Language school recommendations

Lakshmi Bhabi · Nov 29th, 2005, 06:43

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to take 4-5 weeks of Intensive Hindi for beginners in India this summer and am thinking about the Landour School in Mussoorie. Have any of you studied there? Do you have any other recommendations?

Thanks!

shantanudutta · Nov 29th, 2005, 08:31

Landour School is a good choice in terns of a laid back ambience and the good climes of Mussooorie. There are otherset ups like the Central Hindi Directorate of the Government of India which have courses, but for sheer atmosphere and the congeality of the place , nothing to beat Landour.

guerik · Nov 29th, 2005, 09:29

I've studied with Yogendra at Himalaya Hindi House and it was excellent, just a bit cold in winter (but I think the temperatures would be fairly similar to Musoorie anyway).
I did a six week course and my Hindi improved out of sight (I'd already been studying part time for a year but it was still a bit sketchy), I'm pretty confident with my language skills now - some poor IM members will be able to attest this, poor guinea pigs

Even if you don't do it through HHH, I'd really recommend an intensive course somewhere in India, being able to practice after class makes it a lot easier and a lot more fun (especially in the markets!)

Lakshmi Bhabi · Nov 30th, 2005, 06:28

Thanks for your replies!

Mandsaur · Nov 30th, 2005, 22:16

I've heard good things about Bhasha Bharati in Varanasi: http://www.bhashabharati.com/

Shannon · Nov 30th, 2005, 23:48

I studied at Landour School for 6 weeks in 2001. I really enjoyed it. Mussoorie is like paradise for me. I stayed at the guesthouse by the school - the name is escaping me right now - and the views and walks up there are so incredible. It's quiet, relaxing, and laid back. You are up from the bustle of the city but it's not a bad walk down there. I would be cautious about time of year. You may not want to be there during winter months. I was there in October and it was very nice, chilly at night but lovely weather.

The instructors at the school are for the most part good - some I liked more than others. A couple still stand out in my mind as excellent teachers of both language and culture. I was in class 6 hours a day, I think, but Landour is very flexible for how many courses you take.

6 weeks in Landour had me firmly through beginning Hindi. I found that I could read far better than I spoke, but I had a fairly strong vocabulary and I liked their texts and study materials.

Good luck - if you go to Landour you can color me jealous.

Lakshmi Bhabi · Dec 1st, 2005, 06:48

Thanks for the great information, everyone.

jgv · Dec 1st, 2005, 09:31

Now you've got me interested in this too. I've been thinking of learning Hindi for a while and there are courses here in Sydney but in India would be much better!

Any links I've just googled and found a few but nothing official.

jgv · Dec 1st, 2005, 09:43

Found it

http://landourlanguageschool.org/

guerik · Dec 1st, 2005, 12:07

JGV - HHH is affiliated with ANU and Sydney Uni, if you've got any inclination to put the course towards a degree it can help.

Lakshmi Bhabi · Dec 2nd, 2005, 07:50

JGV, Want to join me this summer? I'm thinking of trying the Landour School...

Lakshmi Bhabi · Dec 2nd, 2005, 07:54

Guerik, when you were studying did you have a good dictionary you could recommend?

guerik · Dec 2nd, 2005, 08:25

I've got one that I'd recommend and one that I wouldn't - I'll give you the details of both once I've had a chance to have a look at them at home

Theon · Dec 2nd, 2005, 21:55

I have a soft spot for Landour too. Was going to try Bhasa Bharati in Varanasi, but couldn't handle Varanasi (heard good things about them though).

Laksmi Bhabi, if you can wait, there are lots of choices in Mussoorie for dictionaries, and they're much cheaper too.

Shannon · Dec 2nd, 2005, 23:54

I checked out that link - I stayed at Dev Dar Woods. There is a grocery very nearby that sells homemade jam and - shocking! - homemade cookies, bread, and cheese!

