Languages and Levels

On the general SASLI application, prospective students can elect to study the first or second year of a modern South Asian language or Sanskrit, as well as the third year of Hindi, Sanskrit, or Urdu.

However, the availability of courses varies year to year based on student interest, and specific languages/levels may not run due to low enrollments, so it’s best to apply early.

Archived syllabi that include required textbooks are also available for languages offered at SASLI in the past five years.

For SASLI 2025, classes are designated as either in person or synchronous online. No distance learning accommodations are available for in-person courses. The classes will run from 9-11am and 12-2pm (CST), Monday – Friday.

Applications for SASLI 2025 are closed. Interested applicants should email sasli@lpo.wisc.edu for more information.

Summer 2025 Textbook Information

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Intermediate Bengali Textbook Information

Students can access the free online textbook here.

All additional materials will be provided in class.

Elementary Hindi Textbook Information

Before the start of the program, students will need to purchase 2 books:

  • Introduction to Hindi Grammar by Usha Jain (ISBN: 9780944613252).
  • Beginning Hindi by Joshua Pien and Fauzia Farooqui (ISBN: 9781626160224).

Intermediate Hindi Textbook Information

Students will have the option to purchase hard copies of either or both books, while the instructor will provide electronic copies of the materials. 

  • Intermediate Hindi by Yamuna Kachru
  • Elementary Hindi by Richard Delacy

Advanced Hindi Textbook Information

Students will not need to purchase any textbook materials for the course. However, if you are interested in purchasing your own hard copy of the materials, you can do so at this link.

Below is a list of materials that will be used for the program:

  • Spoken Hindi in Social Context. Mithilesh Mishra and Awadesh Mishra. 2010. Lakshi Publishers. Delhi, India. A collection of Texts. Prepared by Mithilesh Mishra
  • Theme-based vocabulary and affixes of Hindi. Mithilesh Mishra and Awadhesh Mishra. 2010. Lakshi Publishers. Delhi, India
  • Advanced Hindi Grammar. Usha R. Jain, University of California, Berkeley, 2007 
  • Introduction of Hindi grammar, Usha R. Jain, University of California, Berkeley, 1995
  • Intermediate Hindi by Yamana Kacharu and Rajeshwari Pandharipande, Motilal Banarasidass.

Elementary Nepali Textbook Information

Students will not need to purchase any textbook materials for the course.

Elementary Punjabi Textbook Information

Students will not need to purchase any textbook materials for the course.

Elementary Sanskrit Textbook Information

Before the start of the program, students will need to purchase this book:

  • A.M. Ruppel’s “The Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit” (Cambridge UP, 2017)

 

Elementary Tamil Textbook Information

Students will not need to purchase any textbook materials for the course, but are encouraged to buy these materials:

  • A Basic Tamil Reader and Grammar, Volume I: Readings (with CDs) – K. Paramasivam and James Lindholm, Tamil Language Study Association, Evanston, Illinois
  • A Basic Tamil Reader and Grammar, Volume II: Annotations – K. Paramasivam and James Lindholm, Tamil Language Study Association, Evanston, Illinois
  • The Jim and Raja Conversations (with CDs) – E. Annamalai, Tamil Language Study Association, Evanston, Illinois

Elementary Urdu Textbook Information

Students will not need to purchase any textbook materials for the course.

The textbook that will be used is Beginning Urdu: A Complete Course by Joshua H. Pien, Fauzia Farooqui.

Intermediate Urdu Textbook Information

Although students will not need to purchase textbook materials for the course, below are the names of the textbooks that will be used during the summer session.

Students who prefer a physical copy may choose to purchase one at their own discretion.

  • Let’s Study Urdu and introductory course
  • Urdu- English Dictionary and English to Urdu dictionary by OUP

Advanced Urdu Textbook Information

Students will not need to purchase any textbook materials for the course.

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2025 Course Syllabi

2025 Course Offerings

Online Offerings:

  • Bengali (Intermediate)
  • Hindi (Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced)
  • Nepali (Elementary)
  • Punjabi (Elementary)
  • Sanskrit (Elementary)
  • Tamil (Elementary)
  • Urdu (Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced)

2024 Course Syllabi

2023 Course Syllabi

2022 Course Syllabi

2021 Course Syllabi

2020 Course Syllabi

2019 Course Syllabi

2018 Course Syllabi

Questions about course offerings in general or prior to 2018 can be directed to sasli@lpo.wisc.edu.