Hindi

Learn more about our Hindi classes in Delhi and Mumbai!

Zabaan has been conducting Hindi classes for expats and foreigners at different levels of proficiency since its inception in 2009. We have both intensive lessons for fast-track learning and slow paced evening classes for working professionals. If you prefer a flexible schedule, we also offer private in-person and online classes.

Hindi for Beginners (ELH1)

This is the first of two sequential group courses in Hindi aimed at helping complete beginners achieve elementary proficiency in Hindi.  The focus of this course begins with a systematic presentation of the Hindi script, Devanagari, and sound system following by an explanation of grammatical concepts that will equip students with the skills necessary to make themselves understood in the most basic contexts.  By the end of this course, students will be able to ask for directions, find out the time of the next bus and the price of the ticket, and describe their environment using the present tense of the verb “to be” as well as adjectives, nouns, and pronouns in conjuction with post positions.  After completing this course, students will be ready to tackle our Lower Elementary Hindi course.
  • Proficiency Level Reached: A1-
  • Prerequisite(s): none
  • Course Materials: Teach Yourself Hindi
  • Frequency: Twice or thrice weekly
  • Duration: 5 weeks, 15 class hours

 


Lower Elementary Hindi (ELH2)

This is the second in a series of group courses aimed at helping students achieve novice-level proficiency in Hindi.  As the follow up to our Hindi for Beginners course, this course builds on students’ reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills and covers the competencies needed in everyday contexts such as giving and responding to commands, using expressions to indicate possession, expressing wants and needs as well as some colloquial usages.  By the end of this course students will be able to express themselves in the past and present tenses. Once this course is complete, students will be ready for Elementary Hindi, the course necessary to achieve elementary-level proficiency.
  • Proficiency Level Reached: A1
  • Prerequisite(s): Hindi for Beginners or near A1 proficiency
  • Course Materials: Teach Yourself Hindi
  • Frequency: Twice or thrice weekly
  • Duration: 5 weeks, 15 class hours

 


Upper Elementary Hindi I (ELH3)

This is the third in a series of group courses aimed at helping students achieve elementary-level proficiency in Hindi.  As the follow up to our Lower Elementary Hindi course, this course builds on students’ reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills and covers more grammatical constructions such as describing ongoing actions, talking about the future and expressing hopes, fears and wishes.  By the end of this course students will be able to express themselves in the present and past progressive, future and subjunctive tenses. Once this course is complete, students will be ready for Upper Elementary Hindi II, the course necessary to achieve A2 level proficiency.
  • Proficiency Level Reached: A2
  • Prerequisite(s): Lower Elementary Hindi or A1
  • Course Materials: Teach Yourself Hindi
  • Frequency: Twice or thrice weekly
  • Duration: 5 weeks, 15 class hours

 


Upper Elementary Hindi II (ELH4)

This is the fourth in a series of group courses aimed at helping students achieve elementary-level proficiency in Hindi.  As the follow up to our Upper Elementary Hindi I course, this course covers further ground in grammar such as talking about past events, expressing obligations and compulions and compound verb constructions in Hindi.  By the end of this course students will be able to express themselves in all tenses. Once this course is complete, students will be ready for the next level course, Lower Intermediate Hindi, and start their journey towards acheieving B1 level proficiency.
  • Proficiency Level Reached: A2
  • Prerequisite(s): Lower Elementary Hindi or A2-
  • Course Materials: Teach Yourself Hindi
  • Frequency: Twice or thrice weekly
  • Duration: 5 weeks, 15 class hours

Intensive Elementary Hindi

This group course helps complete the beginner’s fast track progress toward elementary proficiency in Hindi.  It covers everything necessary for students to be able to make themselves understood in basic everyday contexts such as asking for directions, finding out the time of the next bus and the price of the ticket, giving and responding to commands, talking about the weather, and more.  By the end of this course students will be able to express themselves in the the past, present, and future tenses. In addition to learning the structures necessary for basic conversation, students will also learn to read and write Devanagari, the script used for Hindi. After completing this course, students will be ready to take theirs skills to the next level in one of our intermediate Hindi courses.
  • Proficiency Level Reached: A1, A2
  • Prerequisite(s): none
  • Course Materials: Teach Yourself Hindi
  • Days: Mon-Fri
  • Times: 9:15-12:30
  • Duration: 4 weeks, 60 class hours

 


Intensive Lower Intermediate Hindi

This group course is tailored to students with a strong foundation in elementary Hindi.  As the successor to our Elementary Hindi or Intensive Hindi for Beginners course, this course will build on students’ basic foundation in Hindi reading, writing and conversation, and work toward greater fluency and control.  Students will cover more complex grammatical constructions and diversify their vocabulary.  By the end of this course, students will be able to interact with native speakers with spontaneity and fluency, understand main ideas of technical and specialised texts and express thoughts and opinions on any topic of interest.
  • Proficiency Level Reached: B1
  • Prerequisite(s): Intensive Basic Hindi, Elementary Hindi, or A2 proficiency
  • Course Materials: Teach Yourself Hindi
  • Days: Mon-Fri
  • Times: 9:15-12:30
  • Duration: 4 weeks, 60 class hours

Hindi Private & Online Lessons

For students with specific goals or a unique schedule, private lessons are custom tailored to improve your language skills at a pace and learning style that’s right for you.  Lessons plans and materials are custom designed to fit your needs and help you reach your goals.  Available for individuals, couples, or small groups, private lessons can take place at Zabaan’s language centre or at your home or office in Delhi or Mumbai (travel costs apply) or online over Skype or Google Hangouts.

