Tuesday, April 10, 2012

नमस्ते 

Dear High School Students: 

Are you curious about the culture of India and Pakistan? Do you want to learn Hindi and Urdu, two of the most widely spoken languages in the world? Then join us for a five-week Hindi-Urdu language course at CU this summer - it's fun, free and you'll learn more than you thought possible. 

The curriculum is designed as an intensive introduction to the closely-related languages of Hindi and Urdu, as well as the diverse and shared culture and history of India and Pakistan.  Classroom hours will be divided among language lessons from two experienced teachers and native speakers of Hindi/Urdu, structured experiential activities that allow students to practice their language skills while simultaneously exploring cultural practices, interactive presentations from CU faculty specializing in the history, geography, and culture of South Asia, and field trips to local sites of South Asian community gathering in Colorado.   Over the course of the program, students will develop a deep understanding of the central role that language plays in the construction and maintenance of cultural identities in South Asia and abroad.  Specific curricular goals of the program include:

- an attainment of basic-level skills of reading, writing, and speaking Hindi
- an introduction to the script and unique historical and cultural context of Urdu
- an ability to use spoken Hindi/Urdu comfortably in interpersonal communication
- encouraging the use of social media and other communicative technologies as sites for language learning and practice
- focused lessons on topics such as mass media, religious pluralism, literature, healthcare practices, colonialism, politics, and food in South Asia