Dr. Heike Mlakar

I am primarily focused on researching instructed foreign language learning and teaching, with a specific interest in how children develop L2 literacy skills. My research aims to understand the cognitive and linguistic factors which underpin L2 spelling and reading acquisition. I also investigate the effectiveness of different literacy instruction methods for beginner learners of English as a foreign language, including phonics, whole word, and combined approaches. Besides lecturing, I write EFL coursebooks for Austrian upper secondary students (Prime Time, English Unlimited).

Another area of research I am interested in is women writers of the Beat Generation. Specifically, I focus on the works of Brenda Frazer, Hettie Jones, Diane di Prima, and Joyce Johnson.

Contact: mlakar@uni-hildesheim.de

Articles, Book Chapters, and Book Reviews

Mlakar, H. (in preparation). Dyslexia and the English as a Foreign Language classroom (invited article). The Patoss Bulletin.

Mlakar, H., Goecke, B., & Koch, M. J. (in preparation). The roles of cognitive and linguistic abilities in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading and writing: Evidence from German secondary school learners.

Mlakar, H., & Hirst-Plein, J. (in preparation). Cognitive and literacy predictors of EFL vocabulary development in German secondary school learners.

Mlakar, H., Hirst-Plein, J., & Koch, M. J. (2025). Cognitive and linguistic influences on EFL real word and pseudoword spelling: Predictors and error analysis. Languages, 10(5), 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages10050093

Mlakar, H., Hirst-Plein, J., & Koch, M. (2025). L2 spelling predictors of young German learners of English. In S. Frisch & K. Glaser (Eds.), Early language education in instructed contexts: Current issues and empirical insights into teaching and learning languages in primary school, (pp. 118–140). John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/lllt.62.06mla

Mlakar, H., & Schilk, M. (2025). L2 English reading, spelling, and cognitive-linguistic development: Evaluating the effects of phonics versus whole word instruction in L1 German elementary students. Language & Literacy, 27(2), 160–200. https://doi.org/10.20360/langandlit29711

Mlakar, H., Hirst-Plein, J., & Koch, M. J. (2024). Spelling error analysis in young English language learners from a German background: A comparison of three literacy intervention programmes. Journal of the European Second Language Association, 8(1), 131–147. https://doi.org/10.22599/jesla.113

Mlakar, H. (2023). [Review of the book An empirical study of EFL writing at primary school, by R. Trüb]. Fremdsprachen Lehren und Lernen (FLuL), 52(2), 128–130. https://doi.org/10.24053/FLuL-2023-0026

Mlakar, H. (2023). [Blurb of the book My True Stories, by B. Frazer]. Death of Workers Whilst Building Skyscrapers.

Mlakar, H. (2023). Introduction. In B. Frazer, Artista (pp. i–vi). Death of Workers Whilst Building Skyscrapers.

Mlakar, H. (2022, July 4-6). Cognitive mechanisms in L1 and L2 spelling: A review [Conference Proceedings]. European Conference on Literacy, Dublin, Ireland. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365896965_Cognitive_mechanisms_in_L1_and_L2_Spelling_A_Review

Mlakar, H. (2022, March 2). Finally brought to light: Brenda Frazer’s My True Stories (2022). Beatdom. https://www.beatdom.com/my-true-stories/

Mlakar, H. (2021). [Review of the book Some American Tales, by B. Frazer]. Beatdom, 21, 94–96.

Mlakar, H. (2020). Linguistic factors influencing L2 reading comprehension. In G. Mehegan & M. Wilson (Eds.), Literacy without borders. Engaging literacy learners in diverse settings (pp. 166-185). Eden Print Ltd.

Ruhm, R., Leitner-Jones, C., Kulmhofer, A., Kiefer, T., Mlakar, H., & Itzlinger-Bruneforth, U. (2016). Playing the recording once or twice: Effects on listening test performances. International Journal of Listening, 30(1–2), 67–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/10904018.2015.1104252

Mlakar, H. (2016). The ‘Beat Pad’: Joan Vollmer and Hettie Jones at the epicenter of the Beat Generation. CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture, 18(5). https://doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.2928

Mlakar, H. (2007). Jack Kerouac’s and Brenda Frazer’s Shared ‘Romantic Primitivism’: A Comparative Study of On the Road and For Love of Ray. Neoamericanist, 3(1). https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/neoamericanist/article/download/15306/11997

Book

Mlakar, H. (2008). Merely being there is not enough: Women's roles in autobiographical texts by female Beat authors. Boca Raton, FL: Universal.

