HINDI 101 Elementary Hindi I

Fall 2005
TuTh: 4:30-5:20, We: 4:00-4:50
Room: RH 106
Conversation Groups: 1hr, TBA

gautami shah
office: 219 Rayzor
office hours: By appointment
phone: (713) 348 2987

gshah@rice.edu
This course is a limited enrollment course.
weekly schedule| conversation groups| assignments | topics covered | elementary hindi | hindi at rice |
This course is designed for the "Hindi beginner" and assumes no background in the language. With material especially designed for this course, one has plenty of opportunity to play with and explore the language and its parent culture. The course creates an intellectually stimulating atmosphere by drawing on varied academic interests of the participants. Through a combination of graded texts, written assignments, audio-visual material including contemporary Hindi films and songs, and computer based assignments, this course is geared towards increasing oral, aural, written and reading proficiency in the target language. Emphasis is placed on spontaneous self-expression in the language. By the end of the semester, diligent participants should be able to use Hindi in self satisfying and meaningful ways (i.e. polite conversations, light readings and written self expression in the language).

Class organization: In addition to the regular Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday class meetings, small groups of 4-5 students each will meet for one hour of directed conversation with a tutor.
Students will be assigned to conversation groups after the second or third week of the semester. The meeting time for each conversation group shall be determined by the group itself. Topics and guidelines will be provided for the conversation sessions.

Text:
Textual material developed/selected for this course will be given out in class weekly or posted on the class homepage. When posted on the homepage you will be able to access it through the assignments link.
Required Grammar Reference:
(i) Snell, Rupert and Simon Weightman, "Teach yourself Hindi", latest edition.
(ii) McGregor, R.S., "Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary", latest edition.
Optional Reference:
(i)Anand, I.N., " The Modern English-Hindi Dictionary", latest edition.

Grading:
Course grades will be based on class participation, obligatory homework including essays due on Tuesday, quizzes, skits, 2 midterms and 1 final project. On the last Tuesday of classes students are required to submit a file of all the work they have completed over the course of the semester, including all graded homeworks, quizes, exams and projects. Failure to submit such a file will affect the final grade as the file is used to assess the student's progress.

Disability Accommodations:
Any student with a disability requiring accommodations in this course is requested to contact me during the first two weeks of classes to discuss his/her needs. All discussions will remain confidential. Additionally, students will also need to contact Disability Support Services in the Ley Student Center.

Center for the Study of Languages | Language Resource Center | Asian Studies Program
gshah@rice.edu
last updated 08/16/05