Nov 29th, 2005, 06:43	#1
Lakshmi Bhabi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 200	Language school recommendations Hi everyone, I'm hoping to take 4-5 weeks of Intensive Hindi for beginners in India this summer and am thinking about the Landour School in Mussoorie. Have any of you studied there? Do you have any other recommendations? Thanks!

Nov 29th, 2005, 08:31	#2
shantanudutta Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DELHI Posts: 27	Landour School Landour School is a good choice in terns of a laid back ambience and the good climes of Mussooorie. There are otherset ups like the Central Hindi Directorate of the Government of India which have courses, but for sheer atmosphere and the congeality of the place , nothing to beat Landour.

Dec 2nd, 2005, 21:55	#14
Theon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 146	I have a soft spot for Landour too. Was going to try Bhasa Bharati in Varanasi, but couldn't handle Varanasi (heard good things about them though). Laksmi Bhabi, if you can wait, there are lots of choices in Mussoorie for dictionaries, and they're much cheaper too. __________________ My First Time to India

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Nov 29th, 2005, 09:29	#3
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,039	I've studied with Yogendra at Himalaya Hindi House and it was excellent, just a bit cold in winter (but I think the temperatures would be fairly similar to Musoorie anyway). I did a six week course and my Hindi improved out of sight (I'd already been studying part time for a year but it was still a bit sketchy), I'm pretty confident with my language skills now - some poor IM members will be able to attest this, poor guinea pigs Even if you don't do it through HHH, I'd really recommend an intensive course somewhere in India, being able to practice after class makes it a lot easier and a lot more fun (especially in the markets!)

Nov 30th, 2005, 06:28	#4
Lakshmi Bhabi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 200	Thanks for your replies!

Nov 30th, 2005, 22:16	#5
Mandsaur Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 140	I've heard good things about Bhasha Bharati in Varanasi: http://www.bhashabharati.com/

Nov 30th, 2005, 23:48	#6
Shannon bunder Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN, US Posts: 153	I studied at Landour School for 6 weeks in 2001. I really enjoyed it. Mussoorie is like paradise for me. I stayed at the guesthouse by the school - the name is escaping me right now - and the views and walks up there are so incredible. It's quiet, relaxing, and laid back. You are up from the bustle of the city but it's not a bad walk down there. I would be cautious about time of year. You may not want to be there during winter months. I was there in October and it was very nice, chilly at night but lovely weather. The instructors at the school are for the most part good - some I liked more than others. A couple still stand out in my mind as excellent teachers of both language and culture. I was in class 6 hours a day, I think, but Landour is very flexible for how many courses you take. 6 weeks in Landour had me firmly through beginning Hindi. I found that I could read far better than I spoke, but I had a fairly strong vocabulary and I liked their texts and study materials. Good luck - if you go to Landour you can color me jealous.

Dec 1st, 2005, 06:48	#7
Lakshmi Bhabi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 200	Thanks for the great information, everyone.

Dec 1st, 2005, 09:31	#8
jgv Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 95	Now you've got me interested in this too. I've been thinking of learning Hindi for a while and there are courses here in Sydney but in India would be much better! Any links I've just googled and found a few but nothing official.

Dec 1st, 2005, 09:43	#9
jgv Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 95	Found it http://landourlanguageschool.org/

Dec 1st, 2005, 12:07	#10
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,039	JGV - HHH is affiliated with ANU and Sydney Uni, if you've got any inclination to put the course towards a degree it can help.

Dec 2nd, 2005, 07:50	#11
Lakshmi Bhabi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 200	JGV, Want to join me this summer? I'm thinking of trying the Landour School...

Dec 2nd, 2005, 07:54	#12
Lakshmi Bhabi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 200	Guerik, when you were studying did you have a good dictionary you could recommend?

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Dec 2nd, 2005, 08:25	#13
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,039	I've got one that I'd recommend and one that I wouldn't - I'll give you the details of both once I've had a chance to have a look at them at home

Dec 2nd, 2005, 23:54	#15
Shannon bunder Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN, US Posts: 153	I checked out that link - I stayed at Dev Dar Woods. There is a grocery very nearby that sells homemade jam and - shocking! - homemade cookies, bread, and cheese!