Vanakkam!
Many of you have expressed your interest in attending the first ever Winter Holiday Tamil classes. The Tamil Students Association of the University of Toronto, with the help of a dedicated team of teachers from the United States, including Sendhil Cheran (founder of tamilclass.com), are working hard to ensure that these classes be the most memorable, informative and fun two weeks ever.
The motivation for these classes is three-fold. We are seeking to provide an opportunity for students of all levels to improve their grasp of the Tamil language, to satisfy the need for the future leaders of the Tamil community to be well-versed in Tamil, and to explore the antiquity and spleandour of Tamil and Tamil literature. If you always wished that I knew more Tamil but thought it was too late to learn, this is the perfect opportunity!
I have attached to this email both the application form and consent form. Please fill the application out completely, and email it back to me as soon as possible. The consent form and the course fee will be collected on the first day of classes.
Classes will be divided into the following levels: Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced.
– Introductory level: requires no previous knowledge of the Tamil alphabet. Aims to teach the alphabet and basic spoken Tamil through. Students will be able to read small paragraphs and increase comprehension of conversational Tamil.
– Intermediate level: requires knowledge of spoken Tamil and of the Tamil alphabet. Aims to increase reading comprehension and command of spoken Tamil. Students will be able to write short paragraphs and read and understand short stories.
– Advanced level: requires basic knowledge of written Tamil. Aims to increase proficiency in written Tamil. Students will be able to give short speeches, and write letters or small articles.
Classes will take place on Dec 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, 30, 31, and Jan 2. They will be held from 10am-3pm and will include a half-hour lunch break and two short morning and afternoon breaks. The location of the classes is the Academy of Tamil Arts and Technology, located at 2130 Lawrence Ave. East (at Birchmount), in Scarborough. All this for only $30 (Canadian). All you have to do is fill in the application form on and email it to . The course fee and the completed consent form must be handed in on the first day of class
Thank you once again for your interest in these classes. We are confident that they will dramatically improve your ability and confidence to communicate in Tamil. I’m looking forward to meeting each and every one of you personally, and encourage you to contact me if you have any questions regarding the classes.
Sincerely,
Ashwin Balamohan
(Cultural Coordinator – U of T TSA)
Name:
(First Name) (Last Name)
Address:
(Street) (Suite) (City)
Email: ________________________________ Telephone #: _ ___- ___-___ ____
School: __________________________ Major: ___________ Year: _______
Date of Birth: ___________________________ Health Card #: _________________
Mother tongue: ___________________________
Level of instruction you would like to receive:
Email applications to: or
For further information:
Email: a
Web: http://stg.utorontotsa.org
Phone: 416-591-2455 (Ashwin)
The structure of the courses provided are similar to those taught at the University of Pennsylvania, and is therefore best suited for students at the undergraduate or graduate level. It is therefore strongly recommended that all students be in Grade 11 or higher.
I, _______________________________(Print) as the Parent/Guardian of
_________________________ (Print) hereby grant consent for my daughter/son (the “Student”) to participate as a student in the Winter Holiday Tamil classes, run by the Tamil Students’ Association of the University of Toronto (the “TSA”).
Student Signature____________________________ Date:______________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________ Date:______________
I have read the following consent and waiver of liability before signing. Further, I understand this consent and waiver of liability shall be effective from this day forward.
The Student does hereby release and forever discharge and hold harmless TSA and its successors and assigns from any and all liability, claims, and demands of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, which arise or may hereafter arise from the Student’s participation in any TSA Tamil classes. The Student does hereby grant and convey unto TSA all rights, title, and interest in any and all photographic images and video or audio recording made by TSA during TSA projects, including but not limited to, any royalties, proceeds, or other benefits derived from such photographs or recordings.
Student Signature_______________________________ Date:_____________
Parent/Guardian Signature:_______________________ Date:_____________
TSA Tamil Class: Administration
Authorized by:____________________________(Print)
(Executive Member)
Signature: _____________________________
Date: _________________________
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There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.–William Frederick Halsy, Jr.
originally published December 13, 2003