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South Asia Department

Hindi Language 1

Course Code:
155900501
Unit value:
1
Year of study:
Any
Taught in:
Full Year

This is a basic course for beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The course covers all the major tenses and constructions of the language, enabling successful students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Literacy in the script is taught early on, and much emphasis is placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.

Classes are highly ‘interactive’, with much participation from students through drilling, question-and-answer exercises, and other such class activities. As in all language courses, full attendance and regular submission of coursework is essential, and the four hours of class time have to be matched with at least as much again in private study.

Prerequisites

None

This course is available to students in any year, but final-year undergraduate students will need the permission of the Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching.

This is a core course for 1st year BA Hindi and..., and for BA South Asian Studies where Hindi is the language chosen.

Language acquisition courses are only available as minor courses on MA programmes.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the course

At the end of the course, a student should be able to demonstrate…

  1. knowledge and understanding of basic Hindi grammar
  2. knowledge and understanding of essential Hindi vocabulary
  3. knowledge and understanding of the appropriateness of basic Hindi structures and expressions in a given context
  4. the ability to understand short passages in written Hindi on everyday topics
  5. the ability to produce short passages in written Hindi on everyday topics
  6. the ability to understand spoken Hindi and to engage in short spoken discourse on everyday topics

Workload

Total of 22 weeks teaching with 4 hours classroom contact per week.

Method of assessment

One three-hour written paper (60%) and an oral examination (20%) taken in May/June. Two one-hour written tests in week 2 of Term 2 and the week after Reading Week in Term 2, counting for 10% each. These tests will be on vocabulary acquisition, comprehension or specific language structures and will be agreed in class beforehand. 20% of total mark (10% each).

Suggested reading

  • R. Snell and S. Weightman, Teach Yourself Hindi (2005).
  • A course pack (Hindi 1) containing the required readings and texts for the year is available from the SOAS Book Shop at the start of term.