CHITRALEKHA

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2012 MUMBAI

You might not be aware of the fact that 21 countries have Spanish as their main language and their mother tongue…66 crore people speak Spanish. In the USA, after English, Spanish is the second language.

When you learn Spanish, it means that you have understood and learnt 50% of French, 60% of Italian and 80% off Portugese.People who know Spanish can travel and survive easily in Europe without any knowledge the English language.

Okay, is there any monetary gain in learning Spanish?

Yes…meet a 65 year old gentleman Mr. Jayant Natu, a resident of Dombivali; Mumbai.

At present, he is a Spanish professor at the Somaiya College, Mumbai.

Mr. Jayant Natu tells Chitralekha that he used to work in a chemical company in the production department. About 6 years ago, he happened to hear a Spanish song. He could not understand the language, but the words were so sweet that he was determined to understand the Spanish language.

He met up with the Spanish teacher, Mr.Dinesh Govindani and did up to 3 levels of the Spanish language.

Post retirement, he started working as a faculty member. Teaching the Spanish language, I started another career in my life.

In short, the work is something I like and the money is something I love.

Due to globalization, internet, facebook etc the world is shrinking at an alarming pace. In our country, not only French and German, but Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Italian people have gone up, infact, zoomed high. Jayant Natu’s Spanish teacher Mr. Dinesh Govindani, runs an institution in Andheri, a suburb of Mumbai, named”ACADEMIA DE ESPAÑOL”.

On entering the institute, at a glance, you can see a number of youngsters and collegians involved in various activities related to the Spanish language and culture.

Some students are in the class studying with the Spanish instructors.

Some are on the computers, looking or working through the interactive CD’s.

Some are in the library section, reading Spanish novels and the others watching Spanish movies and moving over it at their convenience.

On the wall of thee institute, there are photographs of Mr.Dinesh Govindani with various celebrities.

-One such photograph is of the president of a Latin American, Spanish speaking country-another is on the Indian Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan.

Last year, the movie,”Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” s star Hrithik Roshan was also a student of Mr.Dinesh Govindani. A major part of the film was shot in Spain and has many Spanish incidents, anecdotes, events and the language too.

Spanish teacher, Mr.Dinesh Govindani’s roots can be traced to Sindh, Pakistan.But, after partition, they settled in Spain and later Mumbai.

Mr.Dinesh was born, brought up, educated and started his career in Spain. He was always involved in and with the education section. His wife, Mrs.Vidya Govindani is from Mumbai, but both his children are born in Spain. To ensure an Indian upbringing, the family shifted to Mumbai.14 years ago and settled here. He started a new career afresh of teaching in Mumbai.

Mr. Dinesh Govindani tells Chitralekha that:

“In those days, there were very few people interested in learning the Spanish language and it was really difficult. It was like hitting your head against the wall trying to make people understand the importance of Spanish language.

A Spanish class had been started in the Mithibai College in Mumbai. We even conducted Spanish classes at our home.Today, majority of the International schools teach Spanish as a language.Career-wise, if you join a school/ College as a Spanish teacher, you can earn up to 40,000- 50,000 per month.

Mr. DG adds that Indians have started travelling the world and become globe trotters. They have realized thee meaning and importance of learning foreign languages.

Europe and majority of the American countries have a hard core importance of the Spanish Language.

If there is an Indian professional, a doctor, an MBA etc who has an in depth knowledge and speaks Spanish can stand to earn much more than their counter parts and contemporaries. Even Spanish – speaking call –centre employee tends to earn more than his colleagues.

In fact, you can earn as a Spanish interpreter and translator. One word translated can earn you rs.2.

Indian pharma, textiles Companies conduct big business in Latin American countries. The business correspondences, letters, documents, have to be translated in the Spanish language.

The business Spanish trade –terms used require special training which is also taught by Mr.Dinesh and Mrs.Vidya.

If your business is with Latin American or European countries, it is essential to learn and know the Spanish language.

If you are able to communicate with the person in is mother-tongue, your business is automatically bound to increase in leaps and bounds.

Many diamond merchants and jewelers also learn the Spanish language.

Spanish Speaking students can get good jobs as Spanish tourist guides.

Last year, there was a great demand for Spanish speaking interpreters and translators during the common wealth games held in New Delhi. Similarly, Spanish speaking interpreters and translators earn, about Rs.4000/- to Rs.5000/- daily, working with foreign businessmen.

But, the money earning angle for Spanish speaking people is from the film industry. According to Mr. DG, bollywood and south Indian films as the market Is Europe and Latin American countries.

There are many Indians who have settled in Europe and Latin American countries, whose children do not speak Hindi, but speak Spanish fluently. Our Indian films need to be dubbed in Spanish. This is a big money spinner and earns good money.

