Thursday, August 23, 2007

Foreign Languages

Foreign Languages

Language is the most effective and powerful means of communication. Language skills can prove to be an important attribute in many professions. A career in foreign language has always been an attractive proposition, especially for those who have a flair for languages. The opportunities are starting from tour operators to interpreters and translators. While interpreters are concerned with interpreting the spoken statements from one language to another, translators have more to do with translating the written documents from one language to another.

The globalisation of Indian economy and the coming of multinational companies to India have opened up job opportunities for those proficient in foreign languages. Academic qualifications in foreign languages helps in pursuing careers in the areas of tourism, entertainment,public relations and mass communication, international organisations, embassies, diplomatic service, publishing, interpretation and translation etc.

Nature of Work: There are very few careers for which languages are the primary skill required, and even these require expertise in other fields. For a growing number of careers, however, languages are a useful, sometimes essential, secondary skill.

Teaching: The most common of all the available career options in foreign language is teaching. Teaching of foreign language is just like teaching any other language. For newcomers, it is advisable to start with teaching. As a teacher, a person gets enough opportunities to enhance his skills. As far as teaching jobs are concerned, many institutions are offering courses in foreign languages and so jobs exist at all levels. Those reluctant to engage themselves in a full time profession can take private tuition as well.

Interpreters and Translators: Interpreters and translators both need to have a good command over two or more languages. Interpreter's job relates to interpreting spoken words of one language into another. The job of an interpreter can be of different types. Sometimes they are engaged in simultaneous interpretation, which is used for meetings, conferences, speeches etc. Here the interpreters sit in a sound-proof room and listen to speeches and almost spontaneously interprets it in the target language into a microphone. The other type of interpretings are consecutive interpreting and liason interpreting. Consecutive interpreting goes on during formal speeches where the speaker halts for a while when the interpreter interprets the spoken statements to the audience. Liason interpreting is to facilitate conversation between two people knowing different languages. Translation work can be related to a variety of fields like technical, scientific, literary or business. Translators work on books, scripts, articles and translate them into specified languages. Apart from having linguistic skills, a translator must possess adequate knowledge in the area of the work so as to maintain the style and essence of the original text.

Freelancing:
Often, after pursuing courses in foreign languages, people like to work as freelancers. These people get work in translation bureaus, research organisations, international organisations like UNO, FAO, foreign companies, Reserve Bank of India, publishing houses etc. Expertise in foreign language coupled with other additional qualifications in areas like management, tourism, hospitality industry, airlines can be even fruitful and better the chances for employment opportunities.

Personality:
Linguistic ability is nurtured from an early stage and improves with its regular and correct usage. Therefore it is important to practise it regularly. Learning langauges can be exhaustive as at times it takes long before one gets proficient in it. So it is important to be patient and diligent. For language specialists, it is imperative to have good verbal aptitude and interest in those areas where they get to work as a language specialist. They should also be able to handle work pressure and withstand strain as sometimes working hours may be prolonged.

Professional Courses: Foreign language courses can be studied after 10+2 as a 3 years graduate course or even as 5 years integrated language course in the universities offering such courses. Some universities even offer diploma/certificate courses for graduates and post graduates. The other option is to pursue these courses at the institutes run by embassies and consulates. These institutes offer both basic and advanced level courses, some of them extending upto 5-6 years.

Career Prospects: International organisations and embassies employ language specialists for secretarial, executive and public relation assignments as well as for translations and interpretations jobs. Translators are also found to be employed with industries, publishing houses, government and research organisations. Other job opportunities for language specialists lie with the travel and tourism industry, hotel industry, exhibitions and fairs, airlines offices, export agencies, radio stations and trade organi-sations. Teaching can also be given a thought. For pursuing a career in teaching, a teacher should be a graduate in that foreign language and must have a teaching degree.

Remunerations: Emoluments vary with the kind and the place of work. For instance a career in teaching can earn anything from Rs. 10,000/- p.m. to Rs. 20,000/- p.m. Those working as translators get paid between Rs. 50/- to Rs. 100/- per page. An interpreter gets paid on hourly basis and at present the rate varies from Rs. 300/- to Rs. 500/- per hour. Those working with embassies can earn between Rs. 8,000/- p.m. to Rs. 10,000/- p.m.
Foreign Language Studies

