When globalization was out of picture, it was enough to know just the mother tongue. Since globalization and out-sourcing have become part of life, there is a nagging need to learn new languages. Foreign languages help us to communicate with potential clients, sell our ideas and bond with their culture.
It could be opening doors to a new life, which you could not have done by refusing to learn a new language. There are so many languages. Here are some pointers that can help you decide the foriegn language you might want to learn in India.
Learning German
Next to the USA, Germany seems to be a potential target for academically driven people. The education system is very good and job opportunities are plenty. German, however, is not a very easy language to learn. The syntax is very different from English. Since very few people in Germany speak English, learning German has become a necessity, if you were to work or study there.
By learning German, you could be doing your PhD or working as a design engineer in a top technology company. Else, you could become an interpreter in government agencies such as external affairs and tourism.
Learning Spanish and French
If you are thinking about learning a language that will that will act as a magic wand to get access into many different countries for your job and business, learning either French or Spanish or both is an excellent idea. Spanish and French both have similar syntaxes as English. Spanish is easier and is more widely spoken than French is.
Learning Chinese and Japanese
Both of them can sound tough for those who have no idea regarding characters, tones and kanji. These two languages have a grammar a whole lot different from the regular ‘noun, verb, adjective, syntax’ kind of grammar. Interpreters and businesspersons learn Chinese and Japanese to further their horizons in the market and build relationships with their Chinese and Japanese counterparts.
Institutes for Learning, Duration and Fee for Foriegn Languages in India
| Language | Institute | Courses Offered | Duration | Fee |
| German | Goethe Institut | Level A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 certificates | Each level – 15 weeks | Rs. 10,400 to Rs. 11, 000 per level |
| French | Alliance Francaise | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 certificates spread over 5 levels | Level A1 to B1– 4 months to 6 monthsLevel B2to C2 – 8 to 10 months | Rs. 7,900 to Rs. 11,000 |
| Japanese | Nihongo-Bashi | Elementary Course and Advanced course,Training for Japanese Language Proficiency Test | 25 to 80 contact hours | Email for fee info |
| German, French, Spanish | Inlingua | Beginner to advanced levelSeparate classes for Corporate and individual clients | Each level – 45 hours | |
| Chinese | India China Chamber of Commerce & Industry | Level 1 (Diploma) | 3 months | Rs. 15,000 |
| level 2 and 3 (Certificate) | 7 months | Rs. 16,000 + 19,000 (Rs. 35,000) | ||
| German, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese | University of Pune | Certificate, Diploma, Special Diploma, MA, MPhil, PhD. | 6 months to 1 yr for diploma, certificate and M.phil. 2 yrs for MA | 5,000 to 7,000. |
Research your options and purpose before you choose the language and the institute. It involves lot of money and effort. To make it work, learn a language with specific purpose.
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