Berkeley Urdu Language Fellowship Program 2005-06

Berkeley Urdu Language Fellowship Program 2005-06 The Center for South Asia Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, invites applications for a fellowship program to study Urdu language at the American Institute for Indian Studies (AIIS) Urdu program in Lucknow, India. Up to twelve awards will be made on a competitive basis, and will include tuition, a maintenance allowance and roundtrip airfare.

Program funding is subject to US Department of Education approval, says an email message received from the Center of Asia Studies, Berkeley. The message adds: For over 30 years, the University of California, Berkeley, has run an Urdu language program in Lahore, Pakistan. Recent US Department of State imposed travel warnings have restricted travel to Pakistan. Because of this, students have not been able to attend BULPIP (Berkeley Urdu Language Program in Pakistan) for the past two years. With no immediate sign of change in current conditions, the Center for South Asia Studies (CSAS) at Berkeley remains committed to encouraging students to seek out advanced training in Urdu. CSAS has resolved to change the location of the program until such time as the travel warning is lifted. Up to twelve students will be funded annually to study Urdu in Lucknow, India, at the AIIS Urdu program.

Key Dates: Application deadline: Monday, March 28, 2005 (5 PM PST) Notification: Monday, April 25, 2005 Program duration: September 2005-April 2006 Eligibility: -Graduate students and undergraduate students at the junior or senior level at institutions of higher learning in the US -Teachers in area studies -US citizens or permanent residents of the US -Applicants must have a minimum of two years, or 240 class hours of classroom instruction, in Urdu before starting the program -Applicants who have had one year language training at the time of application will be considered if they successfully complete an intensive second-year summer language program before their enrollment in the program -Applicants with a minimum of two years experience in Hindi are eligible for an award if they familiarize themselves with the Urdu script prior to entering the program -All qualified students, regardless of race, sex, color, creed, age, handicap, sexual orientation or national origin, are welcome The Program: The 2005-06 program will begin in September of 2005. Instruction will be offered at the AIIS Language Center in Lucknow and the program will be administered in India by AIIS staff. This is an intensive language program that provides four hours of classroom instruction five days a week.

Classes are small and individual tutorials are provided. There will be regular assignments outside of class and there is special emphasis on connecting with the local speech community and self-management of learning. Participants are encouraged to identify and prioritize their needs and keep track of their language development. Participants must take part in all program events, such as attending films, plays and other cultural activities. They are also encouraged to stay with local host families.

This is not a research program; participants are expected to devote all their energies to activities that will increase their competence in all areas of language skills speaking, listening, reading and writing. Participants will have ample opportunity to study their research-related materials in the target language during personal tutorials. For more information about AIIS language programs, visit . Applications can be downloaded here: For email enquiries, write to us at bulpip@berkeley.edu All applications must be received at the following address by Monday, March 28, 2005 (5 PM PST), along with a check for the application fee of $50 made payable to "UC Regents": Center for South Asia Studies 10 Stephens Hall, #2310 University of California Berkeley, CA 94720-2310 (510) 642-3608 (phone) (510) 643-5793 (fax)

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