MESAAS | Languages | Hindi-Urdu

Frequently Asked Questions
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Hindi-Urdu is a beautiful language that is easy to learn and straightforward to speak, read, and write. MESAAS offers three levels of instruction. The content of the third-year classes changes, enabling students to repeat them. So students can study the language for three or more years, and are encouraged to do so.

The Elementary (first-year) and Intermediate (second-year) sequences are both two semesters long, starting in the fall and continuing in the spring. They will teach you basic oral Hindi-Urdu and written Hindi, prepare you for further work in Hindi and/or Urdu, and clarify for you the interesting and complex relationship between Hindi and Urdu. We will work on all the skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. You will learn the Urdu script as part of the second-year class.

The course is time-intensive, but is taught on an undergraduate level; students who want to work more quickly or intensively may speak with the instructors about supplementary materials.

Beginners who cannot read or write basic Hindi-Urdu should register for the fall semester Elementary Hindi-Urdu I.

Students wishing to study at a level above the introductory level must take a placement test before registration. Those seeking to waive a language requirement must take a proficiency test. The placement test is normally given during the week before classes begin.

Objectives of the Program

Elementary Level: MDES W1610 (Fall) and W1611 (spring)

Students learn to:

Provide basic information in Hindi-Urdu about themselves, family, interests, likes, dislikes, daily activities.
Understand and participate in a simple conversation on everyday topics (weather, meeting people, school, shopping, etc.)
Read edited texts on familiar topics, understand the main ideas and pick out important information from ???authentic??? texts (menus, signs, timetables, etc.).
Fill in forms requesting information, write letters, notes, postcards or messages providing simple information.
Use and understand a range of essential vocabulary related to everyday life.
Pronounce Hindi-Urdu well enough and produce it with sufficient grammatical accuracy to be comprehensible to a Hindi-Urdu speaker accustomed to conversing with non-native speakers.

Intermediate Level: MDES W1612 (Fall) and W1613 (Spring)

Students learn to:

Successfully handle most uncomplicated communicative tasks and social situations.
Initiate, sustain, and close a general conversation.
Write letters and short compositions and read consistently with full understanding simple connected texts dealing with personal and social needs.
Get the main ideas and information from texts featuring description and narration.

Readings in Hindi-Urdu Literature (various course numbers)

The third-year level, for those who have completed Intermediate Hindi-Urdu or Hindi for Heritage Speakers. Reading and discussion of selected literary, social science, historical, and/or journalistic texts. Since the content changes each term, the course may be repeated for credit.

Hindi for Heritage Speakers: MDES 1608 (Fall) and 1609 (Spring)

This is an accelerated course for students who already have a basic vocabulary and limited speaking and listening skills in Hindi. The course combines the curriculum of both elementary and intermediate Hindi/ Urdu in two semesters instead of four. So, it will save the student a whole year of Hindi-Urdu. To qualify for this class, a student should have:

limited speaking and listening skills in Hindi-Urdu or a dialect of Hindi.
the basic vocabulary to converse about topics such as: self, family, likes, dislikes, and immediate surroundings.
familiarity with some aspects of South Asian culture.

Students will be able to move on to the third year level after successful completion this one-year condensed year.

There will be an interview/placemat test on the first day of classes in order to establish the proficiency level. Please come directly to class. If accepted, you will be registered internally by the department.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the basic two-year course sequence called "Hindi-Urdu"?

Hindi and "Urdu" share an entirely common grammar, so from a linguistic point of view they are one language. Our program teaches the Hindi (Devanagari) script at the beginning of the elementary class, and the Urdu script during the intermediate class, so everybody ends up having two "languages" for almost the price of one. In vocabulary terms, we try to emphasize common core vocabulary rather than extremely Sanskritized or Persianized words.

What if I have a little language knowledge, but not much?

Probably you belong in the elementary class. If not, the teachers there will work with you about alternatives.

What if I am fluent in spoken Hindi, but cannot read or write?

You probably belong in the intermediate class, with an extra period of auditing the script-learning sessions in the elementary class. The Devanagari (Hindi) script is very easy and even beginners learn it quickly.

What if I only want to learn Urdu, not Hindi?

If you don't know the Hindi/Urdu language, you need to enroll in the elementary class. Learning the Hindi script (which is easy and helpful to the learner) will help you with the Urdu script (which is a bit harder). You will learn Urdu script in the intermediate class, or else you can audit the Urdu script part of the intermediate class even when you are in the elementary class, if you want to learn Urdu script very fast.

What if I am somewhat competent, and somewhat literate, in Hindi or Urdu?

Then you probably belong in either "Readings in Hindi Literature" or "Readings in Urdu Literature." Both are taught every semester, and are repeatable since the content changes every semester. To be eligible for these courses, you must either successfully complete the intermediate class, or obtain the consent of the instructor.