Duke faculty members Denise Comer, Saskia Cornes, Shai Ginsburg, Candis Watts Smith and Norbert Wilson spent last year serving as fellows in the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Leaders Network (ACC ALN).“Being part of the ACC ALN was incredibly energizing and inspiring,” said Comer, who is professor of the practice and director of the Thompson Writing Program. “It connected me with a thoughtful community of peers and gave me practical tools and fresh perspectives that continue to shape how I lead and collaborate.”… read more about A Year of Faculty Leadership Development With the ACC »
The Chinese Program successfully hosted the 3rd International Conference on Chinese for Specific and Professional Purposes (CSP) on May 16-17, 2025. Sponsored by Duke's Asian/Pacific Studies Institute (APSI) and the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES), this hybrid event brought together 94 registered participants—including more than 20 attending in person—from across the U.S., mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the UK.The conference opened with a roundtable discussion on May 16, focusing on the… read more about The Chinese Program Hosts the 3rd International Conference on Chinese for Specific Purposes at Duke »
Every year, Yale organizes a debate by selecting a meaningful topic that brings together students from across the country. This event not only fosters national participation but also helps students connect and gain a deeper understanding of the program. It’s a wonderful opportunity to interact with Hindi learners both nationally and internationally. Students always look forward to this unique debate. The purpose is not merely to showcase their Hindi-speaking abilities—though that is one small aspect—but the true… read more about Duke Hindi Student Makes School Proud at Yale Hindi Debate »
Every year, we eagerly await our “Annual Hindi Festival”. It is a true celebration of language, culture, and community. On April 11th, all our Hindi students came together for an evening filled with creativity, laughter and applause. At 5:30 PM sharp, we set the stage alight with our elementary Hindi performers. Elementary students delighted us with nine original short skits penned and directed by Anshul Jain. These skits were based on everyday scenes such as grabbing coffee at a café, cramming for exams, and… read more about A Heartfelt Journey Through Hindi, Culture, and Community »
Recently, as part of my time learning Hindi in Duke’s AMES program, I had the chance to blend my love for language, film, and poetry. One evening for a class assignment, I rewatched Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which is one of my favorite Hindi films. Its iconic song Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai captures the idea that in love, we sometimes glimpse the divine. When Kusum Ji asked me to write a poem for class, I felt inspired by the song, and decided to capture this idea in my own interpretation of love. Writing… read more about “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai”: How Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Inspired My Writing in Hindi Class »
Time and time again, Kusum Ji’s Hindi class never fails to immerse students in the beauty of the language through engaging and meaningful experiences. This time, intermediate Hindi learners grabbed their virtual reality glasses (provided by Duke) and ventured into the very country where this language was born. Students marveled at the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, walked through the bustling streets of Delhi, got lost in the many shops of the Khan Market, and took in the open fields of India’s villages. This time off from… read more about Virtual Reality’s Immersive Dimension in Hindi Language Learning »
Attending Hindu Chaplain Priya Amaresh’s Yoga class on a sunny Monday afternoon was one of Kusumji’s many ways of making Hindi class exciting and interactive. The session was a blend of the physical and mental aspects of yoga. The instructor, Priyaji, drew a lot of attention to the breath through various breathing exercises, pranayamas, such as Bhramari, Kapalbhati, Bhastrika and Anulom Vilom. These pranayamas served different purposes, with Bhramari’s bee-like vibrations calming the mind, Kapalbhati cleansing the lungs,… read more about Reset and Refocus: Wellness Yoga with Hindu Chaplain Priya Amaresh »
Jose Chavez Orozco Jr., a Japanese major student (Class of 2025) at AMES, presented his honors thesis project, titled ‘Reexamining the Interpretation of English Definite Plurals by L1 Spanish Speakers and L1 Japanese Speakers,’ at the 2025 Southeastern Conference on Linguistics (SECOL 2025), hosted by Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. read more about Japanese Major Student Presented a Research Project in the 2025 Southeastern Conference on Linguistics »
