Foreword

Basic Tamil is developed with Michigan State University Libraries’ Open Educational Resources (OER) at Michigan State University. This resource is an online, interactive theme-based textbook for true beginners in the Tamil language that promotes communicative, linguistic, and cultural competence. It has a mixture of pedagogical approaches to fit all types of learning, and teaching, philosophies, and styles to achieve the intermediate low- to mid-ACTFL proficiency level within two sequence semester.

The book aims to cater to different learning and teaching styles, so the learners can go through the reading/listening sections, then the grammar section—or the other way around—to develop linguistic competence. Vocabulary in reading/listening is built in the conversation with the English meaning so that learners can infer the meaning in the given context. Activities in reading/listening and grammar have been developed by using H5P so that learners can get immediate constructive feedback. Cultural notes have been given wherever necessary to help the new learner understand the reason for some uses of the language.

Lastly, this book is the beginning of the journey and not the end of it. I promise to keep this book updated and revised based on the users, and experts’ feedback. So, if you find something, any error, and/or have suggestions, please do not hesitate to write to mohanvid@msu.edu