Jun Wang

As a language educator and researcher, I’m guided by the belief that “to learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.” My work explores how language, culture, and cognition shape the way we perceive reality and engage with human difference. Inspired by proverbs like Whorf’s “language determines what we can think about,” I invite students to see language not just as a tool, but as a lens through which we understand others and ourselves. In my Engagements course, students will explore how language shapes thought, reflects identity, and carries cultural values across time and place. We’ll ask questions, analyze patterns, and reflect on the many ways humans express what matters most. I want students to see that learning a language—or learning about language—is not just about grammar or vocabulary, but about stepping into someone else’s world. I hope they leave with open minds, sharper insight, and a deeper curiosity about cultural difference along with the confidence to communicate across boundaries with humility, compassion, and the courage to listen and speak as citizens of a pluralistic, interconnected world.