Second Language Studies is delighted to welcome Ms. Nai Yi “Nerry” Htoon from Myanmar! Ms. Htoon is a virtual fellow in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP), a program of the U.S. Department of State that runs from March 16-April 10, 2026. SLS serves as her institutional fellowship host. Along with an MA in English from Yangon University of Foreign Languages, Nerry also has earned a CELTA certificate and is a candidate for a DELTA certificate. She serves as the Training, Development and Recruitment Director at International House Yangon-Mandalay, where she focuses on hiring, professional development, and well-being of the school’s teachers. She also is the Academic Head of the English Language Program at the American Center Yangon (a nonprofit program run by the U.S. Embassy), teaching exam preparation classes and conducting voluntary community teacher training programs for teachers and monk teachers in remote areas of the country. In her fellowship, Nerry is especially interested in learning more about current American practices in second language pedagogy along with expanding her knowledge related to teacher development and support. She will be working directly with Kenny Harsch (serving as fellowship host for SLS). She hopes to talk with faculty and program directors who have similar interests, and to find a project that allows SLS to tap into her knowledge and experience.

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SLS 150: Learning Languages and Communicating in a Globalized World  (usually offered in Fall semesters)

Lecture/discussion on strategies for enhancing second language learning in the context of a pluricultural-multilingual globalized world; addresses personal identity as influenced by languages; studies language-related employment, international mobility, and intercultural communication.

Fulfills one of the DS requirements for the General Education Core (but note that you cannot use two SLS courses to fulfill both DS requirements).

SLS 280: Bilingualism: Cognition & Culture (usually offered in Spring semesters)

In the U.S., knowing and speaking only one language is often considered the norm, while people and societies who regularly use two are more languages are seen as special or exotic. Yet if we look at how language is used worldwide, including here in Hawai’i, bi- and multilingualism are just as common as monolingualism. This course will introduce you to bi-/multilingualism both as a phenomenon at the level of society and as a characteristic of individual speakers. We will look at popular beliefs and recent media reports about bilingualism, and use these as stepping stones for a closer examination of the research (and sometimes the absence thereof) that underlies them.

Fulfills one of the DS requirements for the General Education Core (but note that you cannot use two SLS courses to fulfill both DS requirements).

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SLS is an exciting interdisciplinary field where you can engage with a wide range of theoretical and practical issues related to learning, using, and teaching second and foreign languages.

Undergraduate students who are thinking about getting a major in SLS should meet with an SLS advisor to learn about the program. This is a good opportunity to discuss expectations of the major, student interests, and long-term professional goals. Contact the SLS BA Coordinator (kenton@hawaii.edu) to set up an appointment.

Interested students are also encouraged to browse around this website for more information, but in particular look through the following sections:

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SLS is an exciting interdisciplinary field where you can engage with a wide range of theoretical and practical issues related to learning, using, and teaching second and foreign languages. Some of the questions we address include:

• Why do some people learn languages more easily than others?
• How are first and second language learning similar or different?
• How can we become more effective language learners and teachers?
• How can we use technology to enhance language learning and teaching?
• What is the role of multilingualism in promoting diversity, intercultural communication and understanding, and educational and social equality?
• Why does language advocacy and policy matter in our local and global communities?
• How does learning and using a second language (or being multilingual) influence identity and social relationships?

As a student in our BA program, you will be able to focus on areas of SLS that relate to your needs and goals.  Combining theory, research, pedagogy, and other opportunities for academic and personal development, the SLS degree prepares you with the solid foundation and specialized skills you need to be a successful language learner, educator, and professional.

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