We have dubbed and sub-titled for a no. of Hindi films. E.g.-Spanish Masala and Kites.

Hmmm…How is Spanish to learn and understand? (Asks Chitralekha)

Mr. DG says that Spanish is just 26+4= 30 alphabets.

Also, as you write, you pronounce- It is phonetically spoken and thus is easy to understand and learn. Spanish grammar is like Indian languages and has 3 genders.

Roots of Spanish language cane traced to Indian languages.

E.g.: Shirt is “Camisa” in Spanish.

Almari is “Armario”

“Pagar” in Spanish is to pay somebody.

Thus, in short, a person who can speak and understand English- Hindi can learn Spanish easily.

On the career front, you can become a member of the Spanish business Association, Spanish Consulate, Travel companies etc.

Your pay pocket depends on your networking.

Samir Paleja

Translated by Vishakha M. Modi

Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

THURSDAY JANUARY 12, 2012 MUMBAI

A small classroom in Amboli has a group of children , six years and above, learning the rudiments of Spanish. A table in front has common Indian fruits, each bearing a sticker with its Spanish name. The little ones speak Espanol with the correct accent as well.

Parents, eager to put a foreign language on their child’s resume, start early these days. “Spanish is becoming popular with families who travel to Latin America or have businesses there and want their children to take over in future,” says Vidya Govindani who teaches at the Academia Espanol in Amboli . “Most students are between six and 12 but some parents bring tiny tots as little as two and say they want them to learn Spanish even as they pick up English.”

Her husband Dinesh, who owns the academy, says they pay proper attention to diction, not just vocabulary. “Since the script is the same as English, it becomes easier for kids to grasp the language,” he says. The academy charges Rs 7,000 for 25 one-hour lessons and Rs 15,000 for home tuition.

French has been part of the curriculum in Mumbai’s schools for decades but the emergence of the dragon as the world’s fastest growing economy has seen Chinese gaining ground.

Binal Shah runs Nin Hao classes in Chinese at Veera Desai Road. “Chinese definitely gives one’s resume an edge. Indians are doing large-scale business with China but language is such a barrier that they often need to hire interpreters which is a very expensive proposition. So parents, who are aware of new-age employment opportunities in that country or already have business interests there, like their children to start young. They know there are places in China where people will not answer you unless you speak their language, even if they do know English,” she says.

Shah rates Mandarin a full 10/10 on a scale of difficulty but is amazed to see how soon 14- and 15-yearolds grasp the tongue if they start early.

The module costs around Rs 14,000 and equips students to find their way around an airport in China , order for food or ask for directions.

Rashmi Desai teaches Japanese to kids “who come for the fun of it. They do not really know what benefit this language will bring them. Some are influenced by cartoon characters on television, others because they are learning karate which is a Japanese martial art. Many already know a few words in Japanese although they may not know what they mean. Karate students, for instance, can say numbers from one to 10,” she says.

Desai’s Nikko Japanese class holds examinations in conjunction with the Japan Foundation and papers are sent to that country for correction. “The kids are so proud when they receive certificates from Japan congratulating them for having done well,” she laughs.

Devesh Tendulkar of Tendulkar’s Institute, Dadar, receives enquiries for Chinese, French and German. “Knowledge of a foreign language boosts any resume . Moreover, parents also see the winds of the global economy blowing in the direction of these countries,” he says.

Bella Jaisinghani                       

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Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2011 MUMBAI

There is much more to foreign languages, than interpreting and translating. Dubbing, providing subtitles for films, doing voice-overs and of course, teaching in prominent foreign languages can pay you more than Rs.50,000 per month. The demand of professionals speaking foreign languages in sectors like the corporate sector or the hotel industry is only growing.

Spanish
“There is always a requirement of Spanish translators and interpreters who co-ordinate and make things easy for those who belong to the corporate world, and don’t know the language. Freelance translators are needed by multi-national companies on a regular basis, even for housewives, learning Spanish is a good deal, as you can work from home,” says Dinesh Govindani, Spanish tutor.He listed out other fields where Spanish is important. They are the hotel industry, shipping industry, navy and the film industry (subtitles, voice over, dubbing).

Chinese
Prashant Gangar, proprietor, Global Education Institute believes that Chinese is significant for those who deal in import and export. He says, “Chinese manufactured items, be it gift items or electronics are exported to India. People in this particular sector can do better business if they can speak and understand Mandarin, a Chinese dialect.” He also maintains that to be able to communicate properly can make you more approachable and preferable to other clients.

Russian
“Students, especially medical students who find it difficult to get a seat in Indian medical colleges, can easily get placed in medial institutes in Russia as the Russian MBBS degree is equivalent to that of India,” explains Gangar. He also adds that biomedical students who speak Russian can study in Russia.

