Karunakaran Krishnamoorthy
Lecturer
Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
University of Michigan
E/ http://snipurl.com/17zmc
Tamil Teaching-Learning Activity in North America:
Reinforcements Needed
Friday, June 1st |
3:00 - 5:00 PM
In many universities in North America Tamil has been
taught as a
second language for nearly 50 years. Tamil is a highly diglossic
language and hence there need to be methods and materials to teach and
learn the two varieties of Tamil at different levels. The present paper
focuses on the use of communicative approaches to language teaching and
learning, interactive models for effective language learning,
multi-media approaches and methodology for language learning on the one
hand and that of the use of modern technology relevant to the
preparation and implementation of materials needed for the learners at
different levels. The present paper also discusses the socio-cultural
aspects of language learning, by introducing cultural contexts and
situations in the form of conversations, phrases, narratives and so on.
It also tries to focus on the aspect of communicative skills and
enriching such skills through these contextual usages in a more
effective and efficient way. The study also presents ways to increase
the fluency in reading and writing as well as achieving
native/near-native intonation both in reading and speaking. The study is
supported by illustrations and model materials for the interactive
approach.
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Dr. Karunakaran's main research interests and fields of specialization
are: Sociolinguistics, Language Planning, Tamil Grammar and Linguistics,
Stylistics of Modern Tamil, Translation Methods and Practices, Tamil
Dialectology and Lexicography. His publications include Linguistic Convergence
(1980); Sociolinguistic Patterns Of Language Use (1983);
Translation as Synthesis,
Standard Spoken Tamil, Mozhiyiyal, Samudhaya Mozhiyiyal, and
Kural Mozhiyum Neriyum.