When Technology Imprints on Language Learning

Typically, a visit to the Innovation Co-Lab isn’t on the syllabus for most language classes, but in Kusum Knapczyk’s elementary Hindi classes, technology is definitely part of the lesson plan. 

The senior lecturer in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies has long embraced technology as a tool to help students connect language to lived experiences. “Students obviously need vocabulary and structure, but they also need to see themselves as global citizens,” Knapczyk explains. “Technology becomes a bridge that opens access to real-world culture and diverse societies in ways a traditional language lesson simply can’t.”

This fall, she introduced a unit, My Name, My Story, to explore the power and meaning names carry in India. She bridged classroom discussions on the caste system, Hindi naming ceremonies and the meaning of names with visits to the Co-Lab, where students created 3D-printed versions of their names in Hindi/Sanskrit — bringing abstract ideas into a tangible form. 

Knapczyk shares that in India, names carry deep meaning and can indicate ancestry or family values, and many of her students had never examined their own names beyond the surface. Some learned that their names had specific meanings, while others discovered that certain Sanskrit names revealed a layer of social nuance most hadn’t considered. 

By understanding their own identities, Knapczyk hopes students are better equipped to appreciate the complexities of others’ experiences. Classroom conversations about naming ceremonies, the caste system and cultural nuances can help them think critically about society and the invisible ways it shapes behavior.

For junior Navya Gautam, the project allowed her to reflect, for the first time, on the personal and cultural significance of her own name. As a lifelong New Yorker, she had grown used to hearing the Americanized version and almost forgot how it’s meant to be pronounced. 

“Through this project, I reconnected with my name’s meaning and how it actually sounds: NAHV-yah. I also learned how much love and care my parents put into choosing it, which made me appreciate it even more. My name isn’t just a word — it’s a reflection of my family, our culture and their hopes for me.” 

Ultimately, the project illustrated that a name is never “just a name.” It’s a story, a social marker, a connection to heritage and, in some cases, a key to understanding the world around us. For the students, a simple 3D print became a conduit between self-awareness, cultural knowledge and the global community they are poised to join.