Learn Burmese

ကြာကြာဝါးမှခါးမှန်းသိ

Kja kja wa hma kha hmun thi.

Literal translation: A bitter taste is only apparent after chewing for some time. 

English equivalent: The true character of a person is only revealed after knowing them for a long time.

Burmese is a Sino-Tibetan language and the national language of Myanmar (formerly Burma, in English), where it is spoken natively by around 33 million people. Due to a large diaspora population, Burmese is also a key language in Indiana.

Did you know that Indianapolis is home to one of the largest Burmese communities in the United States, along with other Midwest cities like Fort Wayne and Minneapolis?

Regardless of your career or course of study, from medicine to law and education to non-profit work, learning Burmese can give you a leg up and connect you to a vibrant culture and community right here in Indiana.

SEAS offers four semesters of Burmese, or through the intermediate level, every year. 

Please see our current course offerings for the most up-to date list of classes, or write to seas@iu.edu for more information.