It seems like a fashion to learn a new language, but can it be put to any use? Reena Jhaveri finds out
Like we said earlier, it almost seems like a fashion for a student to enrol for at least one foreign language course while still in college. And sometimes it is at the behest of the parents, or a friend. You enrol and invest a sum, but you know what, it might not be all futile! With the internet, communication has become so easy that a multitude of opportunities has opened up in several spheres. Some of these are such that one could not even have thought about them a decade or two ago.
A simple example would be all the dubbed movies and TV shows that we are watching, the book translations that we are reading, not to mention all the exotic food that is doing rounds of the country’s food map! It is a fact that the world is shrinking, and for those in the world to come closer, one aspect needs to be taken into consideration – the most important means of communication – language!
The world over, people are trying to understand each other, and for that, knowing a common language is necessary. Barriers can be broken with knowing even a few words of a language, it becomes essential to understand correctly. So, yes, if you think you have a flair for languages and want to experiment with one of the foreign languages, rest assured you will be able to find work later. Knowledge of a new language can open exciting possibilities to a satisfying and well-paying career. With the increasing number of courses on offer and registrations for courses going up, it is already being seen that the demand is going up.
There are work options in the organised sector, but a lot of the work goes uncharted in the unorganised sector. A large amount of work happens in the unorganised sector, with personal coaching and tutoring for groups.
One has to understand that without formal training in the language, you cannot move ahead. So yes, you have to pursue a course – even if you take one online. Within the city, there are many options to learn various languages, and in some of these languages the University of Mumbai offers a degree. However, a degree is not as necessary in this field as much as knowledge is.
Several kinds of courses available can be pursued along with another formal degree. The eligibility should be looked into depending on the language, and apply accordingly. Needless to say, to apply for a degree programme you need to have passed your class 12 exams and then can apply for an undergraduate programme which will then pave the way for a postgraduate programme for those who wish to study further.
Often, aspirants join the primary level of a particular language course and then go ahead with each advance level. These are courses offered by established private institutes, and can offer a tremendous amount of exposure to the students. These are diploma and certificate courses.
Candidates should however look into certain personality traits that might be helpful to make a career in this field. You should have a sense of responsibility since one wrong word in a translation could make or break things. Apart from that, you should have a pleasing personality and excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills since you will be working with people all the time. It is your skill that will matter in the end, if you win over one client, you are bound to get more work by way of personal recommendation and word-of-mouth.
The advantage is that there is no timeline (like regular degree programmes) to learning a new language, it can be done at any time. A few institutes in Mumbai include:
Shabana Khan, Pursuing his diploma in German
It is a myth that a foreign language is difficult to grasp. I feel that for most Indians, this would not be a problem since we already know at least two languages including English and Hindi. If we can appreciate that each language has its own rules of grammar, spelling and sentence construction, the learning becomes easier. All you need is to get out of the ‘marks mentality’ and focus on the learning. If you are determined, nothing can stop you!
Although I speak Hindi and English very well, my Marathi and Urdu are passable. I started learning German last year, and I am enjoying the process thoroughly, even if it does get taxing at times. German grammar poses a lot of challenges, and initially I found it difficult to translate my thoughts from English to German and vice versa. Slowly and gradually, instead of translating, I started thinking in German and planning my sentences in the language. It was difficult at first, but as I got the hang of it, it became easier. That is one of the most important aspects of learning a new language, I think. The faster you start thinking in that language, the better it will be. Think about it – when you talk in your mother tongue, do you need to translate from another language?
With business opportunities growing across border, aspirants can choose from several work profiles. Once you start mastering the language, you can work as an interpreter, where you are a part of a live conversation and articulating each party’s thoughts to the other. Other than that, there are options for translators, where in even the written word matters a lot, especially for documents and short articles. Google translate does not work everywhere! For this work profile, it really helps if you also pick up the nuances of the cultures and the country where the language originates.
In India, it is possible to offer integrated services all in one package for each language, and so these providers need to employ trained professionals. Options exist with the respective consulates and also other agencies which deal in this kind of work. Several of the institutes which offer courses also have work demands where an aspirant can fit in. In the education sector there are openings for teachers and trainers.
If you get good, there are also options to travel to these far-off lands with your job. There are openings for translators and interpreters to travel with business heads. A whole new area as opened up where several experts are offering cultural trips to these cities and learning the language and culture through these trips.
In fact, even students need translations often, especially foreign students for their research work. There are many organisations which provide dedicated services to this effect and so there are options there as well.
The remuneration will be in accordance to the work expected. The field, overall is a well-paying one. Professionals can earn Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 60,000 pm, depending on the work profile.
Ayesha Menon, TYBA student
I have already done a few levels of French and have some exposure to German from learning it during junior college. I am also trying to pick up a bit of Spanish via a learning app, since I do not find the time to invest in a new course right now. My family keeps saying that it might open up a career option for me, but the general advice is that I should focus on one language only, rather than dip my feet in many waters. Is that true?
Our counsellor answers: That is a very unique problem you have there, and my thoughts match with the other professionals I spoke to about this. I think you do not need to fear about that right now. At this stage, if you are able to focus on two or more languages at the same time, you should. You never know what opportunities might come your way later! Of course the advice you have is not wrong, since mastering one language will make you more powerful in it, but that does not mean you do not have the potential in another language! In fact, I know of a foreign language teacher who has mastered 18 languages!
I feel that you should be focussed on what you want to do in future and network your way around the institutes you study in, and look up the internet for options and opportunities. I strongly advise you to continue your pursuits of all the languages!
