Instructor:  Dr. Naseem Hines 

Required Texts:

(1) Michael C. Shapiro. A Primer of Modern Standard Hindi. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 
(2) Usha R. Jain. Introduction to Hindi Grammar. Berkeley: Center for South and Southeast, Asian Studies, University of California at Berkeley.
(3) Packet of Xeroxed materials. 
(4) R. S. McGregor’s The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary (required).
(5) Although it is not required, the purchase of a reliable English-Hindi dictionary is highly recommended. We recommend Bulcke’s An English-Hindi Dictionary.

Overall Goals for semester and Year: 

The main objective for the first-year Hindi course sequence is the enabling of students to develop usable proficiency in Hindi in each of a number of distinct skills, namely speaking, reading, writing, listening, and knowledge of formal grammar. The course of study is designed in such a way as to enable students to develop their abilities with regard to each of these skills in a parallel manner. The primary texts for the course are the Shapiro Primer, which is used primarily for teaching formal grammar and for written translation exercises, and the Jain Introduction, which is used for classroom drills. During the full year we will be covering the first 19 or 20 (out of 31) chapters in the Shapiro Primer, as well as a good portion of the Jain text. Conversation and pronunciation drills are based upon a series of short dialogues that have been specially written for this class. In addition, we will also be using pronunciation and grammar drills taken from a variety of sources. Reading passages will be taken from a number of different sources and distributed to you in class.

A fundamental goal of the Hindi program at Washington University is the learning of Hindi in the Devanagari writing system.  I have found over the years that students’ progress in learning Hindi is enhanced greatly if they learn the writing system as quickly as possible and not approach Hindi through the Roman alphabet (which actually slows down progress in the language. As a result, the first two or so weeks of Hindi 101 are spent learning the basic sounds of Hindi and the elements of the Devanagari writing system. It is only after the writing system has been learned that we move on to grammar, reading, writing, etc. Once we get going on our "regular" schedule after the first few weeks, class time is divided into sessions that deal with separate activities (i.e. conversations, grammar, drills, dictation, reading, listening comprehension etc.).
 

Grading:

The final grade for Hindi 311 is based on the following factors:  scheduled tests and several "pop" quizzes (35%); dictations (5%); written homework assignments (25%); memorization of dialogues and spoken drills (10%); preparation of reading materials (10%), and  the final examination (15%). Your grades on your lowest homework assignment and (one) lowest dictation will be excused. There will be no final examination. 

Policy on Late homework Assignments, missed quizzes and related matters: 

You will earn points on the homework you turn in. The graded homework will be evaluated on a ten-point scale. Missing or unexcused late homework will earn a grade of zero. Missed dictations can not be repeated. Makeup examinations will be given only under exceptional circumstances, such as death in the family, serious illness, etc. All homework assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of class on the day due.

Policy on Handwriting: 

Neatness counts. You are expected to write all of your Hindi in an acceptable handwriting. In order to assist you in developing such a hand writing, you are required to turn in all of your work on paper that has been ruled specially for writing in Devanagari. This paper is similar to the paper that is sold for pedagogical use in India. Each student is supplied with two sheets of this paper. Please duplicate these to obtain additional copies for doing your homework. In addition, all homework is to be done in pencil, with no crossover or cross-out (i.e. errors are to be erased and corrected). Dictations are to be done in pencil only.

Attendance and Student Responsibility: 

Students enrolled in Elementary Hindi are expected to attend all class sessions and are held responsible for materials covered in those sessions. If for any reason you are unable to attend a class session, it is your responsibility to find from another student what was covered in that session and whether any assignments or instructions were given out while you were absent. Attendance will be taken in all drill sessions. Absence from class may reflect in your spoken drills performance marks and/or the class-preparedness grades, as well as in the loss of grades if you were absent from a "pop" quiz or dictation. 

Copying on homework or during tests: 

All homework that is turned in is to represent your own work. Except where assignments have specifically been designated as group assignments, the copying of homework assignments (or portions of assignments) is expressly prohibited.
 

Enrollment Restrictions: 

Because it is quite possible that students enrolled in Hindi 101 may already have some exposure to or proficiency in Hindi, it is important that Washington University policy concerning taking language courses at the first- and second-year level be understood. This policy is as follows:

First year (elementary) or second-year (intermediate) Hindi language instruction is not the appropriate levels, if Hindi is or has been one of the languages, spoken in the student’s home during the first six years of his or her life and in which he or she received instruction through seventh grade. Students who have questions as to whether they are prohibited from taking Hindi  under this policy should speak to the instructor.