EarthDiverse > LANGUAGE COURSES > Tamil courses

TAMIL (தமிழ்) LANGUAGE COURSES:

Study Tamil (தமிழ்) with EarthDiverse!

OUR 2025 TERM 1 TAMIL COURSES BEGIN SUNDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2025. Register now!

Remember: It’s never too late to register for an EarthDiverse course. You can catch up by watching the live recorded videos!

SPECIAL OFFER: If you’re keen to begin your Tamil studies during Term 2 and Term 4 (when we don’t usually offer a Tamil 101 course), we offer a bundle which includes both Tamil 101 and Tamil 102: i.e. pay for the live Tamil 102 session for this Term and receive the Tamil 101 video recordings from the previous Term at 50% off! Email us for a 50% coupon code on the Tamil 101 video recordings. Please use the Contact link in the Menu Bar above and let us know which language you’d like to register for.

Tamil is the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a member of the Dravidian family of languages (which includes Malayalam and Telugu) and is the native tongue spoken by Tamils in South India, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Tamil is also spoken by significant minorities in the four other South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is also spoken by the Tamil diaspora globally, including South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Mauritius, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 75 million Tamil speakers globally, and the 2018 New Zealand Census reported 10,107 Tamil speakers in New Zealand.

Our Introductory Tamil (தமிழ்) course begins with a practical explanation of the Tamil language sound system to create a sense of assurance and confidence in learners right from the start. Our Introductory courses begin with a focus on learning the Tamil script, reading and writing practice, an introduction to Tamil grammar, vocabulary, and conversational practice. Subsequent Terms reinforce both reading and writing, and introduce additional grammar, vocabulary and conversation. Basic everyday vocabulary and expressions are taught, with a view to empowering learners to speak basic Tamil from the very beginning.

EarthDiverse currently offers the following Tamil language classes on a rotating and evolving basis, with new intakes of students in Tamil 101 beginning twice a year, in Term 1 (February) and again in Term 3 (July-August). 101 & 103 courses are offered in Terms 1 & 3 each year, and 102 & 104 courses are offered in Terms 2 & 4 each year. If you have some elementary understanding, you may consider starting in a 102 or 103 course as well. When completing one 8-week course, each cohort can begin advancing to the next course in the series.

NOTE: Tamil courses are offered pending sufficient enrolment. 

Currently offered courses appear in bolded blue text. All courses are offered pending sufficient student enrollment.

 

LOCATION: EarthDiverse Centre, 401 Anglesea Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton (see map on individual course pages), on-line via Zoom, or through video recordings of our live-streamed sessions posted 1-2 days after each class.

DISTANCE-LEARNING OPTIONS: Our Tamil courses offer distance learning options for those unable to attend classes in-person. Live-streamed classes are available via free Zoom software, or those unable to attend the date and time of the actual class sessions can watch the live-recorded video sessions on their computers, laptops, tablets or mobile devices and study at their own pace. These recorded sessions will be available soon after each class finishes so that you may watch the recorded video via any web-browser at your leisure. Your instructor will provide details on how to access your classes before your course begins.

COST PER PERSON PER TERM (8 one-hour classes):

  • Waged: NZ$200 per person per term (includes GST + online registration fee)
  • Unwaged (unemployed, students, seniors): NZ$175 (includes GST + online registration fee)

EarthDiverse offers the following Tamil language classes on a rotating basis:

TAMIL COURSES OFFERED IN 2025 TERM 1 (Feb-Apr) ARE:

TAMIL COURSES OFFERED IN 2025 TERM 2 (May-Jul) ARE:

  • Tamil 102: Introductory Tamil, Part 2 (Saturdays 4:30-5:30pm beginning 12 May 2024)
  • Tamil 202: Introductory Tamil, Part 4 (Sundays 6:00-7:00pm beginning 12 May 2025)
  • Please contact us if interested in higher level courses or individual tutorials. 

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON EACH COURSE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE APPROPRIATE TILE BELOW: