Urdu for Heritage Speakers I

This intensive, fast-paced course condenses two years of Urdu instruction into one year. It is tailored for students of South Asian heritage who possess basic speaking and listening skills in Urdu or Hindi. Non-heritage students with prior exposure to Urdu or Hindi, as well as South Asian cultures, are also encouraged to enroll. An interview will be conducted on the first day of class to assess speaking and listening comprehension proficiency levels. The course begins with an introduction to the Urdu script, enabling students to develop essential reading and writing skills. It then enhances listening and speaking abilities using a diverse range of materials, including literature, newspapers, folk tales, jokes, magazine articles, films, songs, commercials, and other audio-visual resources. These materials are thoughtfully selected to support language development in everyday personal and social contexts. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on vocabulary expansion, cultural understanding, and a foundational grasp of Urdu grammar. By the end of the first semester, students will have developed practical skills in reading, writing, and speaking. Specifically, they will be able to: Speak about themselves, their surroundings, and engage in conversations on general topics. Understand and use basic sentence structures in both formal and informal Urdu. Write letters, short essays, and compositions on a variety of everyday topics. Acquire vocabulary related to key aspects of South Asian life, including family dynamics, social traditions, and education. Initiate and sustain conversations about South Asian culture, social life, and family traditions