Tamil Language Textbooks
-
Valar Tamil 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B:
Textbooks designed for the first two grade levels of elementary school in
Singapore. Superb work! Supplemented by teaching aids such as flash cards,
picture cards, and compact discs.
Developed by Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore in 1985.
Publisher: EPB Publishers, 162 Bukit Merah Central #04-3545,
Singapore 0315. Phone 011-65-278-0881.
-
Siruvar Tamil 3-6:
Textbooks designed for elementary school grade levels 3 to 6 in Singapore.
Well-designed and graded. Each level has a main text book, an exercise book,
and an audio tape. Gradually being replaced by the Valar Tamil series above.
Publisher: Pan Pacific Publications, 488 Tanglin Halt Road, Singapore 0314.
Retailer: Sandeepany bookstore, San Jose. Phone 408-998-2793.
-
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 600006.
-
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.
Publisher:
International Institute of Tamil Studies, CTI Campus, Adayar, TTTI Post, Madras 600113. Phone: (+91)44-235-0992
Price: About Rs. 400 for the whole set.
-
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 designed for use with lessons in Part I.
Both parts have instructions in English and were published in 1992.
Publisher: Centers for South and South East Asia Studies,
Publications Office,
University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720. (510)642-4065.
Price: $12.50 for each part.
-
Tamil Madhu: From Sangam to Bharathy (by Kausalya Hart):
A sampling of Tamil
literature through the ages, each sampling introduced by the author. For
those who can already read Tamil. Organized as forty lessons. Price: $10.
Proceeds benefit the Tamil Chair Endowment at University of California at
Berkeley.
Publisher: Available from the author at (510)525-1793.
Price: $10
-
Learn Tamil Through English:
Tamil Lessons for second-generation Tamils by Sendhil Kumar Cheran
Download the lessons for free.
More Information
