Hindi

** Hindi Language Placement Test Information **

At the Rice Hindi program, we believe language is a way of thinking, a way of life, and so our students are required from the very beginning to think in the language being learnt.

We believe true proficiency in any language can only be achieved through a deeper understanding of its parent and/or related culture(s), and so, in keeping with the spirit of ashram instruction, instead of lecture oriented classes, we instruct through building a one on one teacher-student relationship.

We believe that all disciplines are in the final analysis related to each other, and so are committed to providing a classroom experience where students are compelled to draw on the multitude of diverse knowledge they have acquired in the course of living.

We believe in the joy of learning and are committed to making the Hindi classroom a non-threatening, intense, intellectual and joyful experience.

In Fall 2001, the Center for the Study of Languages (CSL) offered its first introductory course in Hindi. Through a combination of texts, written assignments, audio-visual material including contemporary Hindi films and songs, and computer based assignments, this course was geared towards steadily increasing oral, aural, written and reading proficiency in the language. At the end of the course our successful students were not only able to engage in meaningful conversations, enjoy light readings and experience the exhilarating effects of written self expression in Hindi, but had a better understanding of its parent and/or related culture(s).

In 2002-2003 the Rice Hindi program entered it's second phase and offered the second year of Hindi. Through instruction with authentic materials including, but not limited to, feature films, radio broadcasts and graded literary and non-literary, the second year course consolidated and built on the foundation laid in the first year thereby increasing the student's appreciation of cultural nuances.

In Fall 2003 we shall enter the third phase of our program and offer a third year level course titled "South Asian Literature, Poetry and Popular Culture".