To help travel industry professionals, Delhi govt to start foreign, Indian language courses

The Delhi government is set to introduce foreign language courses with specialised content for professionals who are into the travel and hospitality business. The move will also help students and researchers interested in foreign culture and literature, said a Delhi government official associated with the development.

The languages will be taught through the arts, culture and language department that will control new language academies to be set up in the national Capital. The cabinet had recently approved creation of 15 such centres for different regional and five International languages.

The official said these new academies will start functioning in four months. A budget of R 5 crore has already been allocated for the centres.

The foreign languages selected for the new academies are Russian, French, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic. In addition, separate institutes for Bangla, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Odia, Assamese, Kashmiri, Marwari, Haryanvi, Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari will be set up.

“The idea is to provide basic understanding of an international language so that people intending to make a career in specialised fields such travel and hospitality industry can benefit. Initially, the proposed facilities will function from existing language academies and share their resources,” she said.

The department was set up in September 1999 to promote languages, literature art, and culture. At present, six academies — Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, Sindhi, and Maithili-Bhojpuri — exist.

“After being trained, professionals and scholars proficient in international languages will have new opportunities in the country and abroad. The process to design courses and decide the syllabus will begin soon. We are talking to experts such as dancers, singers, journalists and authors to be nominated as members to the governing bodies,” she said.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who is in charge of the department, said the purpose of a language academy is not only to cater to the speakers of that language but also to reach out to a wider audience.

On creation of regional language academies in the city, Sisodia said Delhi as the national Capital is an amalgamation of diverse cultures of the country and, therefore, regardless of the number of speakers of a particular language residing here, it is an opportunity to develop a taste of cultural diversity.

“It is our responsibility to provide a sense of dignity, belonging and identity to people through respecting their culture. This should be stated as the foremost purpose of opening of the various language academies. Research and scholarly work should be included in the academies’ scope of work and activities that would not only ensure preservation of the language but also its growth,” said Sisodia.