Institutions
Armenian: University of Calcutta, Kolkata-73-BA
Bulgarian: University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Certificate
Burmese: University of Calcutta-BA
Chinese: Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005-BA,
MA, Diploma; University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Diploma;
Dr. B.S. Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad-431
004-Diploma; Dr. Harsing Govt. Vishwavidhyalaya, Sagar-470
003-Diploma; Goa University, Goa-403 206-BA; University of
Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500 046-Diploma; Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi-110 067-BA (Hons), MA; Kalyani University,
Kalyani, West Bengal-741 235-Diploma; University of Lucknow,
Lucknow-226 007-Diploma; Manipur University, Imphal-795
003-BA; University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400 032-BA; Punjab
University, Chandigarh-180 014-Diploma Certificate; Punjab
University, Patiala-147 002-Diploma; Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur
University, Bhagalpur-812 007-BA; Utkal University, Bhubaneswar-
751 004-Diploma; Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West
Bengal-731 235-BA, MA, Diploma
Czechoslovakian: University of Delhi-Certificate
French: More than 35 Universities offer French as one of the
subjects at the first degree level. Included in this list are those which
offer at other levels also. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-
202 002-BA, Diploma; Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530
003-BA, Diploma; Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608
002-Diploma; Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005-MA,
Diploma; *Bangalore University, Bangalore-560 056-BA, MA;
Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali-304 022-BA, Diploma; University
of Burdwan, Burdwan-713 104-BA, Diploma; University of
Calcutta, Kolkata-700 073-BA, MA, Diploma; Central Institute of
English & foreign Languages, Hyderabad-500 007-MA, Diploma;
University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-MA; Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
Marathwada University, Aurangabad-431 004-BA, Diploma; Goa
University, Goa-403 206-BA, MA; Guru Jambheshwar University,
Hisar-125 001-Diploma; Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-171
005-BA, Diploma; Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700 032; Jamia
Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110 025; Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi-110 067-BA (Hons), MA, Diploma; Jiwaji University,
Gwalior-474 011-Diploma; Karnataka University, Dharwad-580
003-BA, MA, Diploma; Karukshetra University, Kurukshetra-
136 119-Diploma; University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007-
Diploma; University of Madras, Chennai-600 005-MA, Diploma;
Madurai-Kamraj University, Madurai-625 021-MA, Diploma; The
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara-390 002-BA,
Diploma; University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400 032-BA, MA, Diploma;
*Nagpur University, Nagpur-440 001-BA, Diploma; Osmania
University, Hyderabad-500 007-BA, MA, Diploma; Punjab
University, Chandigarh-160 014-BA, MA, Diploma; Pondicherry
University, Pondicherry-605 014-BA, MA; *University of Pune,
Pune-411 007-BA, MA; University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004-
Diploma; Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur-482 001; Sri
Venkateshwara University, Tirupati-517 502; Utkal University,
Bhubaneswar-751 004; Visva Bharati, Santiniketan-731 235
German: Note: More than 30 universities offer German as one of
the subjects included in this list are those which offer it at other levels.
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002; Banaras Hindu
University, Varanasi-221 005-BA, Diploma; Banasthali Vidyapith,
Banasthali-304 002-BA, Diploma; University of Calcutta, Kolkata-
700 073-BA, MA, Diploma; *Central Institute of English
and foreign Language, Hyderabad-500 007; Cochin University
of Science & Technology, Kochi-682 022; University of Delhi,
Delhi-110 007-MA, Diploma; Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada
University, Aurangabad-431 004; Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
University, Agra-282 004; Guru Jambheswar University, Hisar-125
001; Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-171 005-BA, Diploma;
Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700 032-BA, Diploma; Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New Delhi-110 067-BA (Hons), MA; Jiwaji
University, Dharwad-580 003-BA, MA, Diploma; University of
Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram-695 034-BA, MA, Diploma; Kurukshetra
University, Kurukshetra-136 110-Diploma; University
of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007-Diploma; University of Madras,
Chennai-600 005-BA, Diploma; Madurai-Kamraj University,
Madurai-625 021; The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda,
Vadodara-390 002-BA, Diploma; University of Mumbai, Mumbai-
400 032-BA, MA, Diploma; Nagpur University, Nagpur-440001-BA, Diploma; Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007-BA,
Diploma; Punjab University, Chandigarh-160 014-BA, MA, Diploma,
Certificate; University of Pune, Pune-411 007-BA, MA;
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004-Diploma; Rani Durgavati
Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur-482 001-Diploma; Sri Venkateshwara
University, Tirupati-517 502-Diploma; Utkal University, Bhubaneswar-
751 004-BA, Diploma; Visva Bharati, Santineketan-
731 235, West Bengal-Diploma
Greek: (Offered only as one of the subjects at the first degree
level) University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 073-BA, MA; Gauhati
University, Guwahati-781 014-BA; University of Mumbai, Mumbai-
400 032-MA; Tilka Manji Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur-
812 007-BA; Utkal University, Bhubaneswar-751 004-BA
Hausa: University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Certificate
Hebrew: University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 073-BA, MA;
University of Calicut, Kozhikode-673 635-BA; Gauhati University,
Gawahati-781 014-BA; University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram-
695 034-BA; University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400
032-MA
