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The Department of
Asian Studies

Divya Chaudhry

Principal Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies (Hindi-Urdu)

Divya Chaudhry received her Ph.D. in linguistics at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Her doctoral research focused on novice teachers’ conceptual development and teacher educators’ mediation practices in a pre-service language teacher education program in India. She holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education with a specialization in language pedagogy from University of Delhi, India, and a master’s degree in linguistics from Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi. Prior to coming to Vanderbilt University, Divya has taught Hindi at University of Florida, Rice University, and the University of Madison-Wisconsin’s intensive summer language institute. She has also taught English as a foreign language at the University of Florida’s intensive English program for three years. Her research interests include language pedagogy, Hindi conversation analysis, development of interactional and intercultural competencies by learners of Hindi-Urdu as a heritage/foreign language, and language teacher professional development. As an instructor, she seeks to create learning environments informed by students’ interests and needs and centered on fostering collaboration, reflecting real-life language use, and developing intercultural understanding and critical thinking skills. In her spare time, Divya immerses herself in books, bhangra, and Bollywood.

Awards & Recognition

  • Junior Faculty Teaching Fellowship, Center for Teaching, Vanderbilt University, 2022
  • COVID-19 Teaching Award for Creative Use of Multiple Technologies in Online Instruction, College of Arts and Science, Vanderbilt University, 2021
  • Blended Online Learning & Design (BOLD) Faculty Fellowship, Center for Teaching, Vanderbilt University, 2020
  • Global Engagement Initiative Award, American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages, Nov 2019

Specializations

  • Language pedagogy
  • Hindi conversation analysis
  • Development of interactional and intercultural competencies by learners of Hindi-Urdu as a heritage/foreign language
  • Language teacher professional development

Representative Publications

Published Educational Resources

  • Chaudhry, D., Knapczyk, K., Singh, B. & Ranjan, R. (forthcoming). Advanced Textbook in Hindi. Michigan State University Open Educational Resource.
  • Chaudhry, D. (2025, August 19). Reflections on Class Participation. Available here. LinkedIn
  • Chaudhry, D. (2021) Cultivating Joy and Connection in Online Classrooms: Icebreakers and Beyond. Online Course Development Resources Site. Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. https://www.vanderbilt.edu/cdr/module-2/cultivating-joy-and-connection-in-online-classrooms-icebreakers-and-beyond/
  • Chaudhry, D. (2017- 2019) Hindi Videocast, Vaartaa. Rice University, Houston, TX

Select Invited Talks

  • Chaudhry, D. (2024). Bringing an Improvisational Spirit to the Study of Culture. Invited workshop at Regional Flagship Language Institute, University of Wisconsin- Madison. June 21, 2024.
  • Chaudhry, D. (2023, 2022) What is Culture? Invited workshop at Regional Flagship Language Institute, University of Wisconsin- Madison. June 23, 2023 and June 24, 2022.
  • Chaudhry, D. (2021) Who is Missing from Your Instruction: Fostering Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity in Elementary Language Classrooms. Invited virtual workshop at Forum on Pedagogy @ CLIC organized by Rice University, Houston, TX. November 12, 2021.
  • Chaudhry, D. (2020). What Does It Mean to Talk? Reimagining Interaction in the Hindi Classroom. Invited roundtable discussion at the Teaching South Asian Languages in 2020 symposium organized by Australian National University held online, September 17-18, 2020.
  • Chaudhry, D., Cruz, K.G., & Stasevicius, M. L (2020). Teaching Intercultural Competence in the Language Classroom. Invited pre-conference workshop at the 7th International Conference on the Development and Assessment of Intercultural Competence in Tucson, AZ. January 23, 2020.
  • Chaudhry, D. (2019). Teaching Interactional Competence in the Classroom. Invited workshop at the South Asian Summer Language Institute, University of Wisconsin- Madison, July 29, 2019.

Representative Workshops and Presentations

  • Chaudhry, D. (2026). Beginner is Not Basic: Critical Inquiry in the First-Year Language Classroom. Paper presented at the South Asian Language Teacher Association Conference. Online. May 8, 2026.
  • Chaudhry, D. (2025). From Perfectionism to Play: Using Improv to Enhance Learning Environments. Session presented at Lilly 2025 Conference at Asheville, North Carolina. August 12, 2025.
  • Chaudhry, D. (2025). Bringing an Improvisational Spirit to Language Teaching. Workshop at Southern Conference on Language Teaching. Nashville, TN. March 21, 2025
  • Chaudhry, D. (2024). AI in Language Teaching: Balancing Innovation with Intention. Paper presented at the 6th International Hindi Conference at The Consulate General of India. New York. Oct 26, 2024.
  • Chaudhry, D., Lucht, F. & Knapczyk, K (2024). Culture App for Development of Intercultural Competence in Hindi and Urdu: Origin, Development, and Application. Panel organized and presented at the South Asian Language Teacher Association Conference at University of Wisconsin-Madison. June 22, 2024.
  • Chaudhry, D. (2022). Start Where You Are: How to Make Language Teaching More Inclusive. Paper presented at American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)’s conference at Boston, MA. November 18-20, 2022.
  • Chaudhry, D. & Knapczyk, K (2021). Remotely Conducted Community-Engaged Language Teaching. Simulive session presented) at American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages. November 19-21, 2021.
  • Chaudhry, D. & Knapczyk, K (2021). Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice: What Conversation Analysis Can Teach Us? Paper presented virtually at the International Conference on Hindi Grammar and Lexicon held at National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO), 65 rue des Grands Moulins in Paris, France. November 3–4, 2021