Landour Language School, Mussoorie

ploink

Just checking: Have you contacted the school already? Normally, sign-up for classes is on Wednesdays, and schedule is put out on Fridays. The school has become very popular, and if you want two weeks of classes, you should contact the school (well) in advance, and tell them that you would like to attend classes from Monday ... to Friday .... but you arrive on a Friday. You might also ask whether they know of tutors/teachers for classes during the weekend, for example.

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But rather, ten times rather, die in the surf, heralding the way to that new world, than stand idly on the shore! -Florence Nightingale

lagom

Yes, I contacted the school and anounced that I would like to have classes from the following monday. And they said that that should be ok. Should I write again and say how many classes I would like to have?

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...No Hurry Chicken Curry...

ploink

It's a good idea, depending on how many classes you want. Normally, students appeared to have maximum 4 classes a day (I had four classes a day last autumn, three classes a day this summer), but some students had more. More may be difficult to arrange, though, depending on how many students there at the school during your stay. Also, it won't hurt to go and check the schedule / meet the principal on Friday (when you arrive) if you can make it to the school then. Just to avoid (unpleasant) surprises.

lagom

I ordered yesterday three new books: first, the "teach yourself hindi course" - The book I'm using now in my hindi class is quite bad and I wanted a good book which I even can use after Landour (I'm planning to organise hindi teaching in dehra dun, where I will stay afterwards, too). The second book I bought is the lonely planet prhasebook Hindi, Urdu and Bengali. I've just heard good things about it and it seems to be quite useful while travelling. And last but not least I've bought the Footprint india guide.
The reason why I shopped that much? There was a special offer on amaz....com and then it became really cheap. For all the books together I've only paid around 30 Euro... I guess then it's worth...

@ Landour experts:
Is it possible to study Hindi at Landour Language School using the teach yourself hindi course or do I have to use their book?

Have a good day...

Lagom

ploink

You can certainly ask them whether you could work with your book (Teach Yourself Hindi) instead of the school's book - I would be surprised if you were unable to find a teacher/teachers who are willing to work with your own book. If in doubt, email the school, and let them know before you arrive that you would prefer to work with your own book.

(You don't have to tell them that the school's book sucks! Well, I think it doesn't suck, it's good on vocabulary, and has good reading passages, but it's heavy, heavy on grammar, and the organisation is also.... I became frustrated waiting to be able to say things like "I go to school" or "I'm going home" instead of "(Please) go to school" and "(Please) go home".)


When I was in Landour in the autumn, I worked with their book at school, but I had my copy of Teach Yourself Beginner's Hindi and Teach Yourself Beginner's Hindi Script with me for support at home.

When I was in Landour in the summer, I didn't really work with the school's book. Instead, most of the time, told them what I would like to revise/practise - what I felt was important, and didn't know (well enough), what I hadn't (learnt) well enough in the autumn. I also had my copy of Teach Yourself Hindi for support!

I'm working with Teach Yourself Hindi now, have started from Chapter 1 to revise grammar, and to improve my vocabulary! Should also work on conjunct characters with Teach Yourself Beginner's Hindi Script. I have quite a library for my studies by now, including children's stories in the script.


Oh, by the way, they'll tell you, but you can also borrow the school's book instead of buying. So you can have a look at the book even if you want to work with another book (or without a book).

lagom

I've already got the teach yourself beginners hindi script and I find it useful, so I will take that with me to Landour, too.

Ploink, which teachers did you like the best? Can I choose the teacher by myself?

ploink

Yes, you can request (not) to have certain teachers - but you're not guaranteed to have the teachers that you've requested.

On Wednesdays, when students sign up for the following week's classes, they fill in a form with the number of classes per day preferred, the time(s) of the classes preferred (first class starts at 8:20, or should start, most teachers appear to arrive at the school by or around 8:30), and the teachers preferred (or not preferred) - plus, any other information, e.g. if they know that they will not be able to attend school on a certain day.

I'll PM you on the teachers.