German
German language has been mandatory for all those who belong to the aviation industry. “A tourist guide is a great option available for all those who can converse in German. Tourism in European countries is a lucrative career prospect, and Indians who speak German are always a step ahead,” says Gangar.

Japanese and French
Gangar also adds, “Learning languages like Japanese and French will fetch you lucrative and high paying jobs in multi-national companies. Software engineers who are fluent in French and
Japanese naturally have more opportunities in the field .”
Credit:DNA Correspondent

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Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

MONDAY JULY 11, 2011 MUMBAI

LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE FOR A BETTER CAREER

With the advent of new technologies and globalisation, the world is definitely a smaller place. Anita Seth takes a sneak preview on how learning a new language can help you communicate effectively and augment your career

What would you do if someone greets you and says ‘Hola’ in Spain, ‘Bonjour’ in France, ‘Hallo’ in Germany and ‘Aloha’ in Hawaii? If one is not familiar with generic greetings, most of us would just smile back and acknowledge the same.

Importance of learning

“Learning a new language ensures trouble-free travelling and an enriching experience. It not only helps appreciate a new culture but also opens a door for better employment opportunities” says Giola Rodrigues, public relations director, Instituto Hispania. “It’s nice to have additional knowledge of any European language. There are various Italian companies coming to India. They look for candidates with foreign language skills, which in turn, facilitate better communication” quips Manoj Bhatkar, business manager, The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Challenges involved

“Learning anything new requires both patience and practice and when you try your hand at the spoken lingo. The ease or difficulty with which you master a language depends on personal necessity” says Rodrigues. Though individual caliber matters, right training and coaching is what counts. Dinesh Govindani, director, Academia Espanol feels, “While learning Spanish, one can learn 50% French, 60% Italian and 80% Portuguese with ease.”

Teaching methodology

“We exercise a communicative approach of teaching and introduce the language through interaction. Equal importance is given to all areas of competence: writing, reading, speaking and listening by effectively using various tools to make learning an enriching experience” says David Cordina, director of studies, Alliance Fran?aise de Bombay.

Careers and scope

Learning a new language has many advantages. One can look at working in diplomatic services or as teachers, translators, interpreters and even tourist guides. “Most institutes offer language courses from basic to advanced levels. Overall results are better if one pursues long term courses than vacation batch courses” shares Geetanjali Gopalan, trustee, Study Centre of Foreign Languages. There is always a need for foreign language experts in MNC’s, hospitality/ tourism industry, schools and colleges. “Many of our students are house wives who undertake foreign language courses, as the need for translators is on the rise” ends Govindani.

Overseas advantage

“When visiting countries like Europe, Denmark, Norway, Austria and Czech Republic, considerable knowledge of Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, German and Czech languages helps you explore the place. In Hong Kong and Singapore, knowledge of Chinese along with English is useful” adds Xavier Augustin, president and CEO of Y-Axis Overseas.

He further adds, “Candidates over the age of 35, when studying, lose points since they’re over-aged. Therefore, it is advisable to be fluent when learning alanguage. This helps make up for the marks lost.” As the old saying goes, ‘While in Rome do as the Romans do’, it’s time to learn the ABC of a new language.

Institutes teaching foreign languages:

University of  Mumbai and Delhi

Barathiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai

Indo – Italian Chamber of Commerce, Mumbai

Japanese Information and Cultural Center, New Delhi

Indo-Japan Chamber Of Commerce and Industry, Chennai

Alliance Françaises de Bombay

Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai

Cultural Centre of Russia, Mumbai

Academia De Español, Mumbai

Instituto Hispania, Mumbai

Study Centre of Foreign Languages, Mumbai

Anita Seth

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Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 MUMBAI

THE MORE THE MERRIER

BY AMI GANDHI

Mastering a foreign language can be beneficial in more than one ways

English has become a global communication tool but knowledge of other foreign languages is also becoming vital, thanks to the rapid globalization. With increasing international relations, being proficient in a foreign language is becoming a definite advantage. Some people believe that knowledge of various languages helps in an overall development of an individual while others wish to master the different lingos simply for the love of languages. Global economy has brought many foreign companies who are setting shop inIndia. Also,Indiacontinues to expand its export to various foreign firms, professionals trained in the particular foreign language are the need of the day. “For this purpose, knowledge of foreign languages will be in great demand in the coming years and keeping in mind the growing investment of foreign firms in Indian market, the demand of language experts continues to rise,” says Sandip Gupte, director of Professional Foreign Language Centre. Despite the growing demand, there is a huge dearth of foreign language professionals inIndia.