Textbooks and Teaching Materials

2025

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2025). Prime Time 7 (2nd ed.) [Coursebook with Audio CD/DVD and E-Book]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2025). Prime Time 7 [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2024

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2024). Prime Time 6 (2nd ed.) [Coursebook with Audio CD/DVD and E-Book]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2025). Prime Time 6 [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2023

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2024). Prime Time 5 (2nd ed.) [Coursebook with Audio CD/DVD and E-Book]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2025). Prime Time 5 [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2018

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2018). Prime Time 8 [Coursebook with Audio CD and DVD]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2018). Prime Time 8 [Coursebook with Audio CD/DVD and E-Book]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2018). Prime Time 8 [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2018). Prime Time 8 [Test Resource Pack with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2018). Prime Time 7 [CD-ROM – Digital Teaching Assistant]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Mlakar, H. (2018). Ausspracheschulung mithilfe von Raps. Englisch 5-10, 41(1), 8-11. https://www.friedrich-verlag.de/friedrich-plus/sekundarstufe/englisch/sprechen-aussprache/frankies-food-and-friends-566

2017

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 7 [Coursebook with Audio CD and DVD]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 7 [Coursebook with Audio CD/DVD and E-Book]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 7 [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 7 [Test Resource Pack with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 6 [CD-ROM – Digital Teaching Assistant]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2016

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 6 [Coursebook with Audio CD and DVD]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 6 [Coursebook with Audio CD/DVD and E-Book]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 6 [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 6 [Test Resource Pack with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2017). Prime Time 5 [CD-ROM – Digital Teaching Assistant]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2015

Mayr, B., & Mlakar, H. (2015). English Unlimited 4/5 (HTL) [Coursebook with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Mayr, B., & Mlakar, H. (2015). English Unlimited 4/5 (HTL) [Coursebook with Audio CD/CD-ROM and E-Book]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Mayr, B., & Mlakar, H. (2015). English Unlimited 4/5 (HTL) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Mayr, B., & Mlakar, H. (2015). English Unlimited 4/5 (HTL) [CD-ROM – Digital Teaching Assistant]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

2014

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2014). English Unlimited 3 (HAK/HUM) [Coursebook with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2014). English Unlimited 3 (HAK/HUM) [Coursebook with Audio CD/CD-ROM and E-Book]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., & Mlakar, H. (2014). English Unlimited 3 (HAK/HUM) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2014). English Unlimited 3 (HAK/HUM) [CD-ROM – Digital Teaching Assistant]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2014). Prime Time 5 Transition [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2014). Prime Time 5 Transition [Test Resource Pack with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2013

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 2 (HAK/HUM) [Coursebook with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 2 (HAK/HUM) [Coursebook with Audio CD/CD-ROM and E-Book]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 2 (HAK/HUM) [CD-ROM – Digital Teaching Assistant]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 2 (HTL) [Coursebook with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 2 (HTL) [Coursebook with Audio CD/CD-ROM and E-Book]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 2 (HTL) [CD-ROM – Digital Teaching Assistant]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 3 (HTL) [Coursebook with Audio CD and CD-ROM]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 3 (HTL) [Coursebook with Audio CD/CD-ROM and E-Book]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Donath, W., Mayr, B., Mlakar, H., & Pope-Hoffmann, L. (2013). English Unlimited 3 (HTL) [CD-ROM – Digital Teaching Assistant]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2013). Prime Time 5 Transition [Coursebook with Audio CD and DVD]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2013). Prime Time 5 Transition [Coursebook with Audio CD/DVD and E-Book]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Mlakar, H. (2013). English Unlimited 2 (HTL) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Mlakar, H. (2013). English Unlimited 2 (HAK/HUM) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

Mlakar, H. (2013). English Unlimited 3 (HTL) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Cambridge, England & Vienna, Austria: Cambridge University Press & öbv.

2012

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2012). Prime Time 8 (1st ed.) [Coursebook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2012). Prime Time 8 (1st ed.) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2012). Prime Time 8 (1st ed.) [Test Resource Pack]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2011

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2011). Prime Time 6 (1st ed.) [Coursebook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2011). Prime Time 6 (1st ed.) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2011). Prime Time 6 (1st ed.) [Test Resource Pack]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2011). Prime Time 7 (1st ed.) [Coursebook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2011). Prime Time 7 (1st ed.) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2011). Prime Time 7 (1st ed.) [Test Resource Pack]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2010

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2010). Prime Time 5 (1st ed.) [Coursebook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2010). Prime Time 5 (1st ed.) [Teacher’s Handbook]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

Hellmayr, G., Mlakar, H., & Waba, S. (2010). Prime Time 5 (1st ed.) [Test Resource Pack]. Vienna, Austria: öbv.

