Dr. Katharine Burns

Biography

Katharine Burns' work in language acquisition takes an interdisciplinary approach through applied sociolinguistics. She conducts qualitative research on the ideological foundations of language use, with a particular focus on power dynamics that influence language learning. Her areas of research include language ideologies, second language (L2) learner identity formation, language policy planning, bilingualism and multilingualism, heritage language learning, endangered minority languages, and L2 learners as emergent bilinguals. As part of the Applied Linguistics and Language Acquisition doctoral program, Dr. Burns mentors graduate students and teaches courses such as Language Acquisition: Theories and Research; Language Policy Planning; and Language Identity. She also teaches undergraduate courses in Hispanic Studies—including Using Spanish in Social Contexts—and leads seminars in the Applied Multilingual Studies program focused on Bilingual and Bicultural Experiences in the USA and issues related to language diversity and cultural identity. Before joining Carnegie Mellon University, she taught Spanish and additional heritage languages in the United States and English and Spanish abroad.

Research Interests

Experience