MODERN LANGUAGE CENTRE
MODULE SYLLABUS
Title and code number:
Urdu 1: Graduate Language
(6AALU201)
Value:
Credit Level 6
Credit Value 20
Prerequisite for entry:
none
Course delivery
and duration:
A 2-hour class x 22 weeks in two
semesters, and
Ten 1-hour seminars over two semesters
Students are expected to spend an
additional 6-7 hours a week in private
study.
See website for semester dates,
timetable and teachers’ surgery hours:
www.kcl.ac.uk/mlc
Date of last revision:
September 2013
(6AALUR201)
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE MODULE
This module aims to enable the students to:








develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in a range of
predictable situations and contexts
interact in a simple way orally and in writing with a sympathetic speaker of the
language
develop strategies for coping with unfamiliar language or unexpected
responses, such as asking for repetition or clarification
use Urdu to reinforce/further their knowledge of other disciplines
acquire linguistics skills, tools and knowledge to become independent lifelong learners by using Urdu for target academic activities and personal
enrichment
develop an insight into the nature of language, culture and society and a
greater degree of intercultural competence
appreciate linguistic concepts and applied aspects of linguistics
research and critically analyse linguistics-related topics using a wide range of
sources and present it convincingly, using clearly structured, original text
LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE MODULE
The students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practical
skills appropriate to a level 6 module and in particular will demonstrate the ability
to:










have a basic factual knowledge base and range of vocabulary
understand and use familiar everyday expressions and high-frequency
vocabulary in predictable situations.
produce short, simple texts, e.g. writing a postcard.
have basic intercultural awareness, to enable them to understand simple
references to the most common aspects of the culture, everyday life and
current issues in the country/countries where Urdu is spoken.
be able to read, assess and analyse short, simple texts, and engage in
evaluative thinking using given criteria
objectively compare some aspects of their culture to that which is being
studied using the tools of intercultural learning
interact creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team
research a linguistic topic, evaluating and extracting information for relevancy
and validity from a range of complex written and spoken sources
engage in evaluative, analytical thinking and complex problem solving etc.
using their own knowledge and skills
work autonomously, with minimal direction from the teacher
2
(6AALUR201)
CLASS DELIVERY AND TEACHING METHODS
Although every class is designed taking into consideration the above objectives,
the structure of particular sessions may vary. The general approach to all Modern
Language Centre classes is communicative - the language is dealt with in social
situations and students are encouraged to participate as much as possible.
Urdu will be used for communication in class and students will be asked to
participate in classroom activities and to contribute to short role-plays, games
and other language-centred activities.
Seminars will be in English.
LANGUAGE TOPICS – LEXICAL CONTENT
















Personal and social life (family, friends, daily routine)
Nationalities and countries
Travel, transport and directions
Work and professional life
Languages
Numbers
Calendar, time, dates
Daily routine
Leisure time and hobbies
Accommodation
Health and the body
Shopping
Holidays
Eating and drinking, restaurants
Colours, measures, forms
Physical and psychological descriptions of people
LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS - PRAGMATICS











Greetings and introductions, spelling names
Formal and informal functions
Saying and understanding numbers
Asking about nationality
Asking and giving personal information
Being able to talk about everyday life
Being able to express agreement/disagreement
Asking and giving directions
Asking and giving the time/date
Making, accepting and refusing offers
Making and accepting apologies
3
(6AALUR201)








Being able to arrange meetings and appointments
Speaking and giving information on the phone
Describing people and places
Going shopping
Ordering in a bar/restaurant
Booking a hotel room
Talking about daily routine/free time
Talking about events in the past
GRAMMAR AND USE OF LANGUAGE















Gender and number of nouns and adjectives
Verbs “to be” and “to have”
Definite and indefinite articles
Negatives
Subject pronouns
Present tense of regular and some irregular verbs
Present tense of reflexive verbs
Prepositions of time and place
Interrogative, demonstrative and indefinite pronouns
Direct object pronouns
Possessive adjectives and pronouns
Adverbs of time and frequency
Demonstrative adjectives
Irregular Verbs in the present tense
Comparative and superlative
Topics for the seminar series will be distributed separately.
COURSE BOOK(S)
Let’s study Urdu: An Introduction to the Script by Ali. S. Asani, Syed Akbar Hyder
Various materials taken from other sources (i.e. other course books,
newspapers, authentic handouts) will be supplied by the teacher during the
course.
RECOMMENDED MATERIAL FOR SELF-STUDY
 Urdu: An Essential Grammar by Ruth Laila Schmidt.
 Colloquial Urdu by Tej K. Bhatia and Ashok Koul
 Advanced Urdu by Zarina Khand
 Learn Urdu the Easy Way: Step by step Urdu by Pervez Akhtar.
 Learn Urdu in 30 days by NSR Ganath _1981.
4
(6AALUR201)







