Dr. HJM Yoganjana S. Menike

Yoganjana is a trained university lecturer in German as a foreign and second language. She has taught at two Sri Lankan state universities: the University of Kelaniya (2008–2010) as a temporary assistant lecturer, and University College Batangala (2017–2020) as a visiting lecturer. She was appointed Lecturer (Probationary) in the Department of Tourism Management at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer Grade II in May 2018. She has completed her PhD in German Language with very good pass (magna cum laude) in 2025 at University of Potsdam Germany.

She completed an internship at ÜAG Jena in Germany and worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Inclusive German Didactics on the Service Learning Projekt from August 2022 to August 2023. 

Apart from teaching, she has equipped herself by compiling textbooks and teaching materials, providing student and professional counselling, and contributing articles to various national and international magazines and newspapers.  She is hardworking, self-motivated and proficient in Sinhala, English and German.

Professional Qualifications

Current Academic Position

• Senior Lecturer (Grade II) in German Language, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (May 2018–present)

Previous Academic & Teaching Experience

• Lecturer (Probationary), Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (April 2013–2018)
• Temporary Lecturer in German Language, Department of Languages, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (July 2010–March 2013)
• Assistant Temporary Lecturer in German Language, Department of Modern Languages, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (August 2008–July 2010)
• Visiting Lecturer in German Language, University College Batangala, Sri Lanka (2016–2018)
• Visiting Lecturer in German Language, Arugambay Tourism Sector Training Programme, Ampara District Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ADCCIA), Sri Lanka (2018–2019)

International Academic & Professional Experience

• Scientific Assistant, Institut für Inklusive Deutschdidaktik, University of Potsdam, Germany (August 2022–August 2023, part-time) Coordination of the Service-Learning Project involving Egypt, Indonesia, Brazil, and Germany in school-based German education contexts
• Scientific Assistant (English–German Translation), Family Service, University of Potsdam, Germany (August 2022–August 2023, part-time)
• Course Coordinator, Benjamin-Franklin-School, Berlin, Germany (January 2023–July 2023, part-time) Debate Club (after-school programme under University of Potsdam project collaboration)
• Mentor for International Students, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany (October 2015–April 2017)
• Research Assistant, Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), Colombo, Sri Lanka (2006–2008)

Academic Supervision & Student Support

• Student Counsellor, Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (203-2014, 2017-2022, 2025 to present)

Education & Doctoral Studies

• Doctoral Researcher, University of Potsdam, Germany (2022–2025)
• Postgraduate student of M.A. in German as a Foreign Language, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany (2015–2017)

Academic Roles, Leadership & Memberships

• Session Chair, Foreign Languages Education
  IAFOR European Conference Series 2024 (ECE/ECLL/ECAH/EGen2024), The International Academic Forum (IAFOR)
  https://iafor.org/archives/conference-programmes/ece/ece-programme-2024.pdf
• Member, SIG Writing (EARLI) (2024–present)
  https://www.earli.org/sig/sig-12-writing
• Member, The International Academic Forum (IAFOR)
  https://iafor.org
• Member, Sabaragamuwa University Teachers’ Association of Sri Lanka (2013–present)
• Member, Postgraduate Association, University of Potsdam
  https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/pogs
• Member, Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Alumni Network (Germany) (2016–present)
  https://www.rosalux.de
• Alumni Member, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany (2016–present)
  https://www.uni-jena.de

Teaching German as a Foreign Language

Textbook Analysis

Media Didactic- M-Learning, E-Learning, and V- Learning for Foreign Language Teaching

Children´s Literature in Germany and Sri Lanka

German Culture and Life Style

International Printed Book Publications

Menike, H. J. M. Y. S. (2026). Die Implementation und Förderung der Sprechfertigkeit im Fach Deutsch an staatlichen Schulen in Sri Lanka: Eine Langzeitstudie mit Deutschlehrkräften (PhD Dissertation). Universität Potsdam. https://doi.org/10.25932/publishup-70105

Yoganjana S. M., & Hewarathna, J. M. (2016). Der Gebrauch des Perfekt- und Präteritumparadigmas im Deutschen und Singhalesischen. GRIN Verlag, München. ISBN: 9783668285866.

Yoganjana S. M., & Hewarathna, J. M. (2018). Lehrwerkanalyse von "Wir" und Vorbereitung der Implementierung eines neuen Abiturlehrwerks für Deutsch als Fremdsprache in Sri Lanka. GRIN Verlag, München. ISBN: 9783668597686.

Menike, H. J. M. Y. S. (2020). Deutsch als Fremdsprache: Unterrichtseinheiten in einem Jugendintegrationskurs – Praktikumserfahrung im DaF/DaZ-Unterricht. GRIN Verlag. ISBN: 9783346011169.

