PLEASE NOTE: Advanced Urdu language classes are open to undergraduate students if they pass the placement exam and demonstrate intermediate level. For more information, contact Senior Urdu Language Instructor Tahira Naqvi.
South Asian Virtual Language Site
Courses:
- MEIS-UA 301 & 302 Elementary Urdu I, II
- MEIS-UA 303 & 304 Intermediate Urdu I, II
- MEIS-GA 1107 & 1108 Advanced Urdu I, II
MEIS-UA 301 & 302 Elementary Urdu I, II
Consisting of a two-year curriculum, these beginning Urdu courses are aimed at introducing the students to the basics of Urdu alphabet, grammar and sentence structure. All four skills are emphasized -- writing and reading, as well as speaking and listening. The courses are tailored to address students' interests not only in the language, bust also in the culture it is rooted in. Along with texts for script and grammar, new and additional materials will be constantly introduced, especially as the students develop increased facility and proficiency in the language.
The students are approached individually, since the class typically consists of students from various backgrounds and at different levels of proficiency. The first and second year language sequence relies heavily on student interaction, partner activities and group work.
Course Requirements:
Attendance: The students are required to attend all the class sessions, as well as to regularly prepare their assignments.
Readings Urdu: An Essential Grammar by Ruth Laila Schmidt. Reading packets will be individually assigned to address the students' needs and interests. Internet resources are also used to provide knowledge of the culture, literary traditions, geography and history of Pakistan and India.
Journals: Students are encouraged to keep an on-going personal journal throughout the course in the form of a notebook. This journal should contain reactions to the material covered in class, questions, reflections, insights or suggestions on any kind of issue. Students are advised to keep the journal on a daily basis. Students are not required to submit the journal as a whole; rather it is intended primarily as a personal type of learning activity. However, each student will be expected to e-mail the instructor a minimum of ten journal entries - one per week. The purpose is twofold: to serve as a way of interaction between student and instructor and to show the degree of progress after each semester.
The Grading System:
Grading Criteria |
Percentage |
Assignments |
25% |
Tests & Quizzes |
25% |
Participation in class work and discussions |
25% |
Final |
25% |
Exam Format: fill in the blanks, use vocabulary/words in sentences/translation
Resources:
Urdu Script
Urdu Study Materials
Urdu Resources
MEIS-UA 303 & 304 Intermediate Urdu I, II
The overall goal of this course is to prepare the students to arrive at a high proficiency level of Urdu by extensively using literature, film and social exchange and to develop fluency in oral and written communication. The reading assignments are designed to teach extensive reading with broad understanding of the content to be used for oral presentations. The first and second year language sequence relies heavily on student interaction, partner activities and group work. The first and second year language sequence relies heavily on student interaction, partner activities and group work.
Course Requirements:
Attendance: The students are required to attend all the class sessions, as well as to regularly prepare their assignments.
Readings: Urdu: An Essential Grammar by Ruth Laila Schmidt. There will be additional readings including short stories, poetry, current newspaper items, and/or academic texts.
Journals: Students are encouraged to keep an on-going personal journal throughout the course in the form of a notebook. This journal should contain reactions to the material covered in class, questions, reflections, insights or suggestions on any kind of issue. Students are advised to keep the journal in Urdu (as much as possible), on a daily basis. Students are not required to submit the journal as a whole; rather it is intended primarily as a personal type of learning activity. However, each student will be expected to e-mail a minimum of ten journal entries - one per week. The purpose is twofold: to serve as a way of interaction between student and instructor and to show the degree of progress after each semester.
The Grading System:
Grading Criteria |
Percentage |
Special Projects |
30% |
Quizzes |
20% |
Class Participation |
20% |
Final |
30% |
Exam Format: fill in the blanks, short paragraphs using vocabulary/verbs, essay, translation from English to Urdu.
Resources:
Urdu Script
Urdu Study Materials
Urdu Resources
MEIS-GA 1107 & 1108 Literary Traditions and Culture: Advanced Urdu Readings I, II
This course offers an overview of the culture of Urdu via authentic texts and is designed to improve students' advanced level reading as well as their written and oral discourse strategies in Urdu. Students will be guided through linguistically complex and demanding texts. Emphasis will be placed on the development of linguistic skills required for a close reading and in-depth analysis of the texts. Students will read from works by writers like Ghulam abbas, Manto, Ismat CHughtai and Intezar Hussain, and poetry by Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz and Faraz.
Target Audience: Students who have completed the two-year sequence of Urdu or who have equivalent background and are interested in Urdu literature.
Course Requirements:
Attendance: Students are required to attend all the class sessions, as well as to regularly prepare their assignments.
Readings: Packets based on works by writers like Ghulam abbas, Manto, Ismat CHughtai and Intezar Hussain, and poetry by Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz and Faraz, will be prepared for the students.
The Grading System:
Grading Criteria |
Percentage |
Responses and Oral Presentations |
20% |
Class Participation |
20% |
Final |
60% |
Exam Format: oral presentations, response papers, final paper
Resources:
Urdu Resources