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 »
Now in its second year, the Duke Climate and Sustainability Teaching Fellows (CAST) held a weeklong workshop for 11 Duke and DKU faculty this spring to explore the connections between climate change and sustainable solutions, using a ‘systems thinking’ framework of examining multifaceted challenges. The CAST Fellows Program is dedicated to increasing the prevalence and quality of climate and sustainability concepts in academic courses across all departments at Duke. It supports instructors who are interested… read more about Incorporating Climate & Sustainability into Classes Across Duke »
Experienced faculty leader Leo T. S. Ching has been named the new Schiff Family Dean of Humanities and the Arts in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, effective July 1. Ching is a professor of Japanese and East Asian Cultural Studies in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (AMES). His research encompasses empire studies, postcolonial and decolonial theories, cultures of globalization, critical game studies, and oceanic and archipelagic studies. This appointment “will ensure our continued excellence in the Arts &… read more about Leo Ching to Lead Humanities and the Arts for Trinity College of Arts & Sciences »
As I entered Yale University's Luce Hall, the scent of chai and samosas greeted me. People chatted in Hindi, with many saree-clad ladies and girls and men wearing kurta pajamas, creating the atmosphere of an Indian festival. Grandparents, parents, and professors conversed with their nervous students, reassuring them about their upcoming performance. The competition became even more intense when they noticed several non-native students also speaking Hindi. The debate commenced with three judges attentively… read more about Yale Hindi Debate: Duke Students Shine on the National Language Stage »
SPEAKER Lisa Nakamura (University of Michigan); Florian Schneider (Universiteit Leiden) APSI and AMES invite members of our scholarly community to attend the 2024 EAS-CAH workshop focusing on the theme of "Digital Asia." Except where otherwise noted, all sessions take place in the Pink Parlor, East Duke Building. ~~please note, the following agenda is subject to change~~ WORKSHOP AGENDA 9:30-10:00am Breakfast (provided) 10:00-10:15am Opening Remarks & Welcome: Eileen Cheng-yin Chow & Shai Ginsburg… read more about 2024 East Asian Studies/ Critical Asian Humanities Annual Workshop »
Annually, students of Kusum Ji in beginner and intermediate Hindi classes collaborate with the Delhi Young Artist Forum (DYAF) for an engaging and light-hearted Zoom session. This event is designed to facilitate mutual language exchange: students share English language skills through interactive games with DYAF participants while DYAF members reciprocate by conversing in Hindi. DYAF is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that seeks to empower underprivileged youth through education, combating social injustice. … read more about Student-to-Student Connections Across a Language Barrier »
Spring’s crop of books from Duke authors includes a history of grievance in the United States, an up-close look at the camaraderie at Durham Bulls games, and a guide on understanding sex and gender. Below is a roundup of some of the most recent and upcoming published titles. Many of the books, including new editions of previous titles, can be found on the “Duke Authors” display shelves near the circulation desk in Perkins Library. Some are available as e-books for quick download. Most can also be purchased through the… read more about Spring Books in Duke Authors: Meditations, Baseball, Rebels and Stomach Pains »
I really enjoyed Dr. Sudipa Topdar’s guest lecture in our intermediate Hindi class. She spent the class analyzing the role that Hanuman plays in Indian culture. I was raised learning stories about Hanuman. I read the Amar Chitra Kata discussed in class repeatedly when I was a kid. Due to the fact that I was raised in America, even though I was raised on Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana and Amar Chitra Kata’s, I did not get the chance to see the place that Hanuman held in the public Indian consciousness. Dr. Topdar went into detail… read more about The Transformation of Hanuman from a Divine Hero to Hypermasculine: A Talk by Dr. Sudipa Topdar in Hindi class »
The Japanese program at Duke hosted the 37th Duke Japanese Speech Contest on March 30, 2024 on East Campus. This contest had a total of 15 finalists from Duke University, Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Below is the list of winners: Level I: 1st Place: Darwin Cai (Duke University) 2nd Place: Liam June (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) 3rd Place: Robert… read more about 2024 Duke Japanese Speech Contest »
Any Blue Devils basketball fans worth their horns can recite the illustrious career of Coach K by heart. While Coach K may be retired, fear not, there’s an unassuming faculty member well on her way to pulling down equally impressive stats for Duke: Coach H, or Maha Houssami, faculty advisor for the Arabic debate team. In five prolific years, Duke’s Arabic debate team has made four appearances at the United States Universities Arabic Debating Championship (USADC), winning back-to-back national titles in 2022 and 2023. In… read more about Inclusive Arguments for the Win »
Fifteen students from Toyama College of Foreign Languages visited the Duke campus as part of the Durham/Toyama sister cities initiatives. They joined twenty Duke students enrolled in various levels of Japanese language courses to explore campus, including a visit to the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion in the Duke Gardens. During the visit, Toyama students participated in a Japanese language class and enthusiastically exchanged insights about diverse cultures. The Toyama students’ trip to Durham had been suspended… read more about Students from Toyama College of Foreign Languages Visit Duke for Cultural Exchange with Japanese Language Students »
Edith London, In Flight, 1995. Mixed media, 13 x 16 inches (33 x 40.6 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Museum purchase and partial gift of Lee Hansley Gallery; 1997.25.1. Courtesy Nasher Museum of Art “It’s fulfilling to have a collaborative public outcome born from a course,” Saskia Ziolkowski, associate professor in Romance Studies, admits. She’s referencing Mapping Jewish Modernism, an exhibit currently on view through August at the Rubenstein… read more about Charting the Landscape of Jewish Modernism »
