Kayla van Kooten

Kayla van Kooten is a recipient of the Summer 2019 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. The award provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students with financial support to develop fluency in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) and expertise in the regions in which these languages are spoken. Every year the Center for Global Studies awards between 12-15 fellowships to UW students. Click here to learn more.

I am a graduating senior majoring in International Studies, Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, and European Studies. My academic work focuses on multiculturalism, immigration, diaspora communities, and reactionary political movements. While I am unable to study Persian in Iran or Afghanistan, the Summer 2019 FLAS gave me the unique experience to study Persian in Armenia. This allowed me to not only advance my knowledge of the Persian language but also to see, first-hand, the influence Persian has as a global language in Armenia. With advanced knowledge of Persian, I will continue studying both Persian and other languages to help me as I continue studying the cultural and political effects of Middle Eastern migration to Europe. FLAS has been instrumental in helping me learn more about a frequently misunderstood region of the world.