ELIGIBILITY

• Some of the major languages that are taught inIndiaare French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese and Persian.
• The candidate should have completed 10 + 2 in any discipline for enrolling for a Bachelor’s degree in a foreign language which is a three year full time program.
• After completion of the Bachelor’s course, one can opt for M.A, M.Phil and Ph.D program in foreign language.
• One can also opt for Diploma or certificate courses of 6 months to 1 year.

Proficiency in any foreign language will not only enrich communication at international level but opens more channels and avenues making an Indian student well equipped and competitive. “Languages not only fill up one’s knowledge bank, it also helps to interact smoothly with people from different nations. Knowledge in more foreign languages enhances employability skills,” says Dinesh Govindani, an instructor and founder of Academia De Español, a Spanish teaching institute. Foreign language is being considered as an additional advantage for students at the time of interview. People with multilingual skills are given preference by several companies. “Second language always enhances a student’s resume. If a resume includes 4-5 different languages it’s an upper hand which increases the chances of an individual to get selected in an international or a multinational company,” says Govindani.

Scope:

There is a great scope for foreign language seekers with excellent job opportunities. According to Gupte, “From the perspective of finding a job, foreign languages serves to be an extra credential for a student as a mere graduation degree does not help these days.

The employment options are available in:

-          Teaching

-          Translators in industries, government sectors and research organizations.

-          Data interpreters

-          Tourist guides

-          Air hostesses

-          Hotel services, in various levels of hotel management

-          Freelancers, content writers

-          Public relation officers

Myth:

According to the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) World Fact Book, only 5.6 % of the world’s total population speaks English as a primary language. The number doubles when people who speak English as a second or third language are counted. This estimate proves that over four-fifths of the world’s population does not speak English. “Learning foreign languages does not mean learning English alone. The main purpose of learning a foreign language is to be able to reach to the international community and also contribute by expanding trade and cultural and social relationship with the people of other countries and India,” says Sandip Bhattacharya, principal and director of El Dorado Academy, a language training service institute.

Importance of foreign languages:

- Improves employment potential

Companies that plan to do business abroad have a need for bilingual or multilingual employees. Knowing languages gives an edge over monolingual applicants.

- Enhances Education

Many colleges have a foreign language as an optional subject. Opting for different language can increase his/her knowledge and can help a student to score well in exams.

- Expands study abroad options

Many students believe that their language proficiency isn’t adequate, or that they wont be able to fit in or understand the culture and therefore they don’t apply for foreign institutes but knowing a language can make one a better suited candidate for studying abroad.

- Builds contacts

One’s ability to speak other languages and interest in other cultures can connect an individual deeply with people around the globe.

- Makes travel easy

If one knows the native language, then he/she can successfully find the way in all sorts of situations while traveling abroad.

- Increases global understanding

For survival in the global community, a person must be competent in other languages so that he/she can bridge the gap between cultures. Without an ability to communicate and understand a culture there is misunderstanding and a lack of inter-cultural sensitivity can lead to mistrust.

Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2010 MUMBAI

AROUND TOWN

Babel wrap

There are more foreign languages being taught in the city that you can shake a phrasebook at, says Zeenat Nagree

Young Mumbai executives, trotting around the globe as they steadily rise up the corporate ladder, are now learning to say bon jour, hola, ni hao, and guten tag, all in the same sentence. They are finding lucrative jobs in hotel management, tourism, information technology, business and knowledge process outsourcing, market research and finance. They’re also fitting into a world that has become a global village by communicating with foreign clients in the language of their choice. As new jobs are generated, languages that were once inaccessible are now often only a weekend course away.

Mandarin, which has the largest number of speakers in the world, began to be taught in the city with a course by the India China Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2004. It has since become a part of the curriculum of management colleges like the MET Institute of Management, the SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.

Prompting the ICCCI’s decision to introduce Mandarin programmes is the growing trade between India and China. Corporate houses like Tata, Mahindra & Mahindra and Standard Chartered Bank, which have business interest in China, have begun training their employees through the ICCCI and the association has witnessed a surge in enrollments since 2008. “It is a definitely useful tool to have in the business world,” said Madhavi Misra who works at consultancy firm Avalon, and deals with Chinese clients.

Japanese is also in demand among Mumbai’s engineers and managers employed in Japanese companies and among interpreters who are seeing a rise in business from Japan. The countries animation industry is also fuelling interest in the language as translators are often hired to help dub Japanese cartoons into local languages for Indian television. “Most people consider Japanese the toughest language in the world,” said 20 year old Shriya Pilgaonkar who took private lessons in the language when she was still in school. “But grammar and construction is very similar to Marathi, therefore easy for Mumbaikars.”

