South Asian Languages in the Diaspora

A Conference co-sponsored by South Asian Studies Council, MacMillan Center, Yale University; the South Asia  Institute, University of Texas at Austin; and  New York University.

Friday, April 16  – Saturday, April 17, 2021

Program (all times are EDT)

Friday 16th (2:45-5:45pm EDT)

ZOOM starts at 2:45pm

2:50-3:00pm: Welcoming remarks

3:00-4:00pm:  Session 1. Lightening Round of electrifying ideas in South Asian language pedagogy and the role of collaborations.

“Promoting South Asian Languages through collaboration between Indian organizations and American institutions” Presenter: Sandeep Bhutoria, Prabha Khaitan Foundation, Kolkata, India

“Role of Intercultural Competence in Foreign Language Teaching” Presenter: Pankaj Narke, Vellore Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh (VIT-AP) University, India 

“Integrating Emerging Technologies” Presenter: Ritu Jayakar, Penn State University 

“Differentiation: Approach to Student Centered Classroom” Presenter: Rajni Bhargava, New York University

“Understanding the Gap Between Second Year and Accelerated Classes” Presenter: Mansi Bajaj, University of Texas at Austin

4:00 – 4:05pm: Break

4:05-5:05pm: Session 2. ‘A ‘Dead Language’ Comes Alive: Teaching Sanskrit in the 21st Century’

“Ancient Pedagogy for the Modern Classroom: The Case for Grammar” Presenter: Poetry Aleksandar Uskokov, Yale University

“Challenges in Teaching Sanskrit” Presenter: Nataliya Yanchevskaya, Princeton University

“Active Learning in the Sanskrit Classroom” Presenter: Nell Shapiro Hawley, Harvard University

5:05- 5:10pm: Break

5:10-5:30pm: Session 3. ‘The Dictionary of Bhakti’ Presenter: Swapna Sharma, Yale University                                                      

5:30 – 5:40pm: First day closing remarks

5:45-6:45pm: Social hour

Saturday 17th (11:45am-5:45pm)

ZOOM starts at 11:45am

12:00-1:00pm: Session 4. “The Why, What and Hows of Inclusive Pedagogy in the context of South Asian Language Classrooms” Presenters: Seema Khurana, Yale University, Ahmed Shamim and Gautami Shah, University of Texas at Austin 

1:00-1:15 Break 

1:15-1:35pm: Session 5.“Teaching Interactional Practices in the Hindi Language  classroom“ Presenter: Divya  Chaudhry, Vanderbilt University

1:35-1:55pm: Session 6. “Equity in South Asian Language classrooms” Presenter: Gyanam Mahajan, University of California at Los Angeles

1:55-2:15pm: Session 7. “Teaching Hindi in High Tech Environment of NC State University” Presenter: Nilakshi Phukan, North Carolina State University

2:15-2:30: Break

2:30-5:30pm: Session 8. LACE@NYU Roundtable Discussion Series: Effective Strategies for Online Teaching: Engaging students in the three modes of communication.  

Lead Presentation: “Research and Implicit/Explicit instruction in L2 Hindi-Urdu” Presenter: Rajiv Ranjan, Michigan State University

“Kavita ki pathshala: a global  educational project” Presenter: Anoop Bhargava, JhilMil

“Interpersonal communication-based  activities for online Urdu instruction” Presenter: Romeena Kureishy, STARTALK@Kean University 

“Effective online activities in the three modes of communication” Presenter: Sarfaraz Farouqui, FLTA, New York University

“Goat Yoga Club, Malibu: Witnessing Cultural Appropriation by Diaspora” Presenter: Bhavya Singh, STARTALK, New York University

5:30-5:45pm: Closing remarks