July 2, 2024

Ginger Farrell: 2024 IPhD graduate

How can psychological interventions like the use of mental imagery help improve outcomes for foreign language learners?

For Ginger Farrell ‘24, addressing research questions like this required an interdisciplinary approach. The Individual PhD (IPhD) program offered the ideal environment for such exploration.

Under the guidance of Prof. Paula Nurius from the School of Social Work—and additional support from her supervisory committee members Profs. Cynthia Levine (Psychology), Naja Ferjan Ramírez (Linguistics), and John Webster (English)—Farrell integrated multiple perspectives into her research.

Farrell’s academic and professional journey includes bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French, experience working for a start-up in Paris, an MBA degree, and roles in financial analysis and business planning within the aerospace industry. As her research interests developed, the IPhD program was a natural fit. “[It was] crucial in allowing me to align my knowledge from different areas into one line of enquiry,” she said.

Her research focuses on a pedagogical approach aimed at helping students “develop prominent and vivid self-schemas related to their foreign language (L2) abilities.” By using guided mental simulation or task-guided imagery, this approach aims to boost students’ confidence and motivation to continue learning a foreign language. As Farrell explains, the potential of her research lies in enhancing learning practices “by using an innate human characteristic: imagination!”

Looking ahead, Farrell hopes to publish her findings, develop curricula, and collaborate with educators and institutions to implement these strategies. “By creating curricula that are subjectively meaningful to students, I aim to contribute to educational practices that not only enhance academic performance but also promote lifelong learning and personal growth,” she says.