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.
Objectives and learning outcomes of the course
At the end of the course, a student should be able to demonstrate…
- knowledge and understanding of basic Tamil grammar
- knowledge and understanding of essential Tamil vocabulary
- knowledge and understanding of the appropriateness of basic Tamil structures and expressions in a given context
- the ability to understand short passages in written Tamil on everyday topics
- the ability to produce short passages in written Tamil on everyday topics
- the ability to understand spoken Tamil and to engage in short spoken discourse on everyday topics
Beginners and Professionals and for anyone interested in improving the knowledge of Tamil language or anyone working in the government or private sector.
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.
Duration :
8 months
Course Fee :
Rs. 18,000
Contact hours :
72 hours
Introduction to Tamil 1 Syllabus Outline
Part 1 (36 hours)
Week 1
- Introduction to the Tamil Language
- Greetings; introducing oneself to others
- Introduction to the 12 ‘soul’letters
Week 2
- Talking about family, home, job and studies
- Possessive pronouns and connecting words
- Introduction to the 18 ‘body letters
- Past, present and future verbs
Week 3
- Days, months and seasons
- The 216 ‘soul and body’ syllables (1)
- Numbers and counting (1)
- Asking questions
Week 4
- Sentence structure
- Numbers and counting(2)
- Family and relationship words
- The 216 ‘soul and body’ syllables (2)
Week 5
- Listing to and understanding basic information
- Simple adjectives and adverbs (1)
- Introduction to Tamil literature: poem
Week 6
- Simple adjectives and adverbs (2)
- Introduction to Tamil literature: short story
- Food and festivals
- Talking about likes and dislikes
Week 7
- Introduction to holiday/ travel words and conversations
- Singular and plural forms
- Simple adjectives and adverbs (3)
- Introduction to Tamil film
Week 8
- Introduction to holiday/ travel words and conversations
- Singular and plural forms
- Simple adjectives and adverbs (3)
- Introduction to Tamil film
Week 9
- More vocabulary of everyday words and terms
- Writing revision
- Reading exercise
- Q&A practice(1) & (2)
- Tips and suggestions for further study
Part 2 (36 hours)
Week 1
- Letters, Sounds, Numbers, Months,Years, Colours days etc.
- Talk about Holidays
- Write in simple sentence and present it to the class
- Identify simple words from a song, listening to Story and
Understanding Radio News
Week 2
- Verbs of Past, Present and future
- Talk about a place that you visited in the past write and present it to the class
- Write in simple sentence and present it to the class
- Identify simple words from a song, listening to Story and Understanding Radio News
Week 3
- Nouns, types of nouns
- Preparing words list
- Talk about currencies /asking for prices/ bargaining-prepare a role play
- Identify simple words from a song, listening to Story and Understanding Radio News
Week 4
- Verb and Noun Combinations
- Write simple sentences (V+N+O)
- How to express how you are feeling (good, bad, sick) Role play in group
- Identify simple words from a song, listening to Story and Understanding Radio News
Week 5
- Simple adjectives
- Adjectives with N+V+O sentences
- Introduction to Ancient Tamil literature-Read a part of Nala Venpa
- Identify simple words from a song, listening to Story and Understanding Radio News
Week 6
- Simple Adverbs
- Adverbs with N+V+O sentences
- Introduction to Contemporary Tamil Literature-Read a contemporary poem
- Reading Tamil News papers
- Identify simple words from a song, listening to Story and Understanding Radio News
Week 7
- N+V+O with adjectives and adverbs
- Debate (topics will be given in the previous class)
- Simple comprehension exercise –Read and answer the questions
- Tamil Short Film-discussion
- Identify simple words from a song, listening to Story and Understanding Radio News
Week 8
- Write an essay on your favourite topic (Open to any)
- Present it on your own words
- Guest Speaker-Discussion
- Tamil Short Film-discussion
- Identify simple words from a song, listening to Story and Understanding Radio News
