Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies
Summer is a great time to catch up on reading. Books from more than a dozen Duke authors offer insight on a range of topics – from gratitude for everyday life to the antislavery writings of Henry David Thoreau. Below is a roundup of some of the most recently published and soon-to-be-out 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… read more about Hot Off the Press: Summer Reading From Duke Authors »
The AMES department Japanese program at Duke successfully hosted the 38th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Japanese Teachers (SEATJ) on Duke's East Campus. The annual conference took place on May 20, 2023 and featured keynote speaker Dr. Naoko Taguchi from Northern Arizona University. About SEATJ The Southeastern Association of Teachers of Japanese was organized in 1986 at the Japan Center of North Carolina; since then it has been expanded to become one of the largest and… read more about Southeastern Association of Teachers of Japanese (SEATJ) Conference 2023 »
Families and friends gathered on a Friday evening to watch students showcase their experiences and adventures learning Hindi. In each of the different Hindi classes, Prof. Kusum Ji and Prof. Satti Ji worked with their students to develop ideas regarding the performances. The event began with a skit from the students in Hindi 102, who did their skits on a love story. When the students in our Hindi class started their performances, the atmosphere in the room was electrifying. The audience was engaged from the very beginning… read more about Annual Hindi Festival: Performances and Food »
Senior Adam Israelevitz is the first Duke University student to be selected for the James C. Gaither Junior Fellowship at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Each year, the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program offers approximately 14 one-year fellowships to qualified graduating seniors and individuals who have graduated during the past academic year. Gaither Junior Fellows work as research assistants to Carnegie’s senior scholars. A political science major who is minoring in Arabic with a certificate in… read more about Senior First Duke Recipient of Gaither Fellowship »
In Kusum Ji’s Hindi classes, learning goes far beyond the expected scope of fluency in the language itself. Large portions of every semester are dedicated to significant exposure to other aspects of Indian culture, from studying Bollywood movies to writing romantic haikus; but a dive into Indian customs would be severely lacking if we didn’t explore the expansive role of cooking and food in Indian society. In Hindi 102’s most recent cooking class, we learned to make Moong dal dosa and mango lassi.… read more about Discovering Dosa: Bringing Hindi Class to the Kitchen »
Kusum Ji’s Hindi class is always filled with unique and fun immersion opportunities, whether that be through scavenger hunts, cooking classes, or NGO meetings. These opportunities allow students to learn more about Indian culture and improve their skills within the language. My class, Hindi 102, recently met with the Delhi Young Artists Forum (DYAF). During our time together, we sang songs, conversed individually, and taught English lessons. To begin class, we introduced ourselves by saying our names… read more about Cultural Exchange Through Hindi: Reflections From Our Delhi Young Artists Forum Experience »
AMES Associate Professor Nayoung Aimee Kwon received the 2023 Best Edited Collection Award from the Society for Cinema and Media Studies for her edited volume Theorizing Colonial Cinema: Reframing Production, Circulation, and Consumption of Film in Asia (Edited by Nayoung Aimee Kwon, Takushi Odagiri, and Moonim Baek). Read more read more about Nayoung Aimee Kwon Recognized for Work on "Theorizing Colonial Cinema" »
Selected as this year’s Duke Chapel Student Preacher, first-year student Erin Dickerson will deliver a sermon in the chapel worship service at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 5. A double major in Turkish and International Comparative Studies, Dickerson’s sermon, titled “Resting in the Lord,” is based on the Bible’s Psalm 121. “Psalm 121 is about finding rest in God, and God protecting us,” said Dickerson, who is a member of the Duke Wesley campus ministry and also attends the Summit Church in Durham. “It can be tempting to find… read more about Duke Chapel Student Preacher Sermon March 5 to Focus on Rest in God »
“Don’t burn the onions.” From the faculty kitchen in the John Hope Franklin Center, the sounds of determined chopping and intermittent laughter mixed with the intoxicating aromas of cardamom, coriander, fennel and cumin escape down the hallway. In the middle of the bustle stands Kusum Knapczyk, Hindi lecturer in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES). As she checks each student’s progress, she also provides encouragement and instructions in Hindi — or in English for urgent matters. The 15… read more about Cultural Connections, One Meal at a Time »
The Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) welcomes Linshan Jiang, postdoctoral associate in Chinese cultural studies, to its faculty for the academic year. Jiang holds a Ph.D. in East Asian languages and cultural studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Along with teaching three courses, she will take part in scholarly events and activities, conduct research and work on her publication portfolio. Her primary research interests are modern and contemporary literature, film and popular… read more about AMES Postdoc Looks Beyond the Nation State to Underscore the Joint History of East Asia »
The Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) welcomes Reut Ben-Yaakov, postdoctoral associate in Israeli culture, to its faculty for the academic year. Ben-Yaakov holds a Ph.D. in Hebrew literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Along with teaching three courses, she will take part in scholarly events and activities, conduct research and work on her publication portfolio. “Ben-Yaakov brings an expertise in contemporary Israeli-Hebrew poetry and fiction to AMES that complements our faculty research… read more about AMES Postdoc Brings Expertise in Contemporary Israeli-Hebrew Poetry and Fiction »
I am a student in Kusum Ji’s Hindi Intermediate 203 class in the fall 2022 semester. As part of this Hindi class, we learn grammar, vocabulary, and diction. But we also immerse ourselves in the culture of India and Hindi. This has included watching Bollywood scenes, learning about Indian dance and art, and learning phrases that will help us flourish in a Hindi-speaking country. A big part of this class is the NGO experience. More specifically, we talked to people in the Delhi Young Artist Forum. The Delhi Young Artist Forum… read more about Conversing with Confidence in Hindi with Delhi NGO Students »
No matter the age, poetry can open our hearts and minds. In addition to helping us to express our feelings, poetry can also serve as a doorway to our emotions. In Hindi 101 class, Professor Knapczyk incorporated and organized various real-life scenarios to implement our understanding from the class. From Bollywood dance workshops to working with NGOs, one of these events included a poetry writing workshop with Mr. Jagdish Vyom, where we submerged ourselves in a foreign language in a creative and fun way while learning… read more about Broadening Perspectives Through Poetry Writing Workshops With Poet Jagdish Vyom »
ACTFL has announced the 2022 recipients of the ACTFL Professional Awards, an annual program in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of language education. 2022 marked the return to an in-person awards ceremony, following two years of virtual celebrations. These awards were presented in Boston on Saturday, November 19, as part of the ACTFL 2022 Annual Convention & World Languages Expo. In addition to the in-person event, all award presentations will be accessible to the public… read more about Knapczyk awarded for excellence in world language instruction using technology »
While her class focuses on the study of an Indian language, Kusumji also educates us about Indian culture and society. Each semester, there are always a few activities we do that surprise me in the best way. In one such class, we learned about the indigenous Warli tribe and their art. Warli folk art is recognized for its simple shapes and detailed patterns. It is an art style that felt accessible, even for people without strong artistic talents. For this class, we began by making a story together in Hindi, where each… read more about Expressing Feelings, Emotions, and Ideas Through Warli Art »
On October 21st, a festive mood was in the air. Diwali was coming up on the following Monday, and everyone in Kusum Ji’s Hindi 203 class was excited to get the weekend started. Our cooking class was the perfect way to kick off the Festival of Lights and brought together the whole class with something beyond academics. As we arrived one by one into the kitchen of the John Hope Franklin Center, Kusum Ji gave everyone a different task. Some people were responsible for arranging paper decorations and banners outside for the… read more about Eat, Pray, Cook »
When Kusum ji delivered our next job, everyone immediately began exchanging looks with one another. We were to divide up into teams of four, then travel to Duke Gardens to take pictures of the many things we saw there. Due to the fact that the weather was relatively pleasant and warm, we did not have to worry about the falling leaves, incessant rain, and fog that typically accompany the beginning of November. My other teammate Shloka served as the primary instructional leader for our group. I took pictures… read more about A Novel Exploration of Duke Gardens »