Nach jeder Wortmeldung macht die Dozentin eine kurze Pause, damit niemand unterbrochen wird.

That opening phrase tells you when the action happens: after each comment / contribution.

In German, it is very common to place a time phrase first for emphasis or flow. When that happens, the verb still stays in second position, so you get:

• Nach jeder Wortmeldung | macht | die Dozentin eine kurze Pause

So even though die Dozentin is the subject, it comes after the verb because the time phrase takes the first slot.

Because nach takes the dative case.

• die Wortmeldung = the comment/contribution
• dative singular feminine = der Wortmeldung

After jeder, the ending changes to match that case:

• nominative feminine: jede Wortmeldung
• dative feminine: jeder Wortmeldung

So:

• nach jeder Wortmeldung = after each comment

Wortmeldung is a common academic or discussion-related word. It usually means:

• a spoken contribution
• a comment from someone in a discussion
• a request to speak
• a brief intervention in class or a meeting

In this sentence, it most likely means something like each time someone speaks up or after each contribution.

It is not usually just a random word; it refers to a person’s turn or contribution in a discussion.

German often uses the expression eine Pause machen = to take a break / pause.

So:

• Die Dozentin macht eine kurze Pause = The lecturer pauses briefly

This is very natural German. While verbs related to pausing do exist, eine Pause machen is the most everyday and idiomatic way to say it.

Dozentin is the feminine form of Dozent.

• der Dozent = male lecturer / instructor
• die Dozentin = female lecturer / instructor

So the sentence specifically refers to a woman.

This is because of adjective endings.

The noun is:

• die Pause (feminine)

With the indefinite article in the accusative feminine, you get:

• eine Pause

If you add an adjective before the noun, the adjective takes the ending -e:

• eine kurze Pause

So:

• eine = article
• kurze = adjective with the correct ending
• Pause = noun

Here, damit means so that or in order that.

It introduces a clause that expresses purpose:

• Die Dozentin macht eine kurze Pause, damit niemand unterbrochen wird.
• The lecturer pauses briefly so that nobody is interrupted.

So the pause has a purpose: it helps prevent interruptions.

Because the subject of the purpose clause is different.

Use um ... zu when the subject is the same in both parts:

• Ich lerne, um die Prüfung zu bestehen.
• I study in order to pass the exam.

Here, the main clause subject is:

• die Dozentin

But in the purpose clause, the relevant person is:

• niemand = nobody

Since the subject is not the same, German uses damit:

• ..., damit niemand unterbrochen wird.

Because damit introduces a subordinate clause.

In German subordinate clauses, the finite verb goes to the end:

• damit niemand unterbrochen wird

That is standard German word order.

Compare:

• main clause: Die Dozentin macht eine kurze Pause.
• subordinate clause: ..., damit niemand unterbrochen wird.

This is the passive voice.

• unterbrechen = to interrupt
• jemanden unterbrechen = to interrupt someone

But the sentence is focused on the person receiving the interruption, not on who does it. So German uses the passive:

• niemand wird unterbrochen = nobody is interrupted

The form is:

• past participle: unterbrochen
• auxiliary for passive: wird

So:

• damit niemand unterbrochen wird = so that nobody gets interrupted / is interrupted

Both can sometimes translate as nobody, but niemand is the standard and most neutral choice here.

• niemand = nobody / no one

It fits very naturally in formal or neutral German:

• damit niemand unterbrochen wird

Using keiner here would sound less standard in this sentence.

Yes. Wird is present tense.

German present tense often covers meanings that English can express in different ways, including:

• is interrupted
• gets interrupted

So:

• niemand unterbrochen wird

can be understood as:

• nobody is interrupted
• nobody gets interrupted

Both are natural English translations of the same German present passive.

A very literal breakdown would be:

• Nach jeder Wortmeldung = after each contribution/comment
• macht die Dozentin eine kurze Pause = the lecturer makes a short pause
• damit niemand unterbrochen wird = so that nobody is interrupted

A more natural English version would be:

• After each contribution, the lecturer pauses briefly so that nobody gets interrupted.

So the literal structure is understandable, but natural English usually prefers pauses briefly rather than makes a short pause.