Language LearningLanguage LearningIn Cyberspace: In Cyberspace:

Teaching Hindi and Urdu on the Teaching Hindi and Urdu on the WebWeb

Afroz Taj Afroz Taj Professor of Hindi-Urdu Language and LiteratureProfessor of Hindi-Urdu Language and Literature

University of North Carolina, USAUniversity of North Carolina, USA

Afroz Taj Afroz Taj Professor of Hindi-Urdu Language and LiteratureProfessor of Hindi-Urdu Language and Literature

University of North Carolina, USAUniversity of North Carolina, USA

Why Hindi and Urdu Online?Why Hindi and Urdu Online?

Revolutions in technology Revolutions in technology

Revolutions in pedagogyRevolutions in pedagogy

The North Carolina Center The North Carolina Center for South Asia Studiesfor South Asia Studies

Out-of-date materialsOut-of-date materials

Post-9/11 World and Post-9/11 World and Critical LanguagesCritical Languages

Revolutions in TechnologyRevolutions in Technology

InternetInternetEmail and discussion groupsEmail and discussion groupsMedia-based learning toolsMedia-based learning toolsBroadband connectionsBroadband connectionsI-pods and pod-castingI-pods and pod-castingTeleconferencing Teleconferencing WebcastingWebcasting

Revolutions in PedagogyRevolutions in Pedagogy

Cultural fluencyCultural fluency

Student autonomyStudent autonomy

Interactive learning Interactive learning environmentenvironment

Authentic learning Authentic learning objectsobjects

Proficiency versus Proficiency versus translationtranslation

De-emphasis of textDe-emphasis of text

Background Background

Established the Hindi-Urdu programs at NC Established the Hindi-Urdu programs at NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill (1995)State and UNC-Chapel Hill (1995)

Taught five years through live Taught five years through live teleconferencingteleconferencing

Demonstrated demand and justified new Demonstrated demand and justified new faculty linesfaculty lines

Incorporated film clips, songs, and Internet Incorporated film clips, songs, and Internet

Began to develop distance learning materialsBegan to develop distance learning materials

““A Door Into Hindi” began production in 1999A Door Into Hindi” began production in 1999

The Post 9/11 WorldThe Post 9/11 World

Course ConceptionCourse Conception

Comprehensive elementary Comprehensive elementary language courseslanguage courses

Major grants from US Dept. Major grants from US Dept. of Education IEPS (Title VI)of Education IEPS (Title VI)

Urdu and HindiUrdu and Hindi

Collaboration with other Collaboration with other Urdu teachersUrdu teachers

Beta-testing in multiple Beta-testing in multiple universitiesuniversities

Open to all, free of chargeOpen to all, free of charge

Design: Design : دروازہدروازہMedia-intensive learning objectsMedia-intensive learning objects

Filming in India and Pakistan Filming in India and Pakistan

Emphasis on cultural proficiencyEmphasis on cultural proficiency

Grammar in contextGrammar in context

Scripted and non-scripted materialScripted and non-scripted material

Multiple layers and flexibilityMultiple layers and flexibility

Classroom v. independent learnersClassroom v. independent learners

Humor and playHumor and play

Compatibility with Distance EducationCompatibility with Distance Education

Design for the Web GenerationDesign for the Web Generation

Design: Design : دروازہدروازہ

Grammar

Topics

Grammar

Topics

Exercises and Tests

Exercises and Tests

CultureNotes

CultureNotes

LessonVocabLessonVocab

DialogScriptDialogScript

Lesson

Film

Lesson

Film

Objectives: Objectives : دروازہدروازہ

Comprehension Activation

Aural Listening Speaking

Written Reading Writing

Cultural Observation Interaction

Technology Issues: Technology Issues : دروازہدروازہ

Nastaliq font display, Nastaliq font display, UnicodeUnicode

Video deliveryVideo delivery

HostingHosting

Technical supportTechnical support

AccessibilityAccessibility

Future technologiesFuture technologies

AssessmentAssessment

DemonstrationDemonstration

A Door Into Hindi:

