Foreign language courses make inroads into Tiruchi’s colleges campuses

Foreign language courses are becoming popular in Tiruchi, as college graduates discover their potential to be an asset while applying for jobs abroad.

Schools offering classes in German, French, Japanese and Spanish have grown in the city, aiming at equipping aspirants with communication skills to help them survive in a foreign workplace.

Engineering colleges, both under private and government management, have been among the earliest higher education institutions to introduce courses in German, Japanese and French in the curriculum, with an eye on the international labour market.

“Some of our alumni working abroad, conveyed to us that knowledge of foreign languages is essential for Indian professionals to compete globally. We began offering classes in German, Japanese and Spanish four years ago, and have seen a good response from students. We are considering making foreign language electives eligible for credit transfer,” D. Srinivasan, principal, K. Ramakrishnan College of Engineering, told The Hindu.

The college hires tutors from Chennai for the courses, and has seen a great demand for Japanese. At present, 91 students will be sitting for the Japanese exams in November, Mr. Srinivasan said.

City-based French tutor L. Geetha Sree said that her students are opting to study the language according to their requirements. “We have engineering professionals who are working in French companies, students who have gone for higher education to French universities, and also those who are studying out of personal interest. Knowing French, which is recognised as one of the five official languages of the United Nations, is an advantage for candidates aiming for openings in the diplomatic services. Courses can be tailored from basic to expert level with exposure through classroom exercises,” she said.

There has been a spurt in the number of freelancers offering personal tuitions in Japanese as more companies set up their campuses in Tamil Nadu, said entrepreneur V. Sivaraman. “It is possible to learn Japanese online for as little as ₹5,000 through personal tuition from experienced staff who may be already be employed in Japanese corporates. This is especially the case for workers in automotive companies. The courses have left the traditional classroom setting,” he said.