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South Asia Department

Tamil Language 1

Course Code:
155900526
Status:
Course Not Running 2013/2014
Unit value:
1
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 only available to final-year undergraduate students with the permission of the Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching.

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 Tamil grammar
2. knowledge and understanding of essential Tamil vocabulary
3. knowledge and understanding of the appropriateness of basic Tamil structures and expressions in a given context
4. the ability to understand short passages in written Tamil on everyday topics
5. the ability to produce short passages in written Tamil on everyday topics
6. the ability to understand spoken Tamil 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 exam (60%) and an oral exam (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

A reading list for this course will be given to students at the beginning of the course.