معرفی
Dr. Hanna Tryfonova is a Lecturer in the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities. She teaches Italian language courses (Italian 2, Italian 3, and Italian 4) and maintains dual affiliation with the Gender Studies program, bridging language pedagogy and gender-focused academic inquiry within the Institute for Cultural Inquiry.
Her research centers on second language acquisition dynamics among displaced populations, with specialized focus on Ukrainian refugee children's educational trajectories in the Netherlands. She examines how varying language support models—ranging from Dutch-immersion classrooms with initial English scaffolding to home-language-supported instruction—affect linguistic proficiency in Dutch/English, academic performance, psychological well-being, and motivation. This work intersects Italian linguistics, gender studies, and refugee integration frameworks to develop culturally responsive educational strategies.
Dr. Tryfonova serves as lead researcher on the Dynamics of Youth-funded project 'Language support for Ukrainian refugee pupils' (October 2024–September 2025), investigating longitudinal outcomes of language support pathways. Collaborating with Anna Rijkers-Baranova, Nataliia Rekonvald, and Dr. Elena Tribushinina, she analyzes pedagogical interventions through mixed-methods approaches to inform national refugee education policies.
Embedded within Utrecht University's Institute for Cultural Inquiry, she contributes to interdisciplinary teams developing inclusive curricula for multilingual classrooms. Her work connects the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication with Gender Studies initiatives, fostering cross-departmental research on linguistic identity and educational equity for vulnerable student populations.