Learn Urdu for English Speakers Published by Saphrograph Corp, 1983.
Learn Urdu in a Month: Easy Method of learning Urdu Through English
without a Teacher by A R Zakaria.
Urdu Self-taught; a most useful guide for those who desire to learn Urdu,
through the medium of English. By S. M. Yunus.
Urdu, Conversational: Learn to Speak and Understand Urdu with Pimsleur
Language Programmes by Paul Pimsleur.
Urdu: Urdu grammar and reader by Ernest Bender.
Spoken Urdu: A beginning course by Eugene .H. Glassman.
Complete Urdu with Two Audio CDs: A Teach Yourself Guide (TY:
Language Guides)
OPEN LEARNING CENTRE
Research shows that successful language learners regularly review their
progress, have regular and steady exposure to the language and, at higher
levels, work on problematic structures – hence our asking you to work for 4-6
hours a week outside class time. In order to support you with your independent
learning and be in contact with the culture of the language(s) you are learning,
you are encouraged to use the resources in the Open Learning Centre – OLC (K1.072, first basement) which provides a friendly learning environment with state
of the art facilities.
The Centre's multilingual learning advisors are always on hand to advise you on
how to make the most efficient use of the open learning facilities as well as on
how to become a more effective language learner. The Centre's resources
include 32 satellite TV channels from around the world; foreign language films
and first class learning materials on DVD and via streamed digital media; inhouse learning materials available on KEATS and Wimba Voice tools;
multilingual language learning software; daily and weekly newspapers and
magazines; dictionaries, reference books and textbooks.
During the first few weeks of the course, your teacher will arrange an induction
session for the class in the OLC so that you can familiarize yourself with the
facilities. During Term one and Term two the OLC will also facilitate free
workshops on how to get the most of your language classes. For a list of topics
as well as dates and times, including the opening hours of the OLC, please go to
their website:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/humanities/depts/mlc/olc/
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is compulsory for all language modules (SSCs) and Linguistics
Seminars. Your attendance record needs to be 75% or above (15/20 language
classes & 9/12 Linguistics Seminars), or you may be withdrawn from the module
on the grounds of non-attendance. If your absences are legitimate due to
5
(6AALUR201)
mitigating circumstances, you will need to provide appropriate evidence
demonstrating this to the MLC office - this could be a letter from your personal
tutor or a medical certificate, etc.
If you miss a class because you are ill or have other urgent personal problems, it
is your responsibility to catch up on the contents of the class you missed. You will
find the week-by-week syllabus as well as the homework assignment for your
module on KEATS, and it is always a good idea to contact a fellow student about
more details.
ASSESSMENT
For all details regarding deadlines and dates for assessment see the website
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/modules/dates.aspx
Formative assessment
Formative assessment takes place during the Reading Week in Term 2. This
does not count towards your final mark, but failure to submit the work may result
in you being withdrawn from the module or prevented from sitting the
examinations. It is strongly recommended that you complete the formative
assessment because it will provide you with feedback on your progress as the
Final Exam approaches.
Test (2 hours)
The test will consist of four parts:
 Part one: Listening comprehension
 Part two: Reading comprehension
 Part three: Grammar and vocabulary in context
 Part four: Writing
0%
(20 points)
(20 points)
(20 points)
(40 points)
Feedback
All pieces of formative assessment are normally returned to students within 2
weeks, and the teacher will provide feedback in groups and/or individually. Group
feedback will be provided in class where appropriate. In addition students can
book themselves for individual feedback during surgery hour (see day/time on
the web-page:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/humanities/depts/mlc/staff/surgery.html
Linguistics Essay
Linguistics-related essay, in English (1500 words coursework)
30%
6
(6AALUR201)
Due date: 6th May 2014
Final examinations
Oral exam (15-20 min.)
Exam period: 22nd April 2014 – 2nd May 2014
30%
Students are examined individually and the examiner will play a part in the roleplay.
The oral exam will consist of two parts:
 Part one: 5-10 minute role-play situation
 Part two: 10-15 minute free conversation on topics such as student’s family,
home, city, hobbies, etc.
Students will be able to download the task brief from KEATS.
Written exam (2 hours)
Exam period: 6th May 2014 – 30th May 2014
This exam will consist of three parts:
 Part one: Reading comprehension
 Part two: Use of Urdu
 Part three: Writing
40%
20-30 points
35-40 points
35-40 points
No dictionaries or notes are allowed during the test or final examination. Past
papers are available on KEATS.
7