Ulrike Wray
Associate Lecturer in German

Profile

Biography

I am an Associate Lecturer in German and I have worked in the department from 1995-1997 & then again from October 2007 to the present. Currently, I am the German module convenor for Languages at York below-C.

While teaching, I have also worked as a translator & teacher within academic settings as well as for industry in the (Haribo, Nestlé, Dr. Oetker). I have also been involved with teaching on the York Learning programme for the City of York Council. For several years now, I also prepare students for their year abroad through the Centre for Global Programmes (CGP) at the University of York.  

Over time, I have become more interested in offering students an understanding of how their own cultural awareness can help them to acquire additional cultural literacy when learning a new language. As a result, I use storytelling in language learning across all levels, by using a Japanese storytelling tool called ‘kamishibai’ which improves students’ oral skills as well as incorporating different cultural aspects. With two of my colleagues, I am also involved in a variety of community outreach projects involving ‘kamishibai’ – from primary schools to residential homes.

Teaching

Undergraduate

• Intensive German Language and Cultures: Beginner
• Understanding German-speaking Cultures and Societies (ab initio)

Other teaching

• LfA German Beginner 
• LfA German Elementary 
• LfA German Lower Intermediate 
• LfA German Intermediate 
• German Language and Cultures: Beginner 
• German Language and Cultures: Elementary 
• German Language and Cultures: Lower Intermediate 
• German Language and Cultures: Intermediate 
• Languages for International Mobility - German

External activities

Invited talks and conferences

• 2025 - Nixon, Y. & Wray, U., “No AI – The Creative Ripples of Kamishibai”, forthcoming.
• 2022 - “Think language teaching outside the box? Think Japanese storytelling box!” - online talk and workshop with Megumi Bailey, Géraldine Enjelvin, Yumi Nixon and Natsuko Perera -  World Kamishibai Forum, 16 July 2022.
• 2022 - “A successful community project: storytelling with Kamishibai” - poster presentation with Géraldine Enjelvin and Yumi Nixon - University of York: Learning and Teaching Conference, 18 March 2022.
• 2022 - Article Let’s open a Japanese Story-Box: Kamishibai- part 2(pp.9-14)published (with Géraldine Enjelvin, Yumi Nixon and Holly Williams) in Indian News Magazine Puthalika-Patrika (January 2022)
• 2021 - Article Let’s open a Japanese Story-Box: Kamishibai(pp.28-34)published (with Géraldine Enjelvin, Yumi Nixon and Holly Williams) in Indian News Magazine Puthalika-Patrika (December 2021)
• 2021 - Open lecture Let’s open a Japanese Story-Box: Kamishibai, delivered with Géraldine Enjelvin, Yumi Nixon and Holly Williams (4 December 2021)