Career watch: Foreign Languages

PS: This article will always be special to me for it was my first article for Education Times that got published nationally!!! It also made it to TOI website. check out the link: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=pastissues2&BaseHref=TOIH%2F2013%2F07%2F15&ViewMode=GIF&PageLabel=29&EntityId=Ar02900&AppName=2

 

Love for the other language

Knowing a foreign language not only boosts your future prospects but provides a competitive edge over others as well

         In today’s competitive world, there is an increasing need to know a foreign language besides your native language. Various institutes and universities are offering a number of courses in languages, among them foreign languages. 

      Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) offers one year certificate and diploma programmes in foreign languages like French, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian besides Communicative English. These courses are conducted part time from 6pm-8 pm in the evenings and university examinations are conducted at the end of a year. Apart from these, an integrated diploma course, which is a combination of certificate and diploma programmes, is provided in Japanese language.

     
     “French and German are the most sought after languages while Russian do not have many takers,” says Brinda Bala, HOD, Department of English and Foreign Languages, CUSAT. “We have an Italian from the Italian embassy teaching Italian here and Tomoko Terada is a Japanese interpreter, teaching Japanese in CUSAT,” she adds.

Eligibility: Students, who have completed their plus two in any stream, can opt for certificate courses in foreign languages. A degree is a must for a PG diploma in Communicative English. 

Skill sets: Most people learn a foreign language out of interest. “It feels great to know an additional language and I am learning French out of love for the language and the country. Evening classes at CUSAT make it more convenient,” says Abdul Firoz, a working professional and a student at CUSAT. 

Job prospects: Knowing a foreign language is always an additional qualification. Most IT companies and MNC’s today make it mandatory for their professionals to learn a foreign language to brighten their onsite prospects. “As long as IT industry and job outsourcing exists, the demand for learning a foreign language will only grow in the coming years,” says Brinda.

            
     A course in foreign language provides endless career opportunities in fields like translation and interpretation, teaching and tourism industry. With foreign dignitaries often visiting the country, government organisations are always in need of translators and interpreters. 

- Sherene Joseph