PATNA: Even as the demand for a foreign language course is increasing among the boys and girls of the state, very few institutions here offer even a certificate or diploma course in foreign languages.
Even Patna University (PU) does not impart any training in foreign languages. Consequently, the aspirants are compelled to join some institutions outside the state for pursuing courses in foreign languages.
Academics say that a career in foreign language is an attractive proposition for those who have a flair for languages. With the globalization of Indian economy, multinationals coming to India and more and more companies going for joint ventures abroad, the job market for those proficient in foreign languages has opened up.
Academic qualifications in foreign languages helps in pursuing careers in the areas of tourism, entertainment, public relations and mass communication, international organizations, embassies, diplomatic service, publishing houses, BPO’s etc. Skills in foreign languages like French, German, Russian, Chinese and more recently Japanese, Spanish and Korean are in great demand.
Surprisingly enough, PU used to conduct certificate courses in French and German in the sixties and seventies and a large number of boys and girls used to join these courses. While PU English teacher Devi Das Chatterjee used to teach French, a German lady, wife of PU zoology teacher R K Sharan, used to engage German classes. Later, PU geology teacher Parwati Sharma, who has done her doctorate from France, also engaged French classes. In the early eighties, the certificate courses in these foreign languages had to be closed due to row over the rate of remuneration to the faculty.
Patna College English teacher and Sahitya Akademy Award winner Arun Kamal said that PU must revive courses in foreign languages keeping in view the present day demand. Magadh University has already been running courses in French, Chinese, German and Korean languages and all these courses have been attracting students. According to a study conducted by an international research company, there will be a demand for over two lakh foreign language professionals in the Indian offshoring industry by 2015.
PU English department former head S S Prasad also underlines the importance of acquiring proficiency in any foreign language saying it would provide jobs to our youths in different sectors both inside and outside the country. PU must start an institute of foreign languages soon to cater to the needs of the local youths, he said.