Little pauses that sparked big thoughts—walks near Lund University Library on campus
About... Me.
Hi, and welcome!
I'm a language teacher and Cognitive Linguistics researcher with a strong academic background and a broad range of teaching and research experience.
For those interested in finding out more about me, this section offers a glimpse into my academic journey, professional roles, participation in the international research community, and other interests. All photos you see on this website are little moments that stood out to me during my research adventures (primarily, "worry-free" landscapes).
Enjoy exploring—and «Nice to meet you!»
/Eleni
King's Park, Malmö—a favorite place to wander and breathe
My Education
My academic path reflects my deep commitment to understanding language and cognition. From undergraduate studies to doctoral research, each step has shaped my perspective as a linguist and educator. My academic background in English studies and linguistics has been cultivated through multiple degrees and advanced training in Greece, Sweden, and other places.
My English proficiency was formally certified by the Hellenic American Union, following standardized language assessment at Anatolia College in Thessaloniki, Greece. My teaching license was subsequently issued by the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports in 2001.
I later earned my Higher Education Diploma with a Specialization in English from Dalarna University in Sweden, followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree from the same institution. My undergraduate studies were a deep dive into English language structure, literature, culture, and language teaching. I explored both the analytical and creative dimensions of language, submitting two bachelor's theses—one on epistemic modality in student writing, and another as an optional thesis on literature studies, driven by my love for Virginia Woolf's writings. Many thanks to a wonderful group of brilliant minds (and souls) at the English Department for their respectful approach to students and their unwavering encouragement. Special thanks to Fredrik, Julie, Katherina, and Konstantin, who changed my life in ways I could never fully put into words.
Continuing at Dalarna University, I completed a Master of Arts in Applied English Linguistics, focusing on academic communication, discourse analysis, corpus methodologies, and the global role of English. My studies emphasized both theoretical depth and applied linguistic practices. A special thank you to Annelie and Jonathan for everything they taught me and for encouraging me to take the next step toward doctoral studies.
At the doctoral level, I pursued advanced research in Cognitive Linguistics at Lund University in Sweden. My PhD training has included extensive coursework in cognitive and lexical semantics, construction grammar, and current semantic theory, alongside pedagogical studies in higher education and statistical methods for behavioral sciences. I am currently writing my dissertation. I want to thank Jenny for introducing the studies of Cognition and Embodiment to me, Satu for her insightful views on Semantics and Syntax, and Ben and Joyce for sharing with me their innovative teaching methods (and several other friends and colleagues—like Lena, Sophia, José, and Liza—for their generous support and inspiring conversations).
In addition to my formal degrees, I have enriched my expertise through several free-standing courses for researchers and teaching practitioners across universities, such as advanced studies in gesture analysis at Vrije University of Amsterdam Graduate School and specialized pedagogical methods at the University of the Aegean and Hellenic Mediterranean University.
Fading light at Lomma Bay—a bit of cold, but always worth it!
My Professional Development
Below are selected highlights of my work as an educator and trainer across various institutions and learner groups.
Evolving as a Teacher & Trainer
Language Educator & Curriculum Designer
I began my teaching career in 2009, working with language centers such as EUROGNOSI and AXON, with collaborations in Greece and internationally. In these roles, I taught a broad range of learners, including young students, university-level learners, and professionals such as engineers, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. I designed and delivered tailored English language courses that addressed specific professional goals and communicative needs. In addition to teaching, I was actively involved in curriculum development, program coordination, and instructional material design. I also held leadership responsibilities, serving as Director of Studies at AXON in Kozani (Greece), where I oversaw academic planning, teacher coordination, and pedagogical strategy. These experiences strengthened my practical expertise in language education and broadened my perspective on teaching in diverse educational and professional settings.
University-Level Teaching & Supervision
As a doctoral candidate at Lund University, I taught English grammar, advanced syntactic analysis, and vocabulary to undergraduate students at the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology, as well as to students enrolled in the Teacher Education Programme at the Centre for Languages and Literature—future educators preparing to teach English. I also served as an assistant supervisor for bachelor's theses in English Linguistics, supporting students throughout the research and writing process. These roles allowed me to engage with learners at an advanced academic level, and to further develop my skills in academic instruction, mentoring, and teacher training. I'm especially thankful to Professor Satu Manninen, whose thoughtful guidance and support played a big role in shaping my growth regarding thesis supervision. I also wish to thank Associate Professors Eva Klingvall and Henrik Gyllstad for teaching me by example professional integrity and work ethics—in academia and in the wider sense (rare qualities sometimes).
