Students read widely in a Southeast Asian language about a theme with multiple dimensions such as politics, popular culture, society, economics, literature or religion of the country concerned.

Students critically read texts as preparation for discussions ina 90-minute class which meets fortnightly.

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 (focused on historical background culture, linguistics, anthropology etc) before enrolling in this vernacular language Reading Course.