When Associate Professor of the Practice Yan Liu reached out to Durham Academy's Mandarin teacher Bonnie Wang in 2014, she was exploring new connections in the community for her new service-learning course in Chinese. Neither educator could have predicted that this initial connection would blossom into a decade-long partnership that would transform hundreds of students' lives and their own teaching practices.This year, Bonnie Wang was named the 2025 Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Community Partner Award… read more about A Decade of Connection: Learning, Language, and Community »
The Japanese program at Duke University hosted the 38th Duke Japanese Speech Contest on March 29, 2025, on East Campus. A total of 15 finalists from Duke University, NC State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, and Wake Forest University competed in the event. Below is the list of winners: Level I: 1st Place: Dia Wisnewski (UNC Greensboro) Jay Shin (Duke) 3rd Place: Aman Desai (Duke) Pano… read more about 2025 Duke Japanese Speech Contest »
In this series of four stories, we are highlighting students whose “Why I Learn Languages” essays have been selected as winners of the Trinity Language Council’s 2024 Best Essay competition. Charlotte Yew Huixin is a sophomore majoring in Sociology and Public Policy, with a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) focused on Korean. Read and let Yew tell you, in her own words, how learning languages helped unveil layers of affection in her… read more about In Their Own Words: Languages Unveil Layers of Affection »
It has been nearly a decade since Sandra Valnes Quammen, senior lecturer with the Department of Romance Studies, began exploring ways to integrate sustainability into her language teaching — largely thanks to the Trillium Sustainability Fellows Program. Created by Charlotte Clark, associate professor of the practice of sustainability (now emeritus) at the Nicholas School of the Environment, the program encouraged faculty from outside the environmental sciences to think of ways climate sustainability could intersect with… read more about Sustainable Conversations »
Less common doesn’t mean less impactful. Learning Turkish wasn’t just an academic pursuit for Erin Dickerson — it was a personal journey to connect more deeply with her identity. Now, she’s preparing for a career in U.S. diplomacy AND embracing the language she always longed to study. Didem Havlioglu knows that language study offers students more than just classroom learning — it fosters a deep, personal connection with different cultures. Reflecting on her experiences of learning… read more about Languages Less Traveled »
If taking your students to the Taj Mahal isn't possible, why not bring the Taj Mahal to them? This concept inspired me to integrate VR into my class, allowing students to engage in meaningful conversations through role-plays. I designed role-plays for elementary and intermediate Hindi students to enhance their spoken Hindi and cultural competence. In this blog, I will explain step-by-step my role-play model that other instructors can adapt to successfully incorporate the much-needed technology, AI. First, I decided… read more about Are you asking us to use AI? »
One of the highlights of Kusum Ji and Anshul Ji’s Hindi 101 class was a cooking class where we had the chance to make our own lunch and put into practice two important topics covered in class, namely giving instructions and vocabulary for common food items. The cooking class was held in the kitchen on the second floor of the John Hope Franklin Center, just outside the medical campus, which already provided some excitement as a chance to venture to a less-frequented part of campus. Students were also encouraged to invite… read more about Flavors of India »
In September, I joined my Intermediate Hindi class to take part in a “Sports Day,” in which my classmates and I immersed ourselves in the world of Indian sports from the comfort of Duke Gardens. “Sports days” are athletic events unique to Indian schools, in which students showcase their athletic prowess at the behest of their teachers. When I was in elementary school in India, “sports days” made up my fondest memories. Our class’s “sports day” stirred up those old memories I had again while allowing me to explore… read more about Sports Day: Learning about Indian Culture and Sports »
This years’ service-learning meeting was truly exceptional. Following the introductions and greetings, we delivered a presentation showcasing the English idioms we had developed for students in India. We explained many different idioms through a mix of English and Hindi, and the whole class pitched in with examples to help the students understand each one better. The students picked it up very quickly and gave good examples for some very difficult idioms. Overall, it was a great presentation! In the breakout rooms, we… read more about A Cross-Cultural Exchange in Hindi through Service-learning »
It’s not often you’ll find yourself immersed in the Duke Gardens for a class, searching for banana leaves and bridges with 4 of your peers. But Hindi 101 with Kusum and Anshul jee is no ordinary class. Throughout the semester, I have continued to be surprised by the creativity built into our syllabus. When I originally registered for Hindi 101 a few months ago, I didn’t realize how different it would be than my previous language classes. We have participated in yoga and cooking classes, have created Madhubani art… read more about Hunting For Hindi: Duke Gardens Scavenger Hunt »
