[skip to content]

Department of the Languages and Cultures of South East Asia

Thai Language 1 (Postgraduate)

Course Code:
15PSEC040
Unit value:
1
Taught in:
Full Year

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 Thai grammar
  2. Knowledge and understanding of basic Thai vocabulary
  3. Knowledge and understanding of basic phonology of Thai
  4. Knowledge and understanding of basic sociolinguistic aspects of Thai, such as polite particles, levels of vocabulary and pronominal strategies
  5. Knowledge and understanding of the Thai script
  6. Ability to understand simple spoken Thai and converse on simple everyday topics
  7. Ability to read and translate into English short passages and dialogues written in Thai
  8. Ability to translate simple sentences from English to Thai, using correct grammar and spelling
  9. Knowledge and understanding of the role of language in general. and Thai in particular, in language-based scholarship and research (specific learning outcome for PG students)

Workload

This course is taught over 22 weeks with 5 hours classroom contact per week. There is also an additional 12 hours spent in lectures and seminars over the 22 week period.

Scope and syllabus

The syllabus consists of a carefully structured course which provides a systematic introduction  (a)  to the basic grammar and vocabulary needed for conversing in everyday situations, (b) to the writing system and (c) a series of special PG  lectures.
The series of special PG lectures with associated seminars structured around the six themes, Structure, Texts, Identity, Society, Translation and Transformation (provided for PG students studying different languages). Introduces students to general questions on the role of language in language-based scholarship and research and provides them with the critical and methodological skills to relate their language acquisition to the thematic aspects of the studies.

Method of assessment

One three-hour written examination taken in May/June (50%); a 3000 word essay to be submitted on Friday, week 1, term 3 (30%); an oral examination of 15 minutes duration (10%); regular assessed homework assignments (10%).