I start the very first sessions in Beginning Hindi with TPR activities. We build in class simple copula indicative or imperative sentences using vocabulary for objects, fruits and vegetables and space orientation (post positions). The second week of the first quarter we use the Computer Lab and use pictures from the WWW to make descriptions. Images from a variety of collections could be used:
- http://carla.acad.umn.edu/vpa/vpa.html,
- http://stripe.colorado.edu/~hasanv/in.html,
In the beginning of the first lab session the instructor introduces question words and their position in the sentence (based on H. H. van Olphen's First Year Hindi Textbook, Part 1).
- Step 1. All the students open a particular picture, the teacher asks questions based on it and the students respond. This activity is in Hindi.
- Step 2. The whole class open a second picture and students take turns in asking a question and their neighbor provides the answer.
- Step 3. The last exercise requires the students to work in pairs, and the instructor assigns a different picture to each pair by providing its webaddress on a handout. The students take turns asking each other questions about the picture and providing answers.
- Step 4. This year I borrowed the idea from Language Lab exercises and I asked the pairs to write down a full description of the image, leave it next to the computer and move to another computer where a different picture was downloaded. They read the description left there and wrote additions after putting down their names.
- Step 5. The instructor collects the assignments at the end of the session and grades the work of the pairs.
The students like these activities because, on the one hand, it is easier for them to contextualize their language use through visual support, and on the other hand, the images are interesting to see since they represent some aspects of Indian reality. Working in pairs with a specific task allows for enough time all the students to practice speaking and, also the instructor in this way can attend individually the pairs and provide guidance if needed. Printed out colorful images can work instead, but the WWW allows for the students to go back at home to these images and the teacher is free of worry in terms of copyright and the condition of the pictures after they are used. These sets of activities I have designed for developing the speaking and writing skills, along with emphasis on new vocabulary.
- Step 1. All the students open a particular picture, the teacher asks questions based on it and the students respond. This activity is in Hindi.
- Geography
The third week of instruction we learn geography. After we spend two days on drills from our textbook we go to the computer lab and open the virtual tourist map on Netscape (http://www.vtourist.com/webmap/). The task is to go to any place in the world (e.g. country, city, village, mountain, island, etc.) and to keep a travel log in Hindi on the way there (e.g. "It is a mountain in Asia. It is to the north of India, to the East of Pakistan...").- Step 1. The students pair up and go to the place of their choice by clicking on the map.
- Step 2. Each pair takes turns to answer to the questions asked by the rest of the class in order to provide the information they need to guess where and what their place is.
- Step 3. If there is time left the students write down a full geographical description of the place of their choice and turn it at the end of the session which is usually not more than 10 simple sentences.
Usually, the students enjoy this activity because it is in Hindi and it allows for meaningful communication even at the beginning level of language study. It also has a non-language specific value as it often improves general knowledge of the world geography. At the same time it frees the instructor from the need to introduce mechanical repetitions and drills. This particular activity I combine with reviewing and adding new interrogative words. It takes place right before the questioning starts by quick brain-storming and by having a volunteer write them down on a transparency for the overhead projector. Working on speaking skills is the main goal of this activity.
- Step 1. The students pair up and go to the place of their choice by clicking on the map.
- Virtual Trip
I use the WWW Virtual Library (http://webhead.com/WWWVL/India/ india209.html). I have designed several lesson plans around the images and information offered in it. One of them involves the use of simple present and is suited for the end of the first quarter of Beginning Hindi. In it the students choose a place from the library and talk about it as if they go there every summer and visit the same places and do the same things. Another one, suited for second or third quarter of Beginning Hindi, targets the practice of the simple past tense. The students pair up and describe an imaginary trip to India by opening some of the locations offered in the library collection and by keeping a travel log. For example they use the following sites:- http://www.tiac.net/users/dmann/photomann/india/india.htm,
- http://ralph.biomed.mcgill.ca:80/~kukreja/travel/travel.html,
- http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/mp.html
- http://www.gl.umbc.edu/~achatt1/picindex.html
For the next day the students prepare themselves at home for short presentations on their trips which takes place again in the Computer Lab. Usually, when they team up for assignments they coordinate their work through e-mail or on the phone. These virtual tours around India are very informational for the students and, again, they create a particular fun context for their language practice.
- http://www.tiac.net/users/dmann/photomann/india/india.htm,
- Draw the Picture
This year I have tried for the first time a new type of exercise inspired by ideas from video and language lab exercises.- Step 1. I divided the class in two groups of 6 students. I downloaded two different pictures on two computers.
(from here) 
(from here)
- Step 2. The two groups gathered around the two computers, which were turned so that each group could see only their computer screen. Within the group they orally discussed a detailed description of the assigned picture by having one person write down the key points.
- Step 3. Each group appointed an artist. With the help of his/her team s/he drew the other team's picture by following their oral directions and descriptions. The goal of the group giving instructions was to offer a detailed description of their picture and accurate directions in order for the first team and their artist-volunteer to recreate the picture without having seen the original. The team which gave the best instructions and whose picture was best reproduced, won the competition.
This kind of activity came in the middle of the second quarter of Beginning Hindi and it connected up our work on space orientation and the introduction of new postpositions with the topic on people's professions (H.H. van Olphan's First Year Textbook, Part 1, pp. 102-107).
- Step 4. The activity took 40 minutes and for the rest of the session the students had to pair up and come up with at least 10 sentences based on the pictures using the verbs 'to want' and 'can' (H.H. van Olphan's First Year Textbook, Part 1, p. 113).
- Step 1. I divided the class in two groups of 6 students. I downloaded two different pictures on two computers.
- Sources for Research
During the class work or at home, the students might find some of the sites on the WWW suggested by the instructor of particular interest to them. They are given the option to volunteer to do some research related to India on topics of their choice and to report on it to the class for additional credit . We have assigned every other Friday for such presentations. Example of such sites are:- The Indus Valley civilization with over 100 photos of archeological objects along with their description
(http://www.harappa.com/pict.html). - King Ashoka's edicts
(http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/ashoka.html) - Ancient Indian civilization, mythology, religion and literature (http://www3.eu.spiritweb.org/Spirit/Veda/Overview.html#Articles)
- Arts
(http://www.investindia.com/coverpage.html) - Women's rights
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ev90495/women.htm
If you are not satisfied by what is available you can always create your own materials on the Web.Click here to read about such exercises in Hindi.
Click here to view the exercises.
Before that you will need to do the following:
1. Have a Hindi script font installed on your computer.
The Kanchi font we used (for Macintosh) is available from here for free.
2. Set the Proportional Font on your browser to the Hindi font (in the menu go to Options, then Preferences and Fonts).
3. Don't forget to switch the font back when you exit the exercises.
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©1997 by The Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. - The Indus Valley civilization with over 100 photos of archeological objects along with their description
