This course builds on skills learned in Burmese 3 and students will have ample opportunities to review, exercise and expand their knowledge of the spoken-style of Burmese. A variety of listening comprehension materials including business negotiations and basic discussions on academic topics will encourage development of students' speaking skills.
Students will learn the basic rules of literary-style Burmese and appropriate vocabulary, some of which are drawn from Pali and Sanskrit. The course contents will help students gain access to authentic Burmese materials in both print and online platforms such as newspapers, magazine articles, governmental documents, encyclopedia entries, dictionaries, and excerpts from literary works.
The topics include Myanmar history, economics, anthropology, mythology, and practical conversations such as negotiations and problem solving in business. These topics deepen students’ understanding of Myanmar culture and society. Students will write Burmese compositions and speech scripts in spoken-style Burmese on both the assigned topics and the research topics of their interest in Myanmar.
The course often invites Burmese native speakers and Myanmar specialists as guests, to enhance students’ Burmese speaking abilities and exposure to the language. Students will give presentations to the guests, based on the topics covered in the course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Use an active vocabulary of around 1,600 items, including both spoken-style and literary-style Burmese.
- Use more sophisticated grammatical patterns and expressions including some Burmese proverbs in the spoken-style Burmese conversation and writing on matters regularly encountered in university life, social situations and the workplace.
- Demonstrate a solid knowledge of the spoken-style Burmese in reading and writing on Myanmar in a wider range of topics such as current affairs, history, rural culture, gender roles, education and business.
- Read and comprehend the basic rules of the literary-style Burmese grammar and appropriate vocabulary some of which are drawn from Pail and Sanskrit.
- Demonstrate a basic reading ability of authentic materials in the literary-style Burmese such as encyclopedia entries, school textbooks, governmental notices and excerpts from literary works.
- Demonstrate deeper understanding of the cultural diversity and social practices of Myanmar with awareness of the history of the country.
Other Information
Equivalent to CEFR A2-B1; MLT Myanmar Language test M1-2
On successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to engage at a Pre-Intermediate 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 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Weekly Online Quizzes (15) [LO 1,2,4,5,6]
- Midsemester Written and Reading Assessment (10) [LO 1,2,4,5,6]
- Midsemester Listening Comprehension and Oral Assessment (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Final Written and Reading Assessment (20) [LO 1,2,4,5,6]
- Final Listening Comprehension and Oral Assessment (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
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, participating 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 BURM2002 - Burmese 4 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)
Burmese: An Introduction to the Literary Style
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.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANU Online | ||||||
| 8254 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | Online | N/A |
| OUA Online | ||||||
| 8346 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | Online | N/A |
