Rajiv Ranjan

Rajiv Ranjan serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University (MSU), with affiliations in the Asian Studies Program and Master of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching (MAFLT) Program. He mentors Fulbright Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) and has extensive teaching experience including online graduate courses at MSU and Kean University, immersion programs at the University of Wisconsin's SASLI, and study abroad instruction in India through AIIS.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition, University of Iowa (2015)

Ranjan's research centers on generative and socio-cultural approaches to second language acquisition (SLA), with specialized focus on morpho-syntax, second language writing/speaking, and pedagogy for South Asian languages. His work bridges theoretical linguistics and practical classroom applications, particularly through Open Educational Resources development for Hindi, Urdu, Persian, and Tamil instruction.

Recent publications (2013-2024) demonstrate consistent advancement in South Asian language pedagogy, characterized by OER textbook development across multiple languages and targeted scholarly investigations into grammatical gender, writing challenges, and conversational dynamics. This output reveals strategic integration of theoretical SLA frameworks with practical teaching solutions for less commonly taught languages.

His award portfolio reflects significant contributions to language education:

• Fulbright-Hays GPA Program (2023)
• IRS Grant from U.S. Department of Education (2023)
• OER Leadership Award (MSU, 2021-2022)
• Adams Academy Fellowship (2020)
• Transformative Language Pedagogies Grant (2018)

As FLTAs mentor and grant recipient for OER development, Ranjan directs substantial resources toward enhancing South Asian language instruction through federal and institutional funding. His collaborative projects with Yuva Hindi Sansthan and Big Ten Academic Alliance advance regional language education ecosystems.

He maintains active partnerships with the Asian Studies Program, MAFLT Program, and W. Mellon Foundation's LCTL initiative, driving curriculum innovation for South Asian languages through textbook development and teacher training frameworks.