Hindi Language and Culture

"Language is the archives of history"
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hindi is the native language of over 450 million people worldwide and is on the U.S. State Department's list of critical languages. Hindi is an essential language of business, poetry, medicine, philosophy, and film. Over 800 Bollywood films a year are produced in Hindi, the national language of India, making it the largest film industry in the world.

Our Hindi classes are an informal way to learn the official language of India through conversation and activities.

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Hindi classes in Madison
Instructors for Hindi classes
What students are saying about our classes
Join the mailing lists for language programs

Hindi classes in Madison

Hindi language and culture 1: basic
Join us in an informal and relaxed atmosphere to learn the official language of communication of India's government. Approximately 450 million native speakers of Hindi live in India, with millions more across the globe. Learning the basics of Hindi can open a multitude of doors for you across the South Asian subcontinent.

Hindi language and culture 2: ongoing
Continue learning Hindi through a fast, interactive, and practical approach. Improve your listening and speaking skills, with increased emphasis on advanced conversation.

If you have questions, please contact the Hindi classes coordinator at anoguera@dcs.wisc.edu.

Browse upcoming Hindi classes in the Continuing Education Catalog online.

Textbooks for language classes are available for preview and purchase on campus in the University Book Store's lower level, in the outreach section. The University Book Store is located at 711 State St., Madison (at Lake St., on the Library Mall). See campus map.

Your instructors

Hindi classes are taught by Lalita Du Perron and Michael Kruse.

Lalita Du Perron (PhD) is associate director of the Center for South Asia at UW-Madison. She has taught Hindi for more than 10 years and believes everyone has the ability to expand their vision by learning a new language.

Michael Kruse (MA in South Asian Studies, UW-Madison) has studied Hindi and Urdu for many years, done research in India on North Indian religion, and served as a lecturer in the Dept. of Languages and Cultures of Asia.

What students are saying about our classes

"The course is very practical. You learn the basics to get you around in a travel situation. I enjoyed the course very much. It was both fun and the teacher was excellent."

"I really enjoyed this class-a great value. I feel like I have gotten a tax refund from the state. I particularly like the way that basic grammar and pronunciation was taught. The instructor was excellent and was very helpful."

"I want to thank you and Brajesh for a wonderful, wonderful class. I enjoyed it so much and learned a lot, and I think both of you are fantastic teachers. I would very happily take another course with you, so I'll look out for any more offered through continuing education."

How to register

Call 608-262-2451, 7:00 am-4:00 pm, M-F. Specific program numbers and links to the mail-in registration form or to register online can be found in the continuing studies catalog.

Contact us

Madison area registration questions: 608-262-2451.
UW-Madison Continuing Studies in Hindi coordinator Antonio Noguera: anoguera@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-5929.
Join the mailing list for Hindi or other language programs.
Review frequently asked questions about language programs.