Spanish is fast finding takers in the city as Indian business interests in Latin American markets grow. “People are now aware that Spanish is the second-most-spoken language in the world,” said Dinesh Govindani, the founder of the 11-year- old Academia de Español, which teaches the language. With Spanish also on the curriculum of Mumbai’s International Baccalaureate Schools, Govindani said that he sees many teachers coming to learn Spanish.

Several privately run institutes offer training in a variety of other languages. They offer private coaching and double up as translation centres, offering job opportunities to the very students they teach. “Translation is great for those who want to make a career using a foreign language without having to travel outside of the city,” Amit Sakrani, founder of Excel Academy, which offers courses in nine languages and takes in only 6 students per batch. The Academy of Foreign Languages and Culture, run solely by polyglot Amrutha Joshi, teaches Dutch, Polish and Estonian in addition to French, Spanish and German and other languages. But few students ask for lessons in these.

The growth of Italian, which is taught at the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce, the University of Mumbai, KJ Somaiya College and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, hasn’t been as swift. Italian certificate courses, started in 2006 at The University of Mumbai, are still under the Department of French. There are only three batches a year and 20 people in each batch. But lecturer Roberto Bertilaccio, appointed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports “A growth in the number of students over the past 2 years.”

Of course, French and German still interest language learners. “Germanyis one ofIndia’s largest trading partners inEurope,” said Vaishali Karmarkar of the Goethe Institute, which trains students as well as employees of German companies like Bayer, Deutsch Bank and Siemens. The Alliance Française, which conducts courses in French, registers over 4000 students every year. Many students end up helping French companies set up inIndia. Joel Fernandez, who manages corporate affairs at a leading business house, interacts with French clients everyday. “Almost 90 percent of my interaction at work is in French,” he said. Like other foreign-language speakers in the city, Fernandez has learnt that, in a globalised world, it is imperative to understand what those around you are saying.

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Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

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Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2008 MUMBAI

LESSONS IN NEW TONGUES

Young professionals, students queue up to learn Spanish besides Japanese, Chinese.

Anna Biernat

Mumbai, June 29

For them, English is passé. Chinese, Japanese and Spanish are in.

To be a more active global player, many in Mumbai are heading to language schools. So it is Chinese for tourism and managers, Japanese for engineers, Spanish for call centers, French and German for workers of non-profit organizations.

“The demand for Chinese tutors inIndiais growing annually”, said Jenny Zelieng, assistant director of the India-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her unit that has been conducting Chinese classes since 2004 initially had about 15 students annually. Now, the number has grown to over 30.

Changing economic and power dynamics have prompted many to take up Mandarin in Mumbai. Job prospects for Chinese literates are on the rise, especially among software and travel and tourism professionals. “For them it is very important to know the basics of the language. Not only does it bridge the communication gap, it also creates a friendlier atmosphere,” said Zelieng.

Amit Kulshreshth, coordinator, Sensei Academy of Japanese Language in Kandivili seconds the view. “The growing interest in the language is due to the recent rise in Indo-Japanese trade. Engineers working with companies trading withJapanlearn the language to increase their professional potential,” said Kulshreshth.

“Mumbai alone has about eight Japanese language schools. The number of students learning the language is quite significant,” he said. In just over a year, the number of students at their academy has nearly doubled from 35 to 60.

Likewise, the popularity of Spanish is growing in recent years. “A decade ago, we started with about 50 students. Currently, we have 570. Every year, there is a 20 percent growth in the number of people wanting to take Spanish lessons,” said Dinesh Govindani, founder of the Academia de Español Language School and an accredited Spanish language instructor.

“Not only students, we also have working professionals from various backgrounds,” said Govindani.

Learning Japanese is my hobby, but with this level of interest, I’d like to be a teacher. I’m giving lessons to five students.

MONIDEEPA SRINIVAS (35),

Housewife, student of Japanese (intermediate level)

I’m going to Hong Kong to do an MBA. Though the course will be in English, knowing Chinese will definitely be helpful.

ARWIN SABARWAL (25),

Engineer, student of Chinese

I have been guiding people in English. Now, I would like to do it in Spanish as well. There’s a huge demand for guides knowing Spanish.

ABHAY SINGH SHEKHAWAT (26),

Tourist guide from Udaipur, completed first level Spanish

Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

TUESDAY AUGUST 1, 2006 MUMBAI

LINGUAL LINES

Language studies is taking an altogether new meaning with tailor made courses that help you keep up with the borderless market. Deepti Sivakumar talks to people who have carved a niche for themselves in the business of languages and finds out the opportunities that lie ahead.

“In the past, language meant literature; but now, language means business”, says Vaishali Karmakar, head, Marketing Corporate Sector, Max Mueller Bhavan, as she explains how language studies have evolved from a hobby to a career. “People world over are waking up to the reality that you can no longer limit yourself to your home country”, she adds.

