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Curriculum
All upper-level Khmer study at SEASSI is done via modules, which are explained below. Intermediate students study along with Advanced students but Advanced students often receive different assignments and are held to a tougher grading standard. Heritage students are for the most part integrated with upper-level non-native speakers, except in those cases which, based on their distinct learning needs, these two groups benefit from being separated. For specific examples of some of the teaching materials used in the Khmer Heritage Program, look here. The two months of intensive SEASSI Khmer study is also organized around topics, which change weekly. Those topics are briefly described here:
Based on the results of an intake assessment of your language skills and an interview with the Coordinator, on the first day of SEASSI you'll create a schedule for that will remain yours for the summer. This schedule will include a minimum of 6 hours of a choice of two literacy modules, 2 hours of Grammar Module, and 2 hours of Culture Module. If necessary, you may take hours in Speaking Module as well. If not, you'll take 10 hours of literacy modules. You'll spend a total of 14 hours per week in class. It may not seem like much, but believe me, we will keep you busy; you’ll need that extra time outside of class, especially in the second half of the summer when there will be many projects to work on outside of class, including your independent study project (see below). For brief descriptions of the modules themselves, follow this link:
A significant portion of your study will be taken up with an independent study project, which you’ll design in the first half of the summer, and carry out in the second. You’re expected to take this project very seriously; it will account for 30% of your total grade. By the end of week three, you must submit a 1-2 page formal proposal for the project, specifying exactly what you’ll produce at the end of the project. In week four or five you’ll begin work on it. You’ll be assigned an “advisor” from among the three Khmer instructors based on what the subject matter of your project is and our various areas of interest/expertise. During week eight, you’ll make a 15-20 minute oral presentation (completely in Khmer) on your project to the rest of the class, turning in all physical materials by Thursday of week eight. You can see several examples of independent study final project products by choosing the "Students" tab above.
Sophat 2004 After learning the basics of the alphabet and formal speaking early in the summer in the above-mentioned modules, SEASSI upper-level students read a Khmer novel, Sophat, in its entirety, and prepare and perform a musical play based on the novel. Follow the link below to watch a video documenting the preparation process and performance from SEASSI 2004. The video is a bit long (around 40 minutes), but if you want to get a clear idea of what we do in the classroom in SEASSI, you should check it out: Sophat 2008 In 2008, as they do every year, students designed a play based on Sophat once again. This time, they signficantly altered the story, bringing in elements of The Godfather and assorted other American pop culture references. You can watch it (in two parts) below, or see it (and other videos of the SEASSI Khmer class) on YouTube:
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