2025

Mlakar, H., Niolaki, G., Terzopoulos, A., & Hirst-Plein, J. (2025, October 4–7). L2 English phonological and orthographic spelling errors in L1 German English learners: Analyses and predictors [Conference presentation]. 6th Baltic Sea Conference on Literacy, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia.

Mlakar, H. (2025, September 15–17). Opening speech [Invited talk]. European Beat Studies Network 13th Annual Conference, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany.

Mlakar, H. (2025, August 25–29). Cognitive and linguistic predictors of L2 English spelling accuracy and misspellings [Conference presentation]. European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Mlakar, H., & Hirst-Plein, J. (2025, June 19–20). Evaluating the impact of phonics and whole word approaches on L2 English literacy in young L1 German EFL learners [Conference presentation]. Advances in Teaching Foreign Languages to Young Learners, University of Leipzig; University of Wuppertal, Germany.

Mlakar, H. (2025, June 9–13). Investigating cognitive-linguistic influences on L2 English spelling: Insights from real word and pseudoword error analysis [Conference presentation]. 15th International Symposium on Bilingualism, San Sebastian, Spain.

2024

Mlakar, H. (2024, June 24–26). Teaching L2 spelling in primary school: Evaluating effective spelling instruction programmes [Conference presentation]. 23rd European Conference on Literacy, Chania, Greece.

Mlakar, H. (2024, February 9). Unveiling the spelling conundrum in the teaching of YLEs [Conference presentation]. Building Bridges between Theory and Practice in Language Teacher Education, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany.

2023

Mlakar, H. (2023, September 12–15). Narrative techniques in Beat women’s life writings [Conference presentation]. European Beat Studies Network 11th Annual Conference, The University of Chicago Center Paris, Paris, France.

Mlakar, H., & Hirst-Plein, J. (2023, August 30–September 2). Investigating the cognitive and linguistic underpinnings of L2 spelling [Conference presentation]. EUROSLA, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

2022

Mlakar, H., & Hirst-Plein, J. (2022, November 16). Cognitive and linguistic predictors of young L2 learners’ spelling ability [Conference presentation]. TEFL Colloquium, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany.

Mlakar, H. (2022, September 28–30). Disrupted narrative techniques in Brenda Frazer’s life writing. My True Stories (2022) [Conference presentation]. European Beat Studies Network 10th Annual Conference, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.

Mlakar, H., & Hirst-Plein, J. (2022, September 22–23). “I leik aiskrim”: Cognitive and linguistic predictors of young L2 learners’ spelling ability [Conference presentation]. Advances in Teaching Foreign Languages to Young Learners, University of Leipzig; University of Wuppertal, Germany. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30893.15845

Mlakar, H. (2022, August 24–27). Predictors of spelling abilities in young second-language learners [Conference presentation]. EUROSLA, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Mlakar, H. (2022, July 4–6). Learner variables in second language spelling [Conference presentation]. 22nd European Conference on Literacy, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.

2021

Mlakar, H. (2021, March 20–23). Investigating young learners’ reading proficiency in L2 English: An evaluation of two literacy programs [Conference presentation]. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) Conference, Houston, TX, United States.

2019

Mlakar, H. (2019, October 9–12). Narrative techniques in Brenda Frazer’s life writing: Troia: Mexican Memoirs revisited [Conference presentation]. European Beat Studies Network 8th Annual Conference, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Greece.

Mlakar, H. (2019, November 8–9). Cognitive and linguistic variables influencing young learners’ L2 reading comprehension [Conference presentation]. Literacy Association of Ireland, 43rd Annual Conference, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.

2011

Mlakar, H. (2011, April 20–23). The concept of ‘home’ in female Beats’ memoirs [Conference presentation]. National Popular Culture & American Culture Association, San Antonio, TX, United States.

2008

Mlakar, H. (2008, December 12–13). Beatific ‘Romantic Racialists’: Jack Kerouac and Brenda Frazer on the shared road to racial prejudice [Conference presentation]. Kerouac’s On the Road: The Beats and the Post-Beats, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Invited Lectures

Mlakar, H. (2025, July 29). German education system: From early childhood to tertiary education [Invited lecture]. School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, United States.

Mlakar, H. (2025, March 12). German EFL teachers' self-efficacy and professional development [Student workshop]. Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, United States.

Mlakar, H. (2024, March 7). Effective reading instruction: Analytic versus synthetic phonics [Invited lecture]. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Mlakar, H. (2018, February 19). Key topics in SLA [Lecture series contribution]. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Presentation: “Learning a foreign language with dyslexia.”