Hewarathna, Y. S., & Menike, H. J. M. Y. S. (2015). Rezension von "Wunderwirtschaft. DDR" (1996). GRIN Verlag. https://www.grin.com/document/338950

Online E-Book / Journal Publications

Yoganjana S. M., & Hewarathna, J. M. (2015). Rezension von "Wunderwirtschaft. DDR" (1996). GRIN Verlag. https://www.grin.com/document/338950

Yoganjana S. M., & Hewarathna, J. M. (2016). Der Gebrauch des Perfekt- und Präteritumparadigmas im Deutschen und Singhalesischen. GRIN Verlag. https://www.grin.com/document/338944

Yoganjana S. M., & Hewarathna, J. M. (2017). Lehrwerkanalyse von "Wir" und Vorbereitung der Implementierung eines neuen Abiturlehrwerks für Deutsch als Fremdsprache in Sri Lanka. GRIN Verlag. https://www.grin.com/document/383747

Yoganjana S., Menike H. J. M., & Pathmalatha, K. M. (2015). Developing foreign language competencies of tourism industry oriented undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 2, 74–84. https://www2.nau.edu/nabej-p/ojs/index.php/igutourism/article/view/284

Local Book Publications

National Institute of Education Sri Lanka. (2011). Teachers’ instructional manual for Advanced Level German language (Contributor).

Menike, H. J. M. Y. S. (2014). Curriculum for German for Tourism I–IV. Department of Tourism Management, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

Abstracts / Paper Presentations

Hewarathna, Y. S., & Giera, W.-K. (2024). Insufficient writing exercises in the prescribed textbook of the A/L German syllabus in Sri Lanka. PowerPoint presentation, The International Academic Forum (IAFOR) European Conference Series 2024, University of London, United Kingdom.

Hewarathna, Y. S., & Giera, W.-K. (2024). Poster presentation: Insufficient writing exercises in the prescribed textbook of the A/L German syllabus in Sri Lanka. SIG Writing 2024: 18th International Conference on Writing Research Across Borders, Paris Nanterre University, France.

Hewarathna, Y. S. (2024). Textbook analysis of Themen aktuell. Presentation at ZeLB Graduate Colloquium, University of Potsdam, Germany.

Hewarathna, Y. S. (2023, February). Doctoral thesis proposal presentation. Colloquium, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany.

Yoganjana S., & Menike, H. J. M. Y. S. (2017). Textbook analysis of Wir and preparation for the new textbook implementation for G.C.E. Advanced Level German curriculum in Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the 7th Annual Research Session, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

Yoganjana S., Menike H. J. M. Y. S., & Pathmalatha, K. M. (2015). Developing foreign language competencies of tourism industry oriented undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the 7th Tourism Outlook Conference & 3rd Tropical Coastal and Island Tourism Conference, Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka.

Yoganjana S., & Menike, H. J. M. Y. S. (2009). The learning of German language as a foreign language. Paper presented at the First National Conference on the Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Yoganjana S., & Menike, H. J. M. Y. S. (2007). Children’s story books in Sri Lanka: A critical analysis. Paper presented at the First Annual Symposium, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

Conference Proceedings

Yoganjana S., & Menike, H. J. M. Y. S. (2007). Children’s story books in Sri Lanka: A critical analysis. In Proceedings of the First Annual Symposium of the Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

Aluthwatta, I., Menike, H. J. M. Y. S., & Ratnayake, I. (2020). In search of symbiotic relationship between small & medium scale tour operators and accommodation service providers. In Proceedings of the 2nd Management Undergraduates’ Research Session (MURS) 2020, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Emerald Publishing.

Ekanayake, I. R., Menike, H. J. M. Y. S., & Ratnayake, I. (2020). Glamping: A case study on operators’ perspective. In Proceedings of the 2nd Management Undergraduates’ Research Session (MURS) 2020, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Emerald Publishing.

Curriculum Materials

Yoganjana, S. M., & Menike, H. J. M. (2014). Curriculum for German for tourism I–IV. Department of Tourism Management, Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

Yoganjana, S. M., & Menike, H. J. M. (2021). Curriculum for German for tourism I–IV. Department of Tourism Management, Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

LearningApps (Online Learning Resources)

LearningApps. (2015, July 5). Nach dem Film – Hochbegabtes Kind Lotta. https://learningapps.org/display?v=pviqbnrhj01

LearningApps. (2015, July 11). Mein Weg nach Deutschland – beim Arzt. https://learningapps.org/display?v=piyere31501

LearningApps. (2015, October 30). Artgerechte Tierhaltung. https://learningapps.org/display?v=p23jrxkq201

LearningApps. (2016, April 25). Welcher Zweck passt zu welcher Mittlerorganisation? Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, DAAD oder Goethe-Institut. https://learningapps.org/display?v=p8b85bzg316

LearningApps. (2018, January 11). Hochbegabung?. https://learningapps.org/display?v=p694dax1c01

LearningApps. (2018, January 11). Hochbegabtes Kind?. https://learningapps.org/display?v=p694dax1c01

LearningApps. (2018, October 23). Kinderfilmplakat: Emil und die Detektive. https://learningapps.org/display?v=pfmxs1gst01

LearningApps. (2019, January 5). Emil und die Detektive. https://learningapps.org/display?v=pvbyjfjtk01

LearningApps. (n.d.). Interactive learning activity. https://learningapps.org/display?v=pdogck5fj21

LearningApps. (n.d.). Interactive learning activity. https://learningapps.org/display?v=phfxkym5n01

LearningApps. (n.d.). Interactive learning activity. https://learningapps.org/display?v=pzgsq3efj01