School of Ethnic Languages and Cultures

An eight-week introduction to Jingphaw, the main Kachin language: the alphabet and pronunciation, everyday vocabulary, greetings and simple conversation, with an introduction to Kachin culture.

The indigenous lifestyle of the Kachin people: traditional livelihoods, customs, festivals, food, kinship and the values that shape Kachin community life.

A basic course in West Pwo Karen, the language of the Karen communities of the Ayeyarwady delta. Students learn the alphabet, vowels and orthography, everyday vocabulary and poems, then move on to speaking and listening through greetings, family, daily routines and Karen songs.

An eight-week introduction to S'gaw Karen, one of the two major Karen languages. Students learn consonants, vowels and tones, consonant clusters, family terms, numbers and time, everyday objects, daily routines, parts of the body and sentence types, with weekly assignments and a final exam.

Continues from the basic course into pre-intermediate S'gaw Karen: longer conversations, reading short texts, expanded vocabulary and more complex sentence structures.

A basic course in Mon language and literature. Over eight weeks students learn the 35 Mon letters and 12 vowels, consonant combinations, greetings, directions, shopping, everyday conversation and cultural sharing, with reading, writing, speaking and listening assessed.

A seven-week course building Mon speaking and grammar for learners who have completed the basic course: sentence patterns, everyday dialogues and more confident conversation.

A basic course in Shan (Tai Long) to speak, read and write basic Shan and understand Shan traditions and culture: greetings, numbers, family, time, food, festivals, places and daily conversation alongside the consonants, vowels and six tones.

A ten-week pre-intermediate Shan course for students who pass a placement test: daily routines, health, proverbs and folk tales, travel and directions, combined vowels, clusters and final sounds, with mid-term and final assessments.

An intermediate Shan course for learners who have completed pre-intermediate: reading and writing longer texts, richer vocabulary and discussion of Shan literature and culture.

An eight-week introduction to the Rakhine (Arakanese) language: pronunciation and script, everyday vocabulary, greetings and simple conversation, with notes on Rakhine culture.

A six-week basic course in Arakanese: the sounds and script, essential vocabulary and simple everyday exchanges for beginners.

An eight-week introduction to Tedim Chin: the writing system, pronunciation, everyday vocabulary and simple conversation, with an introduction to Chin culture.