Bengali Language 2

Key information

Status
Module not running
Module code
155900492
Credits
30
Department
South Asia Section

Module overview

Bengali Language 2 builds on the skills acquired in Year 1 and its main focus is on active language skills like speaking, reading for understanding, and writing. A period for conversation in Bengali will be an essential ingredient of the module. Ideally oral communication will evolve during the course of the year from the simple re-telling of events to topical debates. In order to acquire confidence in the idiomatic use of Bengali, students will read essays, letters, biographical writing and then practise their own writing. This will be started early on in the year and gradually increase in complexity. Again, students will start with their own experiences and move on to expressing opinions.

By the end of the year students should have a thorough grounding in Bengali. They will be able to hold a conversation, write a competent (though not error-free) letter or argument. They will have gained some insight into cultural and social issues in West Bengal and Bangladesh. They will have a good general vocabulary and will be able to use a dictionary. They will have a reasonable understanding of Bengali sentence structure and will be able to read and understand simple texts. Bengali Language 2 should take students to a stage from which they can move on independently.

Prerequisites

Bengali 1 or equivalent

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

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

  1. knowledge and understanding of intermediate Bengali grammar
  2. knowledge and understanding of a wide range of Bengali vocabulary
  3. knowledge and understanding of the appropriateness of a wide range of Bengali structures and expressions in a given context
  4. the ability to understand passages in written Bengali of medium length on everyday and some specialised topics
  5. the ability to produce passages in written Bengali of medium length on everyday and some specialised topics
  6. the ability to understand spoken Bengali and to engage in spoken discourse of medium complexity on everyday and some specialised topics

Workload

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

Method of assessment

  • 30% Mid-term oral presentation
  • 20% Practical skill oral assessment
  • 20% End-of-term assignment
  • 30% End-of-term test
  • The exact assessment deadline dates are published on the relevant module Moodle/BLE page

Suggested reading

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

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules