Five College Hindi-Urdu
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Taken together, Hindi and Urdu are some of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with about 544 million total speakers. Hindi has been influenced by Sanskrit as well as by the hundreds of regional languages of the Indian subcontinent, while Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and has been influenced by Persian and Arabic.
Hindi and Urdu use different scripts and different literary or specialized vocabulary, but are closely related and mutually intelligible, especially in everyday use. Speakers of one language can easily pick up the other. They only need to learn a new script and some vocabulary unless they are trying to read sophisticated literature or speak on more intellectual topics.
The Five College Hindi and Urdu program is led by our language mentor, Karla Carruth, and supported by native/fluent conversation partners.
Fall 2021 Hindi and Urdu Course Offerings
Hindi and Urdu are offered through the Mentored Language Program, which uses a combination of regular independent study, one-on-one tutorials, and small group conversation sessions to cover all four primary language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). Courses follow a flexible, student-driven scheduling model and take place on all five campuses.
The Hindi-Urdu course sequence is:
- Introductory: Levels I, II, III, IV
- Intermediate: Levels V, VI
- High Intermediate: Levels VII, VIII (students choose topics of interest)
- Advanced: Health and Human Services, other special topics
- Speakers track: For students who already speak Hindi or Urdu at a high intermediate or early advanced level and need to develop reading and writing skills and/or more advanced or specialized spoken language. Speakers students should contact the Center for placement.
Students can take Hindi or Urdu as a half course, the equivalent of 2 credits/one level (e.g., Urdu I), or a full course, the equivalent of 4 credits/two levels (e.g., Hindi I-II). All levels are available every semester.
Half courses
Mentored half courses cover one level of the language. They comprise:
- One 30-minute individual tutorial per week
- One 60-minute conversation session per week (individual or small group)
- 1 hour per day of independent study
- Weekly homework
- Final oral evaluation
- Final writing skills assessment
- Weekly check-ins with Center staff via self-assessment reports
Credits:
As with all interchange classes, credit varies by campus. For a mentored half course, you will receive the equivalent of:
- Amherst: half course
- Hampshire: half course
- Mount Holyoke: 2 credits
In general, Mount Holyoke students cannot use Center language courses to fulfill the their language requirement. - Smith: 2 credits
Smith students must complete at least level II to receive credit. Questions about the Smith Latin Honors language requirement should be directed to the Smith College Registrar. - UMass: 2 credits
For UMass graduate students, courses will appear on student transcript but will not earn credit.
Full courses
Mentored full courses cover two levels of the language. They comprise:
- One 60-minute individual tutorial per week
- One 90-minute conversation session per week (individual or small group)
- 2 hours per day of independent study
- Weekly homework
- Midterm and final oral evaluations
- Midterm and final writing skills assessments
- Weekly check-ins with Center staff via self-assessment reports
Credits:
As with all interchange classes, credit varies by campus. For a mentored full course, you will receive the equivalent of:
- Amherst: two half courses
Two half courses do not always count as the equivalent of a full course. Consult the Amherst College Registrar for more information. - Hampshire: full course
- Mount Holyoke: 4 credits
In general, Mount Holyoke students cannot use Center language courses to fulfill the their language requirement. - Smith: 4 credits
Smith students must complete at least level II to receive credit. Questions about the Smith Latin Honors language requirement should be directed to the Smith College Registrar. - UMass: 4 credits
For UMass graduate students, courses will appear on student transcript but will not earn credit.
Speakers courses
The speakers track allows students who are high intermediate or early advanced heritage speakers to learn to read and write in the language. Heritage speakers who already know how to read and write can take courses through the standard track to develop advanced or specialized speaking skills. All heritage speakers should contact the Center to discuss appropriate placement.
Speakers half courses comprise:
- One 60-minute individual tutorial per week
- 1 hour per day of independent study
- Weekly homework
- Final writing skills assessment
- Weekly check-ins with Center staff via self-assessment reports
Credits:
As with all interchange classes, credit varies by campus. For a speakers half course, you will receive:
- Amherst: half course
- Hampshire: half course
- Mount Holyoke: 1.5 credits
Mount Holyoke students cannot use Center language courses to fulfill the their language requirement. - Smith: 1.5 credits
Smith students must complete at least level II to receive credit. Questions about the Smith Latin Honors language requirement should be directed to the Smith College Registrar. - UMass: 1.5 credits
For UMass graduate students, courses will appear on student transcript but will not earn credit.
About tutorials
During one-on-one tutorial sessions, you will discuss grammatical questions and get feedback on written homework from your language mentor. Tutorial sessions can be geared to meet your specific language learning needs.
When possible, students are scheduled for tutorials on their home campus. In some cases, students will have to travel to a different campus.
About conversation sessions
During a conversation session, you will engage in activities, conversations, and role plays designed by your conversation partner to help you practice the structures and vocabulary you studied in a given week. Your conversation session will have no more than 4 students to allow constant participation and engagement by all.
Conversation sessions are led by mentors, post-baccalaureate teaching assistants, or other native/fluent speakers who are hired and trained by the Center. Your conversation partner is not a teacher and will not present grammar lessons; rather, their expertise lies in speaking the language.
When possible, students are scheduled for conversation sessions on their home campus. In some cases, students will have to travel to a different campus.