<p>It’s a known fact that the City is a melting pot of different cultures. People who speak different languages and who hail from varied ethnic backgrounds have made their home here.<br /><br /> </p>.<p>Interestingly, this mixed crowd is open to learning and picking up as many languages as they can when they are here. <br /><br />Metrolife interacted with a few people to understand what efforts they are taking towards it. <br /><br />Non-Bangaloreans are also learning Kannada or are, at least, trying to have a working knowledge in it. <br /><br />This helps them settle in the City and be comfortable here. Fouzia Khan is a student of computer application in the City. She grew up in Delhi and when she relocated to the City, she made it a point to pick up a book that helped her understand Kannada.<br /> <br />“I started learning Kannada and it helped me a great deal. I used to refer to these books at leisure and now, I know a bit of Kannada. I am trying to learn Tamil as well,” she sums up. <br /> <br />Vikash is a Telugite, who moved to Bangalore this year to pursue higher education.<br /><br /> He says that he had a lot of trouble coping with the local language. “You feel lost when you don’t know the local language. So, I started mingling with the people here to try and learn as many words as possible and with time. I actually picked up the language and I am thrilled about it,” says Vikash. <br /> <br />The case is almost the same with those moving from the northern to the southern end of the country. Vijay is a resident of Uttar Pradesh and when he moved to Bangalore, the first thing that bothered him was communication problems. “Initially, I found it hard to understand the local language and communication was a nightmare. I had no choice but to make an effort to learn the basics of Kannada. I started mingling with Kannadigas and with their help and just by listening to them talk, I learnt a bit of Kannada. It has helped a lot,” he says. <br /><br />Kiran, a Keralite, who is doing his MBA in the City, says, “The people in the City are warm and nice but I found it tough to understand the local language. But being a hosteller, I had roommates who spoke Kannada and Tamil and that is how I picked up both the languages,” he says.<br /><br />Krishna Rao, who runs ‘Book House’ on SJP Road, says, “We have books that offer beginners a basic knowledge in Kannada and a few other languages. These are self-help books that have words in Kannada and its translation in English. The same goes for other languages as well.” <br /></p>
<p>It’s a known fact that the City is a melting pot of different cultures. People who speak different languages and who hail from varied ethnic backgrounds have made their home here.<br /><br /> </p>.<p>Interestingly, this mixed crowd is open to learning and picking up as many languages as they can when they are here. <br /><br />Metrolife interacted with a few people to understand what efforts they are taking towards it. <br /><br />Non-Bangaloreans are also learning Kannada or are, at least, trying to have a working knowledge in it. <br /><br />This helps them settle in the City and be comfortable here. Fouzia Khan is a student of computer application in the City. She grew up in Delhi and when she relocated to the City, she made it a point to pick up a book that helped her understand Kannada.<br /> <br />“I started learning Kannada and it helped me a great deal. I used to refer to these books at leisure and now, I know a bit of Kannada. I am trying to learn Tamil as well,” she sums up. <br /> <br />Vikash is a Telugite, who moved to Bangalore this year to pursue higher education.<br /><br /> He says that he had a lot of trouble coping with the local language. “You feel lost when you don’t know the local language. So, I started mingling with the people here to try and learn as many words as possible and with time. I actually picked up the language and I am thrilled about it,” says Vikash. <br /> <br />The case is almost the same with those moving from the northern to the southern end of the country. Vijay is a resident of Uttar Pradesh and when he moved to Bangalore, the first thing that bothered him was communication problems. “Initially, I found it hard to understand the local language and communication was a nightmare. I had no choice but to make an effort to learn the basics of Kannada. I started mingling with Kannadigas and with their help and just by listening to them talk, I learnt a bit of Kannada. It has helped a lot,” he says. <br /><br />Kiran, a Keralite, who is doing his MBA in the City, says, “The people in the City are warm and nice but I found it tough to understand the local language. But being a hosteller, I had roommates who spoke Kannada and Tamil and that is how I picked up both the languages,” he says.<br /><br />Krishna Rao, who runs ‘Book House’ on SJP Road, says, “We have books that offer beginners a basic knowledge in Kannada and a few other languages. These are self-help books that have words in Kannada and its translation in English. The same goes for other languages as well.” <br /></p>