This course builds upon the skills and knowledge achieved in Burmese 2. Students will expand their knowledge of the spoken-style Burmese and most of its grammatical expressions. Upon completion of the course, students will gain more sophisticated spoken and written language skills.
In this course, students will look deeper into Myanmar’s traditional and changing lifestyles in recent years including activities at weddings, funerals and seasonal festivities. Folktales, stories of Buddha’s life and Buddhist related rituals such as ordinations as novices and meditation practices are also included in the course. Students should be able to express both appreciation and offer insightful discussion about Myanmar’s traditional culture.
By the end of the course students will learn vocabulary related to the topics above, new spoken-style grammar and expressions. Students will use different registers for formal/informal languages and learn more advanced communication skills for situations at university and in the workplace.
The course often invites Burmese native speakers and Myanmar specialists as guests to enhance students’ speaking abilities and exposure to the language. Students will be encouraged to make a short presentation on the topics learned to the guests. Through these interactions students will improve their Burmese receptive, interactive, and productive skills.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Use an active vocabulary of around 1,100 Burmese words in spoken and written forms.
- Reproduce Burmese pronunciation in Burmese script, including basic words drawn from Pali.
- Demonstrate grammatical knowledge of the spoken-style Burmese in short conversations on topics learned throughout the course.
- Read and write in a more sophisticated style of spoken Burmese with an awareness of formal and informal registers.
- Demonstrate an understanding of traditional culture and festivities including Buddhist related practices in Myanmar.
Other Information
Equivalent to CEFR A2; MLT Myanmar Language Test M1
On successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to engage at an Upper Beginner level of Burmese.
Students with native speaker proficiency (may include cognate languages and dialects) must review the language proficiency assessment site and contact the CAP Student Centre for appropriate enrolment advice. Students with previous “language experience or exposure” are required to take a language placement test to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level.
Relevant past experience includes:
- Previous study of the language (both formal and informal, for example but not limited to, at school, or, home, or through online activities, etc.)
- Being exposed to the language in childhood via a family member or friend
- Travel or living in a country where the language is spoken
- The language being spoken in your home (even if you do not speak it yourself)
Students who are not sure if they need to take a placement test should seek advice from the course or language convenor. Students who intentionally misrepresent their language proficiency level may be investigated under the Academic Integrity Rule 2021 as having failed to comply with assessment directions and having sought unfair advantage. This may result in a penalty such as reduced grades or failure of the course.
Indicative Assessment
- Participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Weekly Online Quizzes (15) [LO 1,2,4,5]
- Midsemester Written and Reading Assessment (10) [LO 1,2,4,5]
- Midsemester Listening Comprehension and Oral Assessment (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Final Written and Reading Assessment (20) [LO 1,2,4,5]
- Final Listening Comprehension and Oral Assessment (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The total workload for the subject is 130 hours over 12 weeks of class and the examination period.
Each week students are expected to study for 6 hours as follows:
1. 90 minutes in total, before each online class, working on the written and audio materials for the week, and, memorising the written and spoken forms of that week’s vocabulary
2. 180 minutes in total, participate in two 90-minute online classes
3. 90 minutes in total, completing online follow-up exercises regarding listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and vocabulary
It is also expected that students should spend at least 4 hours of individual study practicing the week’s written and spoken language forms and vocabulary and reviewing feedback on their work.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Original ANU weekly teaching materials will be available on the BURM2001 - Burmese 3 Wattle site.
Students are strongly recommended to obtain this dictionary. Pocket Burmese Dictionary (Burmese-English / English-Burmese) Publisher: Periplus, Edition: 2008, eBook (2014) is also available.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Burmese by Ear or Essential Myanmar
Author: John Okell
Notes: Available for free download from here. https://www.soas.ac.uk/bbe/
Burmese: An Introduction to the Spoken Language Book 1
Author: John Okell (Northern Illinois University Press, 2010)
Burmese: An Introduction to the Spoken Language Book 2
Author: John Okell (Northern Illinois University Press, 2010)
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4080 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $5280 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
