Bengali Elementary Course

Course aim

This course aims to give students with a basic grounding in contemporary Bengali (participants will have completed Bengali Beginners terms 1-3, or gained equivalent experience elsewhere), the ability to develop their speaking, reading, writing and listening skills to a level of greater depth and complexity. By the end of the course students should be confident in expressing themselves in a range of tenses, be able to articulate views on more complex subjects (including topics relating to the culture and history of the language region/s), and have an increased everyday working vocabulary. Where possible, teaching will be delivered in the target language. This course is delivered by the Language Centre.

Method

This course is taught primarily in Bengali, with coverage of the four key skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). You will participate in frequent pair work and be encouraged to contribute to class conversation and exercises in the target language. Learning will be reinforced by weekly homework. You are expected to attend regularly, participate in class and complete the homework regularly to ensure learning progress.

The course aim will be achieved through 20 hours of blended learning per term: 15 hours of online structured lessons with the teacher, supplemented by a minimum of 5 hours of guided independent learning supported by complementary material.

Material

The course will be based on the textbook: Radice, William (2016) Complete Bengali (5th Ed.): London: Hodder and Stoughton. Additional own devised material will be provided by the tutor to help foster a more contemporary context.

The textbook is not included in the fee. We strongly recommend waiting until your course is confirmed before purchasing the textbook.

Entry requirements and progression route

Some previous knowledge of the language is necessary to join Bengali Elementary- participants will have completed Bengali Beginners at the SOAS Language Centre, or gained equivalent experience elsewhere.

If you wish to join Bengali Elementary 2 or 3, you should have completed Elementary 1 and 2 respectively at SOAS Language Centre or have an equivalent knowledge of guided learning hours (20 hours blended learning per sub-level). The progression route from Bengali Elementary 1 is to Bengali Elementary 2, and from Elementary 2 to Elementary 3. Upon successful completion of Bengali Elementary 3 you will be advised by the tutor.

Please note, that each term, courses are subject to quorum requirements.

For course dates and information, please see our timetables.