V. Joseph S. Mohan
October 29, 1995
In response to the growing needs of America's Tamil-speaking community, I have compiled this list of resources for teaching and learning the Tamil language. It first lists textbook-centered material, followed by dictionaries, computer programs, and finally some ongoing classes in California. Some of the resources listed are meant for children, while others are more suitable for adults.
Textbooks for Children
** Siruvar Tamil 1-6 Textbooks designed for elementary school classes in Singapore. Well-designed and graded. Each level has a main text book, an exercise book, and an audio tape. Developed by Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore in 1985. Publisher: Pan Pacific Publications, 488 Tanglin Halt Road, Singapore 0314. Availability: Sandeepany bookstore, San Jose. Phone 408-998-2793.
** Valar Tamil 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B Updated versions of the first two levels of the Siruvar Tamil series above. Superb work! Supplemented by teaching aids such as flash cards, picture cards, and compact discs. Publisher: EPB Publishers, 162 Bukit Merah Central #04-3545, Singapore 0315. Phone 011-65-278-0881.
** Tamil 1-5 Textbooks designed for elementary school classes in Tamil Nadu. Level 1 is usable as a starting textbook. Level 2 increases very briskly in difficulty. Books at Level 3 and above are quite difficult for children growing up in USA. Publisher: Tamil Nattu Padanool Kazhagam, College Road, Madras 600 006.
Textbooks for Adults
** Tamil: An Auto Instructional Course Designed for adults to learn Tamil as a second language with minimal help from someone who knows the language. Presents the same set of lessons in two parallel sections: Spoken Tamil using phonetic symbols based on the English alphabet; and Literary (Ilakkiya) Tamil. Each section is organized as 20 lessons, each based on a commonly encountered social situation, such as, a visit to a friend's home and a transaction at a post office. Consists of a text book, a handbook, and a well-recorded set of six audio cassettes, all of which work together. Instructions and notes are in English. Published in 1984-85. This is the best material available for adults. Price: About Rs. 400 for the whole set. Publisher: International Institute of Tamil Studies, CIT Campus, Adyar, TTTI Post, Madras 600 113. Phone 235 0992.
** Tamil for Beginners (by Kausalya Hart) Part I. Reading and Writing: 45 graduated lessons designed for a one semester introductory course for college students. Includes exercises. Part II. Grammar: 35 lessons on Tamil grammar for use with lessons in Part I. Both parts have instructions in English and were published in 1992. Price: $12.50 for each part. Publisher: Center for South Asia Studies, Publications Office, University of California at Berkeley, CA 94720. Phone 510-642-4065.
** Tamil Madhu: From Sangam to Bharathy (by Kausalya Hart) A sampling of Tamil literature through the ages, with an informative introduction for each sampling by the author. Organized as forty lessons. Usable by those who can already read Tamil. Price: $10. Availability: From the author at 510-525-1793.
Tamil to English Dictionaries for Adults
** Kriyavin Tharkala Tamil Akarathi (Tamil-Tamil-English) Good, modern (1992) dictionary with example sentences and pictures. About 16,000 words, 1000 pages. Price: Rs. 170. Publisher: Cre-A, 268, Royapettah High Road, Madras 600 014.
** The LIFCO Tamil-Tamil-English Dictionary This one has been around for some time (compiled in 1966). Old in format and style. Includes an interesting and useful collection of Tamil-related articles, such as, grammatical and cultural notes as an appendix. About 700 pages. Price: Rs. 30. Publisher: The Little Flower Company, T. Nagar, Madras 600 017.
English to Tamil Dictionaries for Adults
** University of Madras English-Tamil Dictionary Original compilation in 1963-65. Word list based on the Oxford English Dictionary (Concise Edition). Fairly good. About 1200 pages. Price: Rs. 150. Publisher: Publications Division, University of Madras, Madras 600 005.
** The Great LIFCO Dictionary (English-English-Tamil) 1334 pages. Price: Rs. 100. Publisher: The Little Flower Company, T. Nagar, Madras 600 017.
Computer Programs
** Tamil Kalvi Software Collection of six instructional programs that run on PC DOS to teach Tamil letters, small words, and numbers. Price: $10 each for the programs Akaram, Alpha-Bets, Drops, Consonants, and Numbers. $30 for the multi-volume program Triplets. $5 S/H + tax. (This price information is possibly outdated.) Availability: Softech Creations, 2910 Brightwater Lane, Abingdon, MD 21009. Phone 410-515-3611.
** Visual Tamil An informational, educational program that runs on PC Windows. Includes many cultural entries with graphics and sounds, suitable for older children and adults. Also some Tamil word games suitable for those who know Tamil fairly well. Price: $35 + $2 S/H. Availability: Indus Valley Software, 625 Ellis St., Suite 102, Mountain View, CA 94043. Phone 415-988-6519, 408-978-9635, 1-800-91-INDUS; email balamcat@netcom.com.
Classes in the San Francisco Bay Area
Tamil classes at Chinmaya Mission Cultural School for children aged 6 to 14 on Sundays in Los Altos at 11 AM and in San Jose at 3 PM; and on Saturdays in San Ramon at 6 PM. Modest quarterly fees. Enrollment recommended in September (beginning of school year). Call Sandeepany, San Jose, at 408-998-2793.
Classes in Southern California
Tamil classes at Chinmaya Mission Cultural School for children at a few locations in the Los Angeles area. Call P. Mahadev at 310-402-8156 in Los Angeles for specific information.
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Compiled by V. Joseph S. Mohan. Please call me at 415-856-0882 or send email to mohan@mri.com with comments, corrections, and suggestions.
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