Research and Projects

Research

Apart from teaching, the department conducts research that deals with the area of foreign language pedagogy, especially with the use of new methods that motivate students to learn a foreign language and at the same time improve its mastery. This is also related to the use of emerging technologies, especially AI tools, in English language teaching, both for the younger generation and for the older generation. The departmental research excellence is reflected in awards, such as Stanford University Global List in which two departmental researchers repeatedly rank among Top 2% Scientists.

The departmental key research areas are as follows:

• Modern approaches to foreign language teaching and learning
• AI in higher education
• Linguistic and ethical aspects of digital communication
• Efficiency of digital tools for foreign language learning
• Quality of Life of older generation in the context of digital education
• Business digital communication and intercultural business communication

In addition to these research endeavors, the department’s researchers are actively involved in several EU COST projects, holding key managerial positions. Their research is regularly published in high-impact journals ranked in Q1 and Q2, contributing significantly to the field. Moreover, their work is widely cited on a global scale, highlighting the department's influence and leadership in language pedagogy and the application of emerging technologies in education. Additionally, several members of the department are actively involved as editorial board members for more than fifteen prestigious journals indexed in Web of Science and Scopus. This involvement further emphasizes the department’s strong academic presence and commitment to advancing research in language education and related fields.

 

Selected projects

2024-2027 – AI4UNI (2024-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000250324)

2024-25 – Accelerating Digital Transformation for Higher Education Institutions in Southeast Asia (DX.SEA)

2023-27 – COST – CA22115 A Multilingual Repository of Phraseme Constructions in Central and Eastern European Languages

2023-24 - Grant of the Fund for Bilateral Relations (reg, no. EHP-BFNU-OVNKM-4-257-01-2023) – Artificial Intelligence in Formal Foreign Language Education

2022-23 – Grant of the Fund for Bilateral Relations (reg. no. EHP-BFNU-OVNKM-4-198-01-2022) – Usefulness of emerging technologies in formal foreign language education

2020-24 – COST CA19102 – Language in the Human-Machine Era 2020-23 – Digital Society Open to Seniors (TL03000296)

2018-19 – The Impact of Learning English on the Enhancement of Cognitive Functions among Healthy Older Generation (the IGS project with the University Hospital Hradec Králové)

 

Most cited and impactful publications according to the Web of Science

Kacetl, J., & Klímová, B. (2019). Use of smartphone applications in English language learning - A challenge for foreign language education. Educ. Sci. 9, 179. 

Klimova, B. (2018). Mobile phones and/or smartphones and their apps for teaching English as a foreign language. Educ Inf Technol, 23(3), 1091-1099 

Poláková, P., & Klímová, B. (2019). Mobile technology and generation Z in the English language classroom – A preliminary study. Educ. Sci., 9(3), 203. 

Klimova, B., Pikhart, M., Benites, A.D., Lehr, C., & Sanchez-Stockhammer, C. (2023). Neural machine translation in foreign language teaching and learning: A systematic review. Educ Inf Technol, 28, 663–682. 

Klimova, B. (2016).  Computer-based cognitive training in aging. Front Aging Neurosci, 8, 313.