Rajendra Anvekar, a creative translator says “In today’s times, a lot of transactions happen between countries. In such a scenario, knowing each other’s language makes the transaction simpler.”

To interact and do business with different countries, one needs to overcome communication which is a big hurdle. With scores of opportunities and an unsaturated market, a career in languages could prove exciting and rewarding. François Dupuis, director of studies at the Alliance Française de Bombay, agrees and elaborates, “A career in foreign languages is lucrative in today’s globalised work culture. There is a constant demand for translation of documents and interpretation services.” Apart from senior executives with MNCs and people working in the tourism and travel industry, the target group also includes people in the hospitality industry, export and international trade and also students interested in going abroad,” says AV Kokje, executive secretary, Indo-Japanese Association.

Sudden upsurge

Has language studies seen a sudden rise in demand recently? Language opens doors for several businesses, says Karmakar. Dupuis affirms saying, “There is a considerable rise in the number of Indians learning French over the years. To be specific, we have seen a 35 % rise in four years. Earlier people learnt the language as part of their education or as a hobby but today the demand has evolved due to the people migrating to Canada and the entry of the French companies/ BPO’s in India.” He also adds that there is a constant demand for French teacher, translators and interpreters.

Karmakar notes the changing trend and says, “Earlier we only had ‘hobby learners’ or people who came out of curiosity. Over the last few years, we have seen the trend change. Now, people come to add value to their resume and soft skills.” The Indo-Japanese Association has nine-month courses and Kokje informs that the response has been very encouraging. Though French and German have always been the top choices of students opting for foreign languages, Karmakar observes that ‘smart people also opt for Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.’

Course Content

The focus of the classes nowadays is essentially ‘communication’ and not just learning the alphabet and grammar, like it used to be. Since the purpose of learning has changed, from ‘hobby learning’ to learning with a view to adding to the resume. There are courses which are designed specially for business executives which teach how to handle business dealings in a particular language. Max Mueller Bhavan has a Business German course where you learn to handle everything from PowerPoint presentations to business negotiations in German. Karmakar calls it the ‘Capsule MBA’. This certification is valid internationally. There are also specially designed courses for translation and interpretation. “InIndiaand all over the world, it is a myth that if you can speak the language, you can translate it too. Translation is a science that needs to be taught,” says Karmakar.

Global village

“One reason why the Japanese are very protective of their market is their love for their land,” says Kokje. “Being oriental countries,IndiaandJapanhave a lot in common,” he adds. Easy communication helps in ironing out differences. Understanding the cultural difference, respecting them and communicating with them in their own language will definitely help the business relations. Karmakar asserts that ‘to succeed, you have to be a global player.’

“Dinesh Govindani, language instructor, translator and head, Academia de Español agrees with the ‘global village’ view. “Organizations are exporting their products and importing materials from all over the map, requiring them to interface with people from different countries, different cultural backgrounds and speaking different languages,” he says. Govindani, who has been teaching Spanish for 17 years, explains the importance of Spanish in today’s circumstances, “For companies looking to expand outside the English-speaking world, knowledge of Spanish is essential.”

Different career opportunities

The opportunities in this field are endless, and the exciting part is that the field is still growing. While earlier the choices were probably limited to teaching, now the various career options are: translation, interpretation, language instructing, and corporate networking. Freelancers can also offer dubbing, voice over and translation services for movies and serials. Anvekar who translates for engineering and pharma companies feels that knowledge of a technical subject in addition to the language gives you an edge. “Subject knowledge adds value to your service,” he adds. Govindani offers services which include translation, interpretations, corporate language instruction, and business networking services. Corporate language instruction is also a vast field to explore. Many companies require their employees to be trained in a particular language if their client demands it. Siemens’ employees undergo a six month intensive training programme in German. “Corporates are now realizing how important communication is in any form of business,” concludes Karmakar.

Inter cultural sensitization

Most of these language schools do not stop with just teaching you the language. The Alliance Française offers opportunities for people all around the world to discover French culture. Max Mueller Bhavan also has inter-cultural sensitization programmes for Germans working inIndiaas well as Indians working in German companies. “The idea is to acclimatize Germans to our culture and our people to theirs so they can cooperate and coexist more comfortably,” says Karmakar.

There are so many issues while working with people from different cultural backgrounds, that communication is often misinterpreted. It is important to decode even basics like body language. “Cultural issues are like lubricants to a vehicle,” says Karmarkar. “You don’t notice it when everything is working fine; you only find out when something goes wrong,” she recalls from a quote.