 

Check out some of our blogs about Hindi!

Hindi–A Worldview Part III

Hindi–A Worldview Part III

Blog 3: How Hindi Language Structure Relates to Eastern Philosophies Understanding actions, कर्म (karma), and their consequences, has been one of the major points of discussion, and investigation, in the various, religious, spiritual and...

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Hindi–A Worldview Part II

Hindi–A Worldview Part II

Part II: Hindi Sentence Structure--A Deeper Look In the previous installment we looked at a few examples of how Hindi sentence structure differs from English. Let’s take a closer look at some specific examples of concepts that are expressed...

read more
Hindi–A Worldview

Hindi–A Worldview

Part I: Why learning Hindi can be a challenge for native English speakers Languages can be a window into the culture that speaks them. In this three-part blog, we will be exploring how Hindi is more than a language - it embodies a worldview that...

read more
“Unlike other programs that teach the language in a “this is the way it is” type format, Zabaan focuses on the underlying grammatical reasons for why the language is structured the way it is. For a language that is so different from english (and includes concepts that are foreign to native english speakers), I have found that this provided much needed clarity, and has paid dividends later on in my Hindi studies.”

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After spending 4.5 months at Zabaan, I would have to say that I was impressed with the quality of my Hindi instruction. I began as a complete beginner, enrolling in the 4 week beginner Hindi group course (5 students). I followed this with 3 or so months of a combination of small group lessons (with another student that was in my group course), as well as private lessons.

At the end of the 4 week group course, I walked away being able to read and write the Hindi (Devanagari) script, as well as engage in very basic conversation (survival Hindi). The course is based on the Teach Yourself Hindi text, and during the 4 weeks, approximately 1/2 of the book was covered. My remaining time at Zabaan was spent finishing the book, reviewing grammar, as well as reading short stories and news articles.

Zabaan is really only one of two languages schools in India offering comprehensive and reputable Hindi language instruction oriented for western students. The other being AIIS. The reason for this comes down to the caliber of instructors employed at Zabaan, of which consists of formally/university trained linguists that truly understand both Hindi and English grammar. Unlike other programs that teach the language in a “this is the way it is” type format, Zabaan focuses on the underlying grammatical reasons for why the language is structured the way it is. For a language that is so different from english (and includes concepts that are foreign to native english speakers), I have found that this provided much needed clarity, and has paid dividends later on in my Hindi studies.

Despite having intensively studied foreign languages at a top american university, the pace of Zabaan’s group course took getting use to. But it was manageable. This pace reflects the clientele of Zabaan, which tends to be a group of individuals seriously committed to language learning. Students included US Fulbright and FLAS Fellows, as well as diplomats, British journalists, graduate students, and US military personnel. The prices for private group lessons certainly reflect this western orientation. Though, if you can pair up with other students as I did, prices will be significantly reduced, and end up costing less than other programs in India.

In line with what a couple reviews have pointed out, Zabaan is not without its quirks. I tend to attribute this mainly to differences in culture. However, regarding language instruction, I have the utmost confidence in their ability to effectively teach Hindi, and for this reason, I recommend them for anyone seriously interested in studying Hindi.

Reid, 19 July 2016

“Zabaan gets both thumbs up for their services and I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who is serious about learning Hindi (and other languages).”

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Ali has been my Hindi teacher since September 2013. After six years of no formal classes in this language, I finally took up classes in Delhi. I started out classes not being able to even read my own name in Devanagari and can now read, write and speak it using proper grammar and vocab. Ali has proven to be the best teacher I could have asked for; he is patient, competent and meticulous. He adjusted the classes in content and pace to my language skills and preferences. He assigns plenty of homework for days I don’t have classes (something I specifically asked for), checks every line of my written Hindi for even small mistakes and does repeat drills for sections I am less confident in. He has been a great teacher to work with, anticipating my very specific grammar questions and giving me satisfying answers to literally each one of them. The online classes are via Skype with screen sharing and reviewing scanned homework which works perfectly fine and I was positively surprised! Zabaan gets both thumbs up for their services and I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who is serious about learning Hindi (and other languages).
Sindy Brücher-Sharma , 04 Apr 2014