Maya B

Why did you choose to study at WISLI? What motivated you to choose our program? 

I applied and chose to study Beginner Tamil at WISLI/SASLI on the advice of a friend who had really enjoyed her Hindi course a few summers ago. I was looking for an intensive language program to learn Tamil in preparation for eventual graduate-level research on decolonization in the French empire.

How has learning a less commonly taught language enriched your personal and professional life?

Learning Tamil has given me access to films and texts for my research (although there is a long way to go before fluency). While many historians of the French empire are limited to French, I’m eager to explore more stories from those who were colonized. Furthermore, Tamil is my mother’s mothertongue, and the ability to speak to her and other relatives will bring us closer, and better understand my family history.

What about WISLI/UW-Madison stands out to you? 

UW-Madison’s Center for South Asia and library collections were vast, allowing me to seek out additional resources for language study and texts for future study. Furthermore, the ability to focus on studying my target language without the distractions of other coursework was extremely valuable. Studying amidst a community of learners across the WISLI institutes was motivating and insightful.

How do you plan to apply proficiency of your target language and cultural skills to your personal/professional journey?

I intend to continue studying Tamil during graduate school, since my language skills are not yet sufficient to conduct the research I want to pursue. I am excited to have the extra context of Tamil language and culture as I learn more about and visit South Asia. I’m interested in learning more about politics in Tamil Nadu, since most of the national and international news coverage focuses on New Delhi/ North India, and is in Hindi. I’m also a cinema buff, and am eager to explore Tamil cinema.

What were some of the highlights of your program? What events did you particularly enjoy?

My teacher, Dr. Arun, was very kind and engaging. He gave thorough explanations of the grammar concepts and Tamil culture, but also was skilled about “knowing what not to teach” in order to not confuse beginners. I also loved spending time with other SASLI and WISLI students at program events such as the Career Workshop and Samosa Study Break (and outside of class) to learn about people’s different motivations and trajectories related to language learning. I was surprised to see that many people studying less commonly taught languages are also multilingual (having been inspired by learning a commonly taught language at some point). It was also amazing to watch some of my peers learn their first second language!

What role did the WISLI Tuition Scholarship play when you were making decisions? How would you encourage other students who might be interested in the scholarship to apply?

I would not have been able to attend SASLI without the WISLI tuition scholarship, and had limited options since I am not currently affiliated with a university. I would encourage students with financial need to highlight their motivations and aspirations for learning their target language, both professional and personal, while applying. Most importantly, students should put their best foot forward, and not count themselves out.

What advice would you give to students who want to study the same language as you?

Tamil is unique in that the spoken and written forms of the language can diverge at times. I would recommend learning the spoken forms first, and one can pick up the more formal written vocabulary and register when reading and writing become the focus later in the course. Listening to songs or conversation videos for learners online can be a good way to understand the divergence between written and spoken vocabulary.

What is your favorite expression in the language you studied this summer?

யானைக்கும் அடி சுறுக்கும்– Even elephants (sometimes) slip.

A close second- அப்படியா? Is that so/Really? (Very useful filler to express interest or are unsure of how to continue the conversation)