                                                                                                           s_deepti@dnaindia.net

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Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months

MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2003 MUMBAI

Proficiency in a foreign language increases job options and broadens your horizons, says Uma Keni Prabhu

When Marfik Kamat left theatre to learn Japanese, her only interest then, was to learn” a new language, new culture and a different way of life.” Her passion soon blossomed into a full time and a rewarding career. Today Kamat has her own Academy ofJapanese Language and Culture, trains about 400 students annual­ly and makes a decent pay packet. ‘Knowledge of foreign languages and cul­tures is not a hobby any more. It is an increasingly essential skill in many career fields,” she says confidently.

That a language is now learnt less as a hobby and more as a skill to be used for career advancement is quite evident. Consider these facts: Global business is increasingly becoming the rule. Sophisticated communications technology is fast breaking down barriers between countries and uniting different cultures. Studying a foreign language either as a primary or a supplementary job skill may therefore be the key to carving out a good career or getting that much awaited promotion. “Knowing a second language is a major asset to people looking for jobs,” observes Patrick DEYVANT, director, Alliance Francaise de Bombay (AFB).

Advertisements that appear in various newspapers indicate this trend distinct­ly: Business Process Outsourcing companies ask for executives “who are fluent in European languages? Export Promotion Councils want “consultants to provide foreign language related services” Multinationals hunt for experienced web developers, web designers, and web market researchers skilled in foreign lan­guages, and publishing houses look for content writers and editors for deliver­ing quick, competitive and quality translations.

The pattern is obvious. The study of languages is an exciting and mind expand­ing career option. “In today’s global market, the career opportunities for stu­dents who have acquired skills in one or more foreign languages are virtually limitless/’remarks Nandini Kotwal, teacher, Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai (MMB). Naturally, many between 16 and 60 years of age and above are quick to respond to this new reality, albeit for different reasons. At AFB prospective Canadian immigrants form a large chunk of students. “They do French to be able to answer the Test d’ Evaluation (TEF),” Abirami lyer, librarian, explains. The Canadian consulate follows a certain point system to issue visas for immigrants, and the knowledge of French helps. According to AFB’s education counselor Niloufer Solar, people also learn French to be able to study inFrance.Francehas turned into a popular destination for quality education and offers highly specialized courses like an MBA in wine making and aerospace.

The reason for the mad rush at the MMB is almost identical. About 30 percent students learn German because they want to study engineering, research, medicine inGermany, where education is absolutely free and state of the art.  Approximately 10 per cent wish to do hotel management in Austria, 20 percent work for German companies like Lufthansa, Siemens, Deutch Bank and need to be prepared to live in Germany, and 30 percent of the students are IT professional working on various German projects. IT is still computer geeks’ passport to greener pastures on the other side of the globe. They can straight away get a work permit of up to five years inGermanyand the knowledge of German in an asset. Even the Japan Foundation has announced La financial assistance for IT professionals, who want to study Japanese. Only about 10 per cent learn a language as a hobby, and may get into teaching, translation and/or interpretation as freelancers or full timers.

It takes about five years and an investment of about Rs 50,000 to master a foreign language. One can either opt for a three-year or a five-year integrated graduate course after the 12th standard or take courses offered by cultural centers attached to embassies. These are basic as well as advanced courses and there are no pre-requisites. “But how much time, effort and money one wants to invest depends upon the individual,” says Leela Lall, former director, the British Institute of Languages. “A good memory, discipline, concentration, and consistent work habits help.”

“In addition, a fairly good command over one’s own mother tongue, ease o ken expression, absence of stage shyness or speech defects, good public relations, a good deal of curiosity and awareness of public life, habit of travelling are desirable emphasises Y.C Devadhar, a Latin languages expert.

The demand for language expertise is in different areas like media and publishing, banking and finance, travel and tourism, technical and engineering, information technology, hospitality business, voluntary social organisations. Kotwal talks of several publishing houses in Chennai which have tie ups with renowned German publishing houses and translate volumes of dictionaries and encyclopedias from German to English.  They hire students who translate and send the written material online toGermany. Experts there evaluate and send it back for printing. These student work for five hours a day and make up to Rs.15, 000/- a month.

DEYVANT recollects how an American company that had plans to start about 40 call centers inIndiahad AFB for French-speaking students. In another instance a multinational wanted translators for their websites.”They pay up to Rs 60,000 for this kind of job. For people here this is big money, and for the multinationals getting the job done here is almost three times cheaper than elsewhere.” Guided excursion tours to museums, shopping malls, etc. require personnel with language skills.  Even ITDC and MTDC today prefer tourist guides with foreign language skills and pay them well.  Recently, ITDC paid about Rs 900 per day to tourist guides with Japanese skills, who had accompanied a Japanese delegation to the historical Ajantha and Ellora caves.  Since many German tourists come to Rajas than andGoaby chartered flights, MMB has started a special course called Tourist Guide German.