Professor Harsh Bala Sharma, hailing from New Delhi, India, was an uplifting, special, and utterly enjoyable guest lecturer in our Hindi 203 class. She seamlessly brought our diverse group of 30 students together, many of whom started off shy and hesitant, and empowered them to actively participate in an interesting, funny, and moving play centered on environmental activism in India. Bala Sharma Ji is a professor at India’s Indraprastha College for Women in Delhi. It was evident, based on her kind and motivated… read more about Professor Harsh Bala Sharma Helps Hindi 203 Students ‘Find Their Inner Artist’ »
The University announced the death of Jiani Yu, a second-year graduate student in the Critical Asian and Middle Eastern Humanities program in a Sunday email to graduate students.Yu, who also went by Thea, hailed from California. Before coming to Duke in August 2023, she earned her bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics in 2021 from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her cause of death has not been announced.Throughout her time at Duke, Yu’s interest in cultural anthropology and gender studies — and specifically the… read more about University announces death of graduate student Jiani Yu »
In November, the intermediate Hindi class was invited to visit the library to explore resources related to South Asia, particularly in Hindi. The session focused on how to locate Hindi materials and what resources are available for students. This was especially beneficial for those who plan to conduct research in the South Asian topics, and it provided a valuable opportunity for students to meet the new South Asian librarian, Adhitya Dhanapal. Below are some of the class's feedback on the session.Parishi … read more about A Conversation with the South Asian Librarian at the Duke Library »
What do you get when you mix art analysis, a walk in the gardens, and some chickens?The answer: last week’s Hindi class!Last Friday, we didn’t hold our regular Hindi class. Instead, we went for a scavenger hunt! We split off into groups of 4-5 students, and each group had to explore Gray Building (looking for paintings that interested us), find vegetables in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden, and discover interesting things in the rest of Duke Gardens. Along the way, we conversed in Hindi, practicing some weird… read more about Duke Gardens Adventure »
As a class, our first exposure to Dr. Harsh Bala was during our lessons. She made the trip from New Delhi halfway across the world to Durham and offered us a new perspective as well as engaging exercises. Dr. Harsh Bala introduced herself through not only her professional background, as a Hindi Literature professor, but through her unique identities and experiences which were very fascinating to hear about. Ultimately, these initial classes, which were composed largely of conversing with her, gave us a great deal of… read more about Hindi-English Service-Learning: Collaborating with IP College in New Delhi »
The familiar sounds of Bollywood hits echoed through the Hindi classroom as we engaged in conversation while drawing and coloring our artwork. It wasn’t a typical language class, but rather a hands-on experience that took us beyond grammar and vocabulary, offering a glimpse into India's rich cultural heritage. Today’s lesson focused on Madhubani art, an ancient Indian folk art form that uses bold patterns and vibrant colors to tell stories.In class, Kusum Ji introduced us to Madhubani art. We learned that… read more about Beyond Words: Immersing in Indian Culture with Madhubani Art in Hindi Class »
How does a city narrate change? Preeti Singh, assistant professor in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, asks her students to reflect on this question by taking them on a journey through South Asian literary history threaded through the alleys of its various cities. "I talk about the city as a protagonist in South Asian literature and how it has shaped literary forms from comics to the novel," she said. "I hope to prompt students to reflect on the affective world of cities — how they register… read more about Preeti Singh Researches the Cultural Histories of Authoritarianism in South Asia »
Kimberly Hassel’s professional journey began in elementary school. The assistant professor in the Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies grew up in the 1990s watching “Pokémon,” “Sailor Moon” and other Japanese cartoons on Saturday mornings. Like many of her peers, anime and the cute, brightly colored toys associated with it were her introduction to Japanese pop culture. “I had this Hello Kitty phone with angel wings,” she recalled. Hassel’s interest in Japan might not have progressed beyond that point… read more about Digital Encounters With Japan’s Youth Culture »