Science Communication & Interdisciplinary Instruction
At the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University, I taught specific parts of the course Scientific Communication in Theory and Practice: Popular Science Writing to fellow doctoral students. The course focused on how researchers—particularly in the medical field—can communicate their work and findings to a broader audience. This role deepened my interest in the interface between language, knowledge, and society. I am deeply grateful to Associate Professor Lene Nordrum for her guidance and for generously sharing her invaluable insights with me.
Professional Skills Development for Academics
Continuing my work at Lund University, I designed and led workshops on oral proficiency and presentation skills for university staff in collaboration with Associate Professor Joyce Kling. These sessions were offered to professionals working across various roles—academic, administrative, and support—in both Lund and Malmö. The workshops aimed to enhance participants' communication skills in English, fostering greater confidence in multilingual, interdisciplinary environments. This experience enriched my understanding of professional language needs beyond the classroom and strengthened my ability to design practical, context-responsive training for diverse adult learners.
Academic Representation & Governance
Alongside my teaching responsibilities, I also had the opportunity to serve as the Doctoral Student Representative on the Board of Doctoral Theses Supervisors (Handledarkollegiet) at the English Department at Lund University. In this role, I attended the board meetings and contributed to discussions related to English linguistics and doctoral education. This experience offered me valuable insights into university governance and strengthened my belief in the importance of collaboration, representation, and inclusive academic communities. It also enhanced my skills in policy dialogue, and strategic thinking within institutional contexts.
Testing the waters before presenting my work and ideas at Heinrich-Heine-Universität of Düsseldorf
Evolving as a Researcher
My research sits at the intersection of Cognitive Linguistics and Event Cognition, with a focus on how language reflects the way we perceive and mentally represent events. In my doctoral work, I explore how speakers of different languages—specifically Greek and English—encode agency, motion, directionality, and transitivity in their descriptions of audiovisual scenes.
My research is structured around several independent studies, each examining different aspects of how people interpret and describe events. Drawing on Cognitive Semantics and previous research on cross-linguistic comparisons, I investigate both the linguistic structures and the cognitive representations that shape event descriptions. I am particularly interested in the dynamic interplay between language and thought, and how cross-linguistic data can offer insights into deeper cognitive processes.
My methodology combines experimental design, annotation-based analysis, and statistical interpretation. Participants are asked to describe short video clips, and their responses are examined using a detailed coding scheme that captures how event structure is expressed through verbs, nouns, adverbs, and prepositions in Greek and English. This data-driven approach helps uncover subtle yet meaningful differences in how speakers of Greek and English represent the same audiovisual input. This project is a work in progress, evolving as I continue to analyze, reflect, and refine both my questions and methods.
Before arriving at this current line of research, I explored how language is used to describe auditory experiences, particularly through soundscape analysis. My research sparked meaningful conversations at several international conferences such as the 16th International Cognitive Linguistics Conference in Germany, The 12th International Conference on the Mental Lexicon in Canada, and the IX Language Culture and Mind International Conference in Spain. That period of exploration, though challenging, helped me sharpen my research focus and ultimately guided me toward the path I now follow with deeper clarity and purpose, shaped by my way of thinking about cognition and communication.
October colors in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Hobbies & Interests
Many of my hobbies have grown out of work I've done over the years to support myself and my family—creative paths that stuck with me long after the job ended.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, I worked with a couple of photographers, Tasa Dalla and Christos Vranos. That experience left me with a lasting appreciation of composition, framing, balance, and contrast. Photography has stayed with me since—often behind the scenes, but always with an eye for depth and detail.
In another turn, my love for music (and talking!) led me to the radio—originally just a short-term job, which unexpectedly turned into an 11-year run as the host of a four-hour breakfast show at Diva Radio in Greece. I do miss the connection with the listeners—the daredevils who went live on air, and those who called in just to share their thoughts, opinions, and stories.
I also enjoy creating things—whether it's painting, pottery, or putting together short educational videos to help my students learn vocabulary. I keep a private YouTube channel for easy sharing in class, where I can mix audiovisuals and language in creative ways. These projects let me stay playful, practical, and connected to the creative side of teaching, as well.
If you share any of these interests—or just enjoy creating things that bring ideas to life—I'd love to hear from you!