“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Welcome to my blog! My name is Nelleke Van Deusen-Scholl, and I am a sociolinguist and applied linguist. Over the years, my research has focused on language teaching methodologies, the use of technology in language teaching and learning, and heritage languages. I recently retired from Yale University, and before that I taught at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California at Berkeley.
Why “Discover the world through language”? Because speaking another language makes you view the world in different ways and provides you with new perspectives. Understanding another culture helps you reflect on yourself and on your own culture and allows you to position yourself in-between.
In this blog I want to share the joy and excitement of learning a new language. I will explain how insights from current research can help language learners be more successful and I will share some practical strategies and tips for language learning. I have studied many languages over the course of my career and am currently in the process of relearning French. Please join me in my journey!
Check out my latest posts!
- Reactivating a language you learned beforeAs language teachers, we so often hear people tell us that they studied a language a long time ago–in high school or college– but have forgotten everything they once knew. They usually go on to say that they had learned the rules of grammar but were always afraid to speak theContinue reading “Reactivating a language you learned before”
- Raising a bilingual childMany parents would like to give their children the opportunity to speak more than one language, and I am often asked what the best approach is to raising a bilingual child. The simple answer is that there is not one best way because there are so many variables that should beContinue reading “Raising a bilingual child”
- Eight tips for learning another language
Discover the world through language 