Before You Begin
• Configuring your computer
• Using this site
Configuring your computer
- You will need to have a Flash Player installed on your computer. Most Internet Browsers include Flash capabilities already. If you get error messages regarding your Flash Player, you may wish to download a new version from http://www.adobe.com. There are also many Open Source Flash Players available.
- You will need a Unicode Nastaliq Urdu font. You computer may already be able to display Urdu in one of the basic Arabic fonts but Urdu is usually written in a different, more "calligraphic" style. One font that works well is Nafees Nastaleeq, provided as a free download from the Center for Research on Urdu Language Processing: http://www.crulp.org/software/localization/Fonts/nafeesNastaleeq.html
When you have downloaded the font files, you will need to extract ("unzip") them and install the font file in your system font folder.
For more choices of fonts and additional instructions, please visit the website of the South Asia Language Resource Center: http://salrc.uchicago.edu/resources/fonts/available/urdu/
Once you have downloaded the font, click here. The text image in the upper box should match the HTML Unicode text in the lower box (allowing for stylistic variations).
If the Urdu text in the lower box is not displaying properly, check to make sure that your font is installed properly and that your browser is configured to use the Urdu font:
Internet Explorer: Go to the Tools Menu and open Internet Options. Under Appearance (at the bottom) click on Languages. Click on the Add button and select Urdu from the drop-down menu. Click OK. Then click the Fonts button. Select "Arabic" from the drop-down menu. Then in the Webpage font window, select your preferred font (e.g. Nafees Nastaleeq). Click OK.
- You may need to activate the non-roman font features of your computer's system:
Microsoft Windows: open the Control Panel; click on "Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options"; click on "Add Other Languages"; check the box next to "Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages". When you have done this, you may be prompted to insert your system installation CDR.
Apple OS: consult your system installation disc.
- If you notice a "click" noise and a video "hiccup" every time a new line of text appears in the scrolling script window, then follow these steps: Open Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices. Then click the "Sounds" tab. In the "Program Events" window, scroll down to "Windows Explorer" section and select "Start Navigation." Now select (None) in the "Sounds" window. Click "OK" to finish.
- You may wish to install an Urdu "input scheme" and keyboard layout on your computer. This will allow you to type in Urdu in most Windows applications. The Center for Research on Urdu Language Processing also provides a free Urdu Phonetic Keyboard Layout:
http://www.crulp.org/software/localization/keyboards/CRULPphonetickbv1.1.html
Using this site
Darvazah is designed to help you learn Urdu using a variety of language resources. Every student has a different learning strategy. If you have never studied a foreign language before, you will have to discover what learning strategy works best for you.
We recommend that you begin by working through the Urdu Alphabet Module. When you have become somewhat comfortable with the Alphabet, begin Lesson 1. As you work through the lessons, your command of the Urdu script will be expanded and reinforced. For additional help, each word in the vocabulary lists is linked to a Flash movie showing how the letters in the word connect to each other.
Each lesson is based on a movie. These lesson movies contain stories that introduce various situations, cultural concepts, modes of communication, grammatical structures, and vocabulary words. Vocabulary words and grammatical structures are repeated in different forms to ensure optimal exposure. To enliven the learning process we have written the films to contain humor, songs, drama, and references to the Hindi-Urdu cinema. Each film includes pauses in the spoken dialogue designed to allow learners to absorb visual information about South Asian culture.
Each lesson depends on the accumulated knowledge of the lessons preceding it. We recommend that you begin each lesson by watching the lesson film. You will understand much of each film based on the context. You can refer to the linked vocabularies, grammar notes, and communication and culture notes for help with the words and phrases you do not understand. You may also refer to the "script" of the film dialogue for more assistance. These "scripts" also contain links to Communication and Culture and Grammar topics. Watch each film as many times as necessary to understand the concepts it contains. You may pause and rewind the film as needed.
After you feel like you understand the film, try to work through the accompanying exercises. The exercises include grammar drill, role plays, questions and answers, etc. Some exercises work best within a classroom environment or with a conversation partner.
When you have worked through the exercises, there are quizzes of various kinds to help you test your knowledge.
Aside from the lesson vocabularies, we have not provided English translations or transliterations of the Urdu texts in this site. We believe that students who become dependent on English translations or Roman transliterations will be hindered in acquiring proficiency in Urdu. Please do not be discouraged in the beginning by this approach. You will be surprised how quickly you will be able to acquire proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing Urdu.
If you are a teacher and you would like some suggestions about using the Darvazah materials in your language classes, we have provided a simple Teachers' Manual.
Are you ready? You may now proceed to the Urdu Alphabet Module or Lesson 1.
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