My Teaching Philosophy: I believe that the classroom will remain an important place for learning, as live interaction can transfer things that go beyond from what one can learn. Effective teaching focuses on insight, helping students understand concepts and how they relate to the world.
I’m committed to Open Education – making high-quality (linguistic) education accessible to learners worldwide. This includes creating open educational resources, online courses, and materials that students and educators can freely use and adapt.
Current Courses (2025-2026)
Phonology
BA Level 50 students Fall Semester
An introduction to phonological theory and analysis. Students learn to describe sound systems, analyze phonological patterns, and understand how sounds are organized in the human mind.
Topics covered: Distinctive features, syllable structure, phonological rules, Optimality Theory basics, cross-linguistic variation
Dutch Phonology and Morphology
BA Level 50 students Spring Semester
Detailed analysis of the sound and word structure of Dutch. How does Dutch phonology work? What patterns exist in Dutch word formation?
Topics covered: Dutch vowel system, devoicing, syllabification, stress patterns, compounding, derivation
Language Variation in the Dutch Area
MA Level 20 students Spring Semester
Investigation of linguistic variation across Dutch dialects and Frisian. How do we study variation? What do dialect differences reveal about language structure?
Methods: Fieldwork, dialect atlas analysis, statistical approaches to variation, sociolinguistic interviews
Writing for Non-Specialist Audiences
Research MA 10 students Spring Semester
Intensive training in writing, presentation, and communication skills for aspiring researchers who wish to communicate with the general audience.
Skills developed: Article structure, argumentation, revision strategies, conference presentations
Thesis Supervision
BA/MA/PhD Ongoing
I currently supervise BA theses, MA theses, and PhD dissertations on topics in phonology, dialectology, and language variation.
Teaching Materials
Online Courses
Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics
MOOC 200,000+ students Coursera
A comprehensive online course introducing linguistics to general audiences. Available free on Coursera with optional certificate.
Topics: Phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, language acquisition, language evolution→ Enroll in the course
Open Course Materials
Phonology
Comprehensive introduction to phonological theory for Dutch-speaking students. Covers classical generative phonology through contemporary constraint-based approaches.
Previous Courses
I have previously taught courses on:
- Formal Linguistics (introduction to formal methods)
- Phonetics and Laboratory Phonology
- Dialectology Methods
- Language and Identity
- Esperanto and Constructed Languages
- Language in Poetry and Literature
- Research Methods in Linguistics
For Prospective Students
Interested in Working with Me?
I welcome inquiries from prospective BA, MA, and PhD students. (Please note, in the latter case that the current situation in the Netherlands is such that it is virtually impossible to find money for support.) I supervise theses and dissertations in the following areas:
- Phonological theory – Optimality Theory, constraint-based phonology, representational issues
- Dutch phonology and morphology – Sound patterns and word structure in Dutch and Frisian
- Dialectology – Language variation across Dutch and European varieties
- Phonological microvariation – Subtle differences between closely related varieties
- Interlinguistics – Esperanto, constructed languages, language planning
- Linguistics pedagogy – Teaching methods, curriculum development, educational linguistics
- Language policy – Sociolinguistic aspects of language planning and standardization
What to Include in Your Inquiry
If you’re interested in working with me, please email me with:
- Your academic background and interests
- The level you’re applying for (BA/MA/PhD)
- A brief description of your potential research topic or thesis idea
- Your CV and transcript (for MA/PhD applicants)
I try to respond soon. Contact Me About Supervision