http://taj.chass.ncsu.edu

Darvazah: A Door Into Urdu:

http://taj.chass.ncsu.edu/urdu

Where to Find Where to Find UsUs

Recent Comments from Recent Comments from LearnersLearners

““I have learned Hindi by myself since last year. The website "A I have learned Hindi by myself since last year. The website "A Door into Hindi" is the main document for me to study Hindi Door into Hindi" is the main document for me to study Hindi language.” (Zhang Hua, Nanyang Technological University, language.” (Zhang Hua, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)Singapore)““Without the Teach Yourself method by Rupert Snell and A Without the Teach Yourself method by Rupert Snell and A Door Into Hindi I would never have made progress!” (Lisa Door Into Hindi I would never have made progress!” (Lisa Kumar, SOAS, London)Kumar, SOAS, London)““The music and humor in the video clips really makes it really The music and humor in the video clips really makes it really fun and enjoyable. Kya baat hai!” (Naresh, Texas)fun and enjoyable. Kya baat hai!” (Naresh, Texas)““I have been using your "A Door into Hindi" in the oral section I have been using your "A Door into Hindi" in the oral section of my second-year Hindi class here at the University of Virginia. of my second-year Hindi class here at the University of Virginia. My students are enjoying your films. Many thanks.” (Holly My students are enjoying your films. Many thanks.” (Holly Donahue, Instructor, Intermediate Hindi, University of Virginia)Donahue, Instructor, Intermediate Hindi, University of Virginia)““I'd just like to congratulate you on your website. I think it's a I'd just like to congratulate you on your website. I think it's a very useful resource for those learning Hindi.” (Neha, Australia)very useful resource for those learning Hindi.” (Neha, Australia)““Hi, I've really enjoyed your site, and I expect it to be an Hi, I've really enjoyed your site, and I expect it to be an important part in my learning of Hindi.” (Tim, Brazil)important part in my learning of Hindi.” (Tim, Brazil)

““While trying to teach myself Hindi, found your website A While trying to teach myself Hindi, found your website A Door Into Hindi. The videos are really great, I feel they Door Into Hindi. The videos are really great, I feel they teach language that I am really going to need in everyday teach language that I am really going to need in everyday situations, and I especially love the jokes which make situations, and I especially love the jokes which make learning Hindi on your web page very enjoyable.” (Amelia learning Hindi on your web page very enjoyable.” (Amelia Neumann-Samek, American University, Paris, France)Neumann-Samek, American University, Paris, France)““Thank you very much for making this interactive Thank you very much for making this interactive multimedia Hindi course available. I would like to use it for multimedia Hindi course available. I would like to use it for my introductory Hindi course, which I am going to be my introductory Hindi course, which I am going to be teaching at York University.” (Shobna Nijhawan, Assistant teaching at York University.” (Shobna Nijhawan, Assistant Professor of Hindi, York University, Canada)Professor of Hindi, York University, Canada)““I love the Door to Hindi site. What a wonderful resource! I love the Door to Hindi site. What a wonderful resource! Dhanyavaad!” (Tiernan Ray, Germany)Dhanyavaad!” (Tiernan Ray, Germany)““The dialogues are useful. The films are interesting and The dialogues are useful. The films are interesting and funny. Furthermore, they show us a glimpse of India.” funny. Furthermore, they show us a glimpse of India.” (Pauline, France)(Pauline, France)““I stumbled upon your door into hindi and I just wanted to I stumbled upon your door into hindi and I just wanted to thank you so much! I love it! It's definitely the best thank you so much! I love it! It's definitely the best instruction on the web.” (Maria, New York City)instruction on the web.” (Maria, New York City)““The WiderNet Project would like to ask your permission to The WiderNet Project would like to ask your permission to include this web content in the eGranary Digital Library.” include this web content in the eGranary Digital Library.” (Georgeanna Williams, University of Iowa)(Georgeanna Williams, University of Iowa)