Tamil, one of the oldest languages in the world has its origins in the South of India and Sri Lanka from where it has spread to many countries, including Malaysia and Singapore. It is now spoken by over 77 million people. Discover the Tamil alphabet, as well as spoken and written Tamil; and explore Tamil culture and history through dance, music, literature, art, architecture, poetry, religion, festivals, customs and cinema.

This class will be delivered online via the online platform Zoom. Enrolling students need to ensure they have an email, a reliable internet connection, microphone/speakers and access to a tablet, smartphone or computer.

SUGGESTED READING

• A history of Tamil literature, Mu. Varataracan
• History of the Tamils: from the earliest times to 600 AD, P.T. Srinivas Iyengar
• Learn to read and write Tamil through English - www.ilearntamil.com
• Tamil cinema - http://cscc.scu.edu/trends/v28/CRT_v28_n4_Dec2009.pdf
• Three crowned kings of Tamilakam - https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/three-crowned-kings-tamilakam/
• The living culture of the Tamils - https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000074678
  
  

COURSE OUTLINE

• Origins of the Tamil language, Facts and figures about Tamil language, History of the Tamil people, Geographical spread of the Tamil diaspora
• Spoken Tamil language: Gender and respect, Relationships, Common terms and phrases, Numbers, Food varieties, Fruits and vegetables, Days, times of the day, seasons
• Written Tamil language: Vowels, Consonants, Vowel-consonant combos, Typing in Tamil
• Class divisions and communities, Clothes, Dialects, Arranged Marriages, Dowry
• Religion and Gods, Festivals, Food, Music, Dance
• Art, Architecture, Handicrafts, Weaving
• Poetry, Literature, Cinema
  
  

PLANNED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Recognise the spoken Tamil language and speak basic sentences.
2. Learn the Tamil script and write the alphabets.
3. Trace Tamil culture through its dance, music, literature, art, architecture, poetry, religion, festivals, customs and cinema.