Burmese 3
UndergraduateANU-BURM20012025
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Start dates
- 17 Feb 2025
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Burmese 3
About this subject
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Use an active vocabulary of around 1,100 Burmese words in spoken and written forms.
- Reproduce Burmese pronunciation in Burmese script, including basic words drawn from Pali.
- Demonstrate grammatical knowledge of the spoken-style Burmese in short conversations on topics learned throughout the course.
- Read and write in a more sophisticated style of spoken Burmese with an awareness of formal and informal registers.
- Demonstrate an understanding of traditional culture and festivities including Buddhist related practices in Myanmar.
Each week students are expected to study for 6 hours as follows:
- 90 minutes in total, before each online class, working on the written and audio materials for the week, and, memorising the written and spoken forms of that week’s vocabulary
- 180 minutes in total, participate in two 90-minute online classes
- 90 minutes in total, completing online follow-up exercises regarding listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and vocabulary
It is also expected that students should spend at least 4 hours of individual study practising the week’s written and spoken language forms and vocabulary and reviewing feedback on their work.
- Lesson 1 A Special Glutinous Rice Making Event: Be curious. How to ask the name and nature of something. Try to experience various activities.
- Lesson 2 At a Library: Borrowing a book at the University’s library. Can you describe the interior conditions of the room?
- Lesson 3 Weddings: Let’s learn about Burmese weddings and their customs. How can we describe the clothes they are wearing?
- Lesson 4 Sports: What are Myanmar people’s favourite sports? Sports related vocabulary plus useful expressions when driving a car.
- Lesson 5 Ordination of One’s Son as a Novice: Deepen your knowledge of the Burmese Buddhist tradition. Also let’s learn how to say ‘before ….. ’and ‘after ….. ’.
- Lesson 6 Burmese New Year: Now you can talk about the new year ‘water festival’ in Burmese. Also let’s learn how to say ‘now’ and ‘then’.
- Lesson 7 Animals: Are you keeping animals at home? Talk about life with your pet. Some animal related culture in Myanmar will be introduced here.
- Lesson 8 Folk Tales: Exploring Burmese folk tales. Let’s learn some informal expressions and styles.
- Lesson 9 The Watering Banyan Trees Festival Held in the Month of Kason: This is another ‘water festival’ and an important Buddhist tradition. Several varieties of expression for wishing and hoping will be introduced here.
- Lesson 10 Funerals: If you attend a funeral in Myanmar and don’t know how to behave ….. How to ask a question and seek advice from a superior.
- Lesson 11 Learning Cooking: How to describe objects and actions when cooking. Some informal/friendly expressions will also be introduced.
- Lesson 12 The Rainy Season Has Begun: Why do people in Myanmar love the rainy season? Let’s learn about it through using words related to weather forecasts.
This course builds upon the skills and knowledge achieved in Burmese 2. Students will expand their knowledge of the spoken-style Burmese and most of its grammatical expressions. Upon completion of the course, students will gain more sophisticated spoken and written language skills.
In this course, students will look deeper into Myanmar’s traditional and changing lifestyles in recent years including activities at weddings, funerals and seasonal festivities. Folktales, stories of Buddha’s life and Buddhist-related rituals such as ordinations as novices and meditation practices are also included in the course. Students should be able to express both appreciation and offer insightful discussions about Myanmar’s traditional culture.
By the end of the course, students will learn vocabulary related to the topics above, new spoken-style grammar and expressions. Students will use different registers for formal/informal languages and learn more advanced communication skills for situations at university and in the workplace.
The course often invites Burmese native speakers and Myanmar specialists as guests to enhance students’ speaking abilities and exposure to the language. Students will be encouraged to make a short presentation on the topics learned to the guests. Through these interactions, students will improve their Burmese receptive, interactive, and productive skills.
- 10 Weekly quizzes (15%)
- Mid Term Exam: (1) Listening, (2) Writing & Reading, (3) Composition and (4) Speaking (30%)
- Final Exam: (1) Listening, (2) Writing & Reading, (3) Composition and (4) Speaking (50%)
- Class Participation (5%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Australian National University is a world-leading university in Australia’s capital city, Canberra. With ties to the Australian Government, they have special standing as a resource for the Australian people. Their approach to education ensures graduates are in demand the world-over for their abilities to address complex contemporary challenges. Offering innovative online subjects from beginning to advanced levels through Open Universities Australia, they meet varied students’ needs and goals.
Learn more about ANU.
Explore ANU courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 4
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 4
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
Additional requirements
- Equipment requirements - To successfully engage in this course students will need the following: • Laptop or computer • Computer camera (either inbuilt or webcam) • Headset with microphone • Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome browser • Reliable internet access • Access to a scanner or smartphone
- Other requirements - Please make sure your computer and devices can read Unicode Burmese font. This is a fast paced academic course at a University level To have completed ANU Burmese 2 or to have equivalent knowledge.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.