CARLA Fellow Program Opportunity

The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) seeks applications for the CARLA Fellow Program. Applicants should be University of Minnesota doctoral students who are nearing the end of their program of study. This program is designed to recognize and support the outstanding contributions made by graduate students in the area of second language learning and/or teaching, and to engage graduate students in the work being done at CARLA.

Depending on the amount of funds requested, up to four students will receive fellowships for the 2021–2022 academic year. Fellows are expected to give a CARLA lunchtime presentation during the fellowship year and to attend CARLA events and presentations as their schedule permits.

Selection criteria include: number of publications and presentations at national and international conferences; activities as a language teacher, advocate, consultant, or teacher educator; strength of letter of application; strength of recommendation letter from a faculty member; and strength of writing sample.

Benefits of being a CARLA Fellow:

• Receive up to a $1,000 reimbursement allowance for travel to attend or present at a language-related conference
• Give a CARLA lunchtime presentation

Application Instructions:

Prepare a 1-2 page letter of application outlining the following:

• Your research interests and activities
• Plans for using the CARLA Fellow funds, including the approximate amount you are requesting for conference reimbursement
• Your past involvement with CARLA and potential future involvement as a CARLA Fellow

Include the following documents in your application:

• Academic writing sample related to language learning and/or teaching
• Transcript of academic work (unofficial)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of recommendation from a faculty member

Application Due Date: Monday, November 1, 2021.

For more information, email Karin Larson at: larso205@umn.edu

CARLA Fellows • 2020–2021

CARLA is pleased to announce the selection of two CARLA Fellows for the 2020–2021 academic year: Vivian H. Franco Díaz and Amanda Swearingen. Both are advanced doctoral students whose interests in foreign language learning and teaching help support CARLA's mission to "study multilingualism and multiculturalism, to develop knowledge of second language acquisition, and to advance the quality of second language teaching, learning, and assessment."

Vivian H. Franco Díaz is a PhD candidate in Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies. Her research focuses on ​the acquisition of Spanish as a second and heritage language, specifically academic writing development, language ideologies, and Spanish heritage language education. Her dissertation examines the impact of task complexity and language proficiency on the written production of second-generation Spanish heritage speakers. Her involvement with CARLA includes participating in four CARLA Summer Institutes and presenting an IPA unit on immigration stories and belonging at the virtual Teaching Ideas Roundtable held as part of the CARLA Presentation Series. She has taught Spanish at various levels, ranging from elementary Spanish to upper-level courses such as Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Linguistics.

Amanda Swearingen is a PhD student in Second Language Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Her research focuses on exploring pre-service teachers’ critical consciousness in developing critical intercultural and translingual praxis for equity in English language classrooms. Amanda previously taught English as an additional language in South Korea and Argentina for 10 years. She has an MA in TESL from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a BA in Latin American Studies from Tulane University. Amanda’s involvement with CARLA includes a 2020 Summer Research Award in which she continued working with Dr. Samuel David on their research on teacher learning of translanguaging pedagogies and teacher language ideologies in developing translanguaging stance. Amanda and Sam gave a talk about their work at the CARLA Presentation Series in October 2020.

Congratulations to Vivian and Amanda!

CARLA Fellows (1996–Present):

2020-2021:
Vivian H. Franco Díaz (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)
Amanda Swearingen (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 

2019-2020:
Leah Shepard-Carey (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 
Lauren Truman (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)

2018-2019:
Mónica de la Fuente Iglesias (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)
Russell Simonsen (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)

2017-2018:
Yi-Ju Lai (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 
Corinne Mathieu (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 

2016-2017:
Jenna Cushing-Leubner (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 
Mel Engman (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 
Jenifer Vanek (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 

2014-2015:
LeeAnne Godfrey (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 
Beth Dillard (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 

2013-2014:
Fang (Andie) Wang (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 
Amy Young (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D.) 

2012-2013:
Angela George (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)

2011-2012:
Angela Pinilla-Herrera (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)

2010-2011:
Sachiko Horii (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)

2009-2010:
Giang Thùy Pham (Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences/Ph.D.)

2008-2009:
Mandy Menke (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)

2007-2008:
Pam Wesely (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)

2006-2007:
Karla Stone (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)

2005-2006:
Laurent Cammarata (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)

2004-2005:
Anne Dahlman (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)

2003-2004:
Lisa McCowen (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)

2002-2003:
Karen Jorgensen (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)
Paul Magnuson (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)

2001-2002:
Mike Anderson (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)
Jenny Yi-chun Kuo (Linguistics/Ph.D)

2000-2001:
J. Cesar Felix-Brasdefer (Hispanic Linguistics/Ph.D)
Tara Fortune (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)

1999-2000:
Patsy Vinogradov (ESL/MA)
Bonnie Swierzbin (Linguistics/Ph.D)

1998-1999:
Karin Goettsch (ESL/MA)
Francine Klein (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)
John Skinner (ESL/MA)

1997-1998:
Andreas Schramm (Linguistics/Ph.D)
Nima Salehi (ESL/MA)

1996-1997:
Karen Lybeck (Linguistics/ Ph.D)
Patricia Mougel (Second Languages and Cultures Education/Ph.D)