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Studying Khmer at Cornell

Irena Rosenberg, Ithaca College Student
February 25, 2021

Interview and article by Grace Shan

Wondering what it’s like to study a Southeast Asian language at Cornell?

Cornell is known for being one of the world's greatest centers for the study of Southeast Asia, and Cornell students have the unique opportunity to learn one (or more!) of six Southeast Asian languages from experts in their field.

Irena Rosenberg, a student from Ithaca College, studies and receives credit for Khmer at Cornell University. She currently takes Khmer classes with Professor Hannah Phan at Cornell, currently enrolled in KHMER 2202: Intermediate Khmer II. Irena says that although the classes are fast-paced, they keep you on your toes and the professor is very understanding and attentive. Her favorite part of learning Khmer is the sense of accomplishment that comes with the light-bulb moment of realizing she can actually understand and read Khmer with her basic groundwork and intermediate skills, which will continue to grow. 

 

Irena feels that the Southeast Asian language programs have adapted well to virtual instruction through use of various media and techniques, despite the struggles the pandemic has brought. In addition, she appreciates that the classes teach the traditions, values, and proverbs of the culture in addition to the subtleties of the language itself, an integral part to immersing yourself in a new language. 

 

This past summer, Irena participated in the Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI), an eight-week intensive language training program that provides a full year of academic credit, held virtually by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which helped her advance her skills. You can earn two semesters of language credit at the Southeast Asian Summer Studies Institute (SEASSI) this summer via synchronous remote instruction, funded by SEAP via FLAS Fellowships and SEAP scholarships! 

 

SEASSI is an eight-week intensive summer language training program for undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Instruction is offered for academic credit in eight languages at the first, second, and third year levels: Burmese, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Javanese, Khmer, Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese. Intensive instruction is given in small individualized groups taught by a team consisting of a coordinator and teachers who are native speakers of that language. Apply by April 5!

 

For more information on Southeast Asian languages at Cornell, visit: https://asianstudies.cornell.edu/languages 

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