Walther Glödstaf is a current Linguistics PhD student pursuing a graduate minor in European Union Studies and is expected to graduate in 2025. 

Do you currently, or have you in the past worked as a TA, RA, or GA? If so, list your position(s).

GA (EUC/LAS International Programs); TA (EURO199; LAS291/292; LING301); RA (Second Language Acquisition and BilingualismLab)

What are your research or academic interests?

First Language Attrition Economic and Social Benefits of Minority Language Protection Psycho- and Neurolinguistic Representations of Language Benefts and Drawbacks of the European Charter for Minority Languages for the EU neighbourhood.

In 1-2 sentences, tell us more about your thesis/dissertation research.

I investigate whether we can explain the possibility that everyone can (but only very few will) forget parts of their native language as changes in psycho/neurolinguistic activation of the native language.

Please list any awards or honors you've received while in the MAEUS/grad minor program (FLAS, Fulbright, scholarships, etc...)

Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Humanities and Arts (2019 cohort)

Do you have any blog posts or publications you that you would like to highlight? Please provide a link, if possible, as well as the title.

Conference Talks Event: 2022 Multidisciplinary Approaches in Language Policy and Planning conference (LPP2022) Title: Limits on the European charter for minority or regional languages’ economic benefits

Event: The European Conference on Language Learning (ECLL2022) Title: How the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Limits Itself from Harnessing Its Economic and Societal Benefits Event: 2022 EUSA 17th Biennial Conference Title: Language Power in the EU: A Threat to Normative Power in Dutch OCTs https://www.eustudies.org/uploads/repositorydocuments/16468380896228c14912d0b.pdf

Event: Transatlantic Policy Symposium (TAPS) 2022 Title: Limits of EU Power: The ECRML in Dutch OCTs https://cges.georgetown.edu/research/eventprogramming/taps/schedule/

Event: WECOL2021 Title: Online Modality Influencing Acceptability Judgements in Spanish Passives (https://wecol.weebly.com/program.html)

Why did you choose to pursue an MA or a graduate minor in European Union studies?

I decided to pursue a graduate minor in EU Studies, because it allowed me to broaden my reseach agenda regarding minority languages. Instead of focusing primarily on the theoretical side of the question and targeting a smaller audience of speakers of minority languages and people that interacted with them, the minor also allowed me to pursue a more applied side that was directed at a broader audience. I felt that this step was neccessary, since a lot of the research in linguistics concerning heritage and minority languages has done a tremendous job in informing the communities that speak these languages. The logical next step is to move on to the level of policy and the public in general and do the same thing. The minor in EU Studies allowed me to do just that.

Do you have a favorite graduate class you've taken at Illinois?

EURO418 Language & Minorities in Europe. It really helped me find where I could contribute with my specific research at a general and EU-level

What are your hobbies outside of the program?

Spend time with my cats and mod video games.

Do you have anything else you'd like to share for this spotlight?

Conversely to what new graduate might assume, pursuing a minor 'outside' your major is not taking anything away from your 'main' research. It's a really good exercise in being able to talk about your topic to an educated non-expert audience and think about it in a new light. As such, I recommend anyone to consider pursuing a minor outside of their field (especially with the ever-supportive EU Centre).