Karen Vatz

Before moving to Vermont, Vatz worked with a team of educators and researchers at the Center for Advanced Study of Language at the University of Maryland. Her research area is applied linguistics, focusing on foreign language learning and the effectiveness of teaching practices in various contexts, such as face-to-face and distance learning. In addition, Vatz has conducted research on critical period effects in second language acquisition, processing of grammatical gender in learners of French, language aptitude, and effective types of academic support for international students. Vatz joined the Norwich faculty in 2019 and teaches Intercultural Communications, Professional and Technical Writing, and Writing and Inquiry in Public Contexts. She is also the associate director of the Center for Academic Success and Achievement, where she runs the tutoring and success coach programs. In her free time, Vatz enjoys hanging out with her animals (goats, horses, cats, dogs, chinchilla), baking, playing tennis, and driving all over the place to watch her kids play sports.

PhD. Second Language Acquisition, University of Maryland
M.A. French and Second Language Acquisition, University of Maryland
B.A. French, University of Arizona

EN110/EN111 Writing and Inquiry in Public Contexts
COMM261 Intercultural Communications
ID199 Mind Hacks