Learn to speak French, German, Spanish at Bangalore University

Conversational classes, of 40 hours each, will be held at weekends

 The Department of Foreign Languages, Bangalore University, is all set to start conversational classes in French, German and Spanish this year.

Apart from this, the much- anticipated courses for