United Nations is the largest employer of translators, editors, and interpreters.  It also employs professional economists, educationalist, financial analysts, public information officers, librarians, and continuously needs bilingual clerical and secretarial staff.  The demand for language expertise is high even in the NGO sector.  Dinesh Govindani, Spanish teacher with the Study Centre of Foreign Languages narrates the case of a NGO from Spain that that undertaken developmental work in Gujarat to rehabilitate earthquake victims.  “They hired interpreters at Rs. 2, 500 for eight hours,” says Govindani.  Archana Bansal of Surabhi Foundation for Research and Cultural Exchange agrees. “We keep needing services of interpreters for our exchange programmes.”

Interpreters and translators play a great role in international communication. Interpreting deals with oral communication, and translation with writ­ten materials. Professional translators and inter­preters find jobs with governments, international agencies, conferences, publishers and the business world. Interpreters must make quick and continu­ous judgments about what is being said in the for­eign or ‘source’ language, and render it simultaneously or consecutively into the ‘target’ language. There is little or no time to weigh alternatives. Simultaneous Interpretation is given idea-by-idea, or phrase-by-phrase, as the speaker continues to talk. This technique requires speed and fluency, and is made possible by the use of electronic equip­ment. This is considered to be more difficult. In Consecutive Interpretation the speaker and inter­preter take turns speaking. A consecutive interpreter must have a good memory, and generally needs to take notes of what is said to be certain to give a complete rendering. Conference Interpreters serve at international meetings, seminars and dis­cussions. The main languages used at such confer­ences are English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Escort Interpreters accompa­ny visiting delegations or individuals and interpret for them, generally in informal situations. These are in great demand in the area of international busi­ness, as they often accompany businessmen traveling abroad for negotiations. An Interpreter gets anything between Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per 8 hours, depending upon his level of understanding of the language and the subject he/ she is dealing with. Translators produce clear, accurate, and lucid account of everything from literary works to highly complicated technical reports. They should not only possess a thorough knowledge of the source language, but also the ability to grasp difficult ideas and concepts. There are ‘specialist translators; who have expertise in finance, literature, history, patents, and engineering. Experts charge Rs three per word for ‘source’ language to English translations and almost three times that amount if it is the other way round. Of the three categories – general, technical/ commercial and legal- the latter is the most difficult and most expensive. The charges are approximate­ly Rs seven per word. According to Govindani Spanish to English translation fetches one Rs. 200 per page if the number of pages is more than 10. “If you are good you can get to translate up to 100 pages a month.”

Teaching however is most preferred and for obvi­ous reasons. At MMB full time teachers get about Rs 40,000 a month and temporarily ones work for five hours a day and make up to Rs 25,000. Private coaching fetches you up to Rs 500 per hour and you have to teach for 160 hours. “Teaching is flexi time and even housewives can do it, says Govindani.

 Here’s a list of foreign language institutes:

• School of Languages,Jawahalal Nehru University,New Delhi
• Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL),Hyderabad
• Benares Hindu University, Varnasi
• University of Delhi
• Alliance Francaise de Bombay -2035993/2036187
• Max Muller Bhavan – 2027542/2022085
• Indo Japanese Association – 287 3027/ 84 4772
• Academia De Español – 26788930
• Italian Consulate – 3804071/3804073
• Cultural Centre of Russia- 495 2495
• British Institute -287 0755/2870756
• Studies Centre of Foreign Languages (SCOFL) -6114098/6172562
• Academy of Japanese Language and Culture  022-26844820 / 26820786
• Indo Italian Chamber of Commerce

Did you know that….

The largest market and economic block in the world today is the European Union – the two major economic powerhouse nations within the EU andFranceandGermany.  One of the EU nations with a rapidly growing economy is Spain.

Japan is today a world leader in many business and investment areas.

For most scientists, a reading knowledge of German is essential.

Government agencies and businesses the world over that deal with Hispanic immigrants, are looking for personnel, ranging from lawyers to health professionals, who speak Spanish.

France has the second greatest aeronautical industry in the world and is a leader in computer technology, telecommunications, and medical research. (Source: Internet)

Spanish is the second world language as a vehicle of international communication and the third as an international language of politics, economics and culture.

About 330 million people in the world speak Spanish as their first language and another 100 million people speak this as a second language.

Spanish is expected to be the first language of 50 percent of the population of theUnited Stateswithin the next 50 years.

Today Spanish is an official language of the UN and its institutions, the European Union and other international organizations.

Latin American countries are experiencing constant economic growth and because of that, are becoming more important as trading partners.

A large number of Latin American countries are on the verge of signing the North American (NAFTA), created by theUnited States,CanadaandMexico. (Source: Instituto Cervantes).

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Academia Espanol - Academia Espanol - Premier Spanish Training Institute - Learn Spanish in 2 Months