainly including phone, fax, email account support, appointments, travel management and expense reports, as well as the preparation of presentations and meetings.
• German Teacher

  Kunming Normal University

  1999.09-2000.03

  (7 months)

  Taught Basic German to Chinese university teachers (aged 25-55) planning to study in Germany.

Projects

• Food Forest Permaculture Project

  Managing Director

  2019.06-2024.12

  (6 years)

  I established and maintained a seven-layered food forest (garden) on 1000 square meter according to permaculture principles with an extensive orchard with over 300 native and foreign fruit and nut trees, berry shrubs, vegetables and herbal species. I applied methods to improve and rebuild fertile soil and created a diverse habitat for many wild insects and birds.

Educational experience

• LMU Munich Germany

  Chinese Studies

  1999.09-2005.05

  (6 years)

  Grade1.4 - with honors
• Beijing Normal University, Beijing

  Advanced Chinese Course (run by Princeton in Beijing)

  2001.06-2001.08

  (3 months)

  4 week intensive course Chinese Level Advanced
• Yunnan University, Kunming, CHN

  Intermediate Chinese Course

  1999.08-2000.05

  (10 months)

  Chinese Studies finishing with HSK5
• Adolf-Reichwein-Gymnasium, Jena, GER

  German High School Diploma

  1994.08-1996.06

  (2 years)

  Abitur 1.6
• Auburn High School, Auburn/WA, USA

  American High School Certificate

  1993.08-1994.06

  (a year)

  High school

Languages