Hungarian: University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Diploma,
Certificate
Indonesian (Bhasa Indonesia): Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi-110 067-Diploma, Certificate
Italian: Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005-Certifi-
cate; University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 073-BA; University of
Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Diploma, Certificate; Guwahati University,
Guwahati-781 014-BA; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-
110 067-Diploma, Certificate; Manipur University, Imphal-795
003-BA; University of Madras, Chennai-600 005-Certificate;
Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur-812 007-BA;
Utkal University, Bhubaneswar-751 004-BA
Japanese: Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530 003-Diploma;
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005-Certificate;
Central Institute of English & Foreign Languages, Hyderabad-500
007-Certificate; Univerrsity of Delhi, Delhi-110 067-Certificate;
Guru Jambheswar University, Hisar-125 001-Diploma; Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New Delhi-110 067-BA (Hons), Diploma,
Certificate
Latin: University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 073-BA, MA; Guwahati
University, Guwahati-781 014-BA; University of Kerala,
Thiruvananthapuram-695 034-BA; Lalit Narayan Mithila University,
Darbhanga-846 008-BA; University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400
032-MA; Nagpur University, Nagpur-440 001-BA; Ranchi University,
Ranchi-834 008-BA; Tilka Manhi Bhagalpur University,
Bhagalpur-812 007-BA; Utkal University, Bhubaneswar-751
004-BA
Mongolian: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110
067-Certificate
Polish: University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Diploma, Certificate;
University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400 032-Diploma, Certificate
Portuguese: University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Diploma,
Certificate; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110 067-
Diploma, Certificate; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110
067-Diploma, Certificate; Goa University, Goa-403 206-BA, MA;
University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400 032-BA, MA
Pusthu or Pasthu: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110
067-Diploma, Certificate
Russian: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002-BA,
Diploma, Certificate; Andhra University, Visakhpatnam-530
003-BA, Diploma, Certificate; Awadesh Pratap Singh University,
Rewa-486 003-Diploma; Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221
005-BA, MA, Diploma; University of Burdwan, Burdwan-713
104-Diploma, Certificate; University of Calicut, Kozhikode-673
635-Diploma; Central Institute of English & Foreign Languages,
Hyderabad-500 007-Diploma, MA, Certificate; Chaudhary Charan
Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004-Diploma;
Chudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut-250 005-Diploma,
Certificate; Cochin University of Science & Technology-Diploma,
Cedrtificate; University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-MA, Certificate;
Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore-452 001-Diploma; Dr. Babasaheb
Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad-431 004-
BA, MA, Diploma; Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra-282
004-Diploma, Certificate; Guru Jambheswar University, Hisar-
125 001-Diploma; Guru Nanak Dev University; Madurai-Kamraj
University, Madurai-625 021-Diploma, Certificate; The Maharaja
Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara-221 002-Diploma, Certificate;
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi-221 002-Diploma;
University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400 032-BA, Diploma;
Nagpur University, Nagpur-440 001-BA, Diploma, Certificate;
Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007-BA, Diploma; Punjab
University, Chandigarh-160 014-BA, Diploma, Certificate; University
of Pune, Pune-411 007, BA, MA, Diploma; Punjab University,
Patiala-147 002-Diploma, Certificate; University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-
302 004-Diploma; Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur-
482 001-Diploma, Certificate; Shivaji University, Kolhapur-416
004-Diploma, Certificate; Utkal University, Bhuvaneswar-751
004-BA, Diploma, Certificate; Vikram University, Ujjain-456
010-Diploma, Certificate; Vishwa Bharati, Shantiniketan-731
235, West Bengal-Diploma
Serbo-Croation: Univesity of Delhi, Delhi-110 067-Diploma,
Certificate
Sinhalese: Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005-Diploma;
University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 073-BA
Slavonic & Finne Ugrian: Univerrsity of Delhi, Delhi-110 067-
Certificate; Punjab University, Chandigarh-160 014-Diploma
Slovak: Punjab University, Chandigarh-160 016-Diploma
Spanish: Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages,
Hyderabad-500 007-MA, Diploma, Certificate; University of
Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Diploma, Certificate; Jawaharlal Nehru
University, New Delhi-110 067-BA (Hons), MA; Utkal University,
Bhubhaneswar-751 004-Diploma
Swahili: University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007-Diploma
Syriac: University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 073-MA; Mahatma
Gandhi University, Kottayam-Certificate, MA
Thai: Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh-786 004-Diploma
Tibetan: University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211 002-Certificate;
University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 073-BA (Modern
Tibetan); Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Study, Sarnath
Varanasi-221 007-Shastri (BA), Acharya (MA); Dr. Harisingh
Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar-470 003-Diploma; University of
Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007-Certificate; University of North
Bengal, North Bengal University-734430, Darjeeling-BA; Punjab
University, Chandigarh-160 014-Diploma, Diploma in Tibetan
BA; Punjab University, Chandigarh-160 014-Diploma, Diploma in
Tibetan Interpretership, Certificate; Visva-Bharati, Shantiniketan-
731 235, West Bengal-Certificate
Turkish: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002-BA

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