The main objective for the Intermediate Urdu course sequence (Urdu 321-322-323) is the enabling of students to develop proficiency in Urdu in each of a number of distinct skills, namely, speaking, reading, writing, listing, and knowledge of systematic Urdu grammar. The course is designed in such a way as to enable students to develop their abilities with regard to each of these skills in a parallel manner. There will be sustained emphasis on the systematic development of vocabulary, study of Urdu grammar, especially complex sentence formations. At the end of the course students will be able to open, sustain and close more complex daily conversation in Urdu and will be able read and appreciate, to some extent Urdu literature. During the course the student will be introduced to some Urdu literary figures such as Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz etc, and some major literary genres such as Ghazal, Nazm, Marsiyah, Qasidah etc.
The primary text for the course is Introductory Urdu: C.M. Naim Vol.2, which has a total number of thirty units, most of which we will cover during the three quarters. During the Autumn quarter we will start from Unit Five. Each unit has a reading passage and five exercises: A, B, C, D and E. Some exercises will be done in class after reading the passage and some will be given for homework assignments. These units progress from simple to more advanced vocabulary and sentence constructions, and each unit exercise draws material from previous units. For the systematic grammar learning, Urdu: An Essential Grammar by Ruth Laila Schmidt will be used. Reading and listening material will also be drawn from other sources for reading Urdu literary books, Urdu newspaper, web materials, magazine, comics/cartoons etc and for listening film songs and scenes, T.V serial clips, ghazal singing, qawwali and news reading etc. Related material will be circulated in class. During the course students will also learn about South Asia society in general and the culture and etiquette of the Urdu speaking community in Pakistan, India and abroad.