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MDES UN1614

Urdu for Heritage Speakers I · Middle Eastern, South Asian, And African Studies

This intensive, fast-paced course condenses two years of Urdu instruction into one year. It is tailored for students of South Asian heritage who possess basic speaking and listening skills…

Who teaches MDES UN1614

What students said

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

I learnt how to better read, write and speak in Urdu.

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

I can finally read and speak better in Urdu.

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

I learned how to read, write, and better speak Urdu.

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

I learned conversational Urdu: how to talk about family, what I like, what my family likes, what I did in the past, what I am doing in the present, what I will do in the future, etc. I also learned the Urdu alphabet and how to write in Urdu. There was also a large focus on reading and watching short films towards the end of the semester where we would then have a seminar-like discussion. This allowed me to practice my Urdu instead of simply reading/writing. There is a lot of speaking throughout the course.

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

How to read and write in Urdu script. Urdu vocabulary.

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

I feel as though I learned the fundamental grammar that I needed to know in order to converse in Urdu. I also learned Urdu's script and expanded my vocabulary. Finally, through the films we watched and the short stories we read, I learned more about the culture of Pakistan and the South Asian region at large.

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

More movies earlier on in the semester, because I learned 90% of my Urdu from watching and listening to movies and songs.

Aftab Ahmad · Fall 2021 · 2026

Professor Aftab is an amazing professor and makes Urdu very enjoyable. As a first-year student, Urdu has been my favorite class and I look forward to attending every single day. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Fall 2021 Course: MDESUN1614_001_2021_3-URDUFORHERITAGESPEAKERSI : MDESUN1614_001_2021_3 - URDU FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS I-MDESUN1614_001_2021_3 - URDU FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS Instructor: Aftab Ahmad

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

how to speak better urdu, how to write urdu where I can actually form sentences, and read small passages.

Aftab Ahmad · 2026 · 2026

I grew up speaking Urdu with little vocabulary. This course not only improved that, but also taught me how to read and write. I now feel comfortable reading articles and short stories. Honestly, I'm amazed I learned so much in one semester.

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