Students read widely in a vernacular language about Southeast Asia on a topic likely to be selected from one of the following: politics, popular culture, literature or religion. Students critically read texts each fortnight as preparation for discussion in a one-hour class, write a critical report on the readings from two of those fortnightly meetings, and write a final essay based on the course readings.

By the end of the course learners of the Southeast Asian language will have significantly increased their proficiency in reading and writing, and will be able to discuss complex ideas about a given discipline or topic area. They will also have gained substantial knowledge about that discipline/ area and ability to critically analyse texts within it.

A 3,500 word academic paper in the target language (40%), plus the equivalent of a couple of short essays, each 1,000 words to be prepared off campus (2 x 30%), on a complex aspect of social life in the society where the language is the national or native language to the majority of the population.

Fortnightly meetings with Course Coordinator or Supervisor in Indonesian, Thai, or Vietnamese Programs. Students are expected to read approximately 10 academic and non-academic texts in the target language, each about 6,000 words, and demonstrate the ability to capture the various subtleties and nuances that run through the selected readings.

Permission of coordinator


N.B. Students are strongly advised to take a supporting course (about historical background, culture, linguistics, anthropology etc) before enrolling in this vernacular language Reading Course.

Course to be run in S2 as Reading Traditional Malay (INDN6501).