Get inspired by the power of languages!
“Every language is a story. Every learner is a world. Education begins when we honor both.” (Paulo Freire)
About me
Nice to meet you!
I’ve always believed that languages do more than help us communicate — they help us connect, belong, and understand one another. My work at Rutgers University, where I teach and direct the Italian Language Program, grows out of this simple but powerful conviction: languages build communities.
As an educator, I am passionate about creating learning spaces where students feel seen, valued, and inspired to bring their full linguistic and cultural selves into the classroom. My teaching blends multilingualism, creativity, and responsible approaches to AI, always to help students discover their own voice and feel at home in new languages.
I love designing experiences that bring people together — whether through collaborative international projects, heritage language connections, multimodal storytelling, or everyday classroom interactions that spark curiosity and belonging. I see language learning as a deeply human act, one that bridges identities, histories, and futures.
At the heart of everything I do is a belief in people, their stories, and the transformative power of learning. I hope that every classroom, workshop, or project I touch becomes a place where community can grow, one conversation at a time.
Carmela Scala, Ph.D.
The Multilingual Space: Stories of Belonging
A collection of real stories from people, students, teachers, heritage speakers, and anyone whose lives the power of languages has touched. Each voice shows how language helps us feel seen, understood, and at home.
Belonging in the Language Classroom
A curated collection of pedagogical materials, inclusive teaching strategies, and AI-supported tools designed to help educators create multilingual, culturally responsive classrooms.