Tamil Beginners

This course puts the emphasis on establishing a good foundation in the language in the four key skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The Tamil alphabet is introduced gradually but from the beginning. In the first few weeks, students learn how to greet others, introduce themselves, ask and answer simple questions about themselves.

Along with acquiring knowledge on Tamil grammatical structure, students also gain knowledge on how to form sentences and use polite particles according to degrees of politeness required. Transliteration is employed as a tool to facilitate access to Tamil, whilst familiarity with the Tamil alphabet is being developed.

There is a midway revision test, where students have an opportunity to polish their language skills and to practice what they have learned. By using the language through dialogues with the teacher and with classmates, students become more confident in the language. In the second half of the course, phrases and expressions for travel, restaurant transactions and shopping, fruits and vegetables are introduced, along with basic vocabulary necessary to daily life. By the end of the course, students are able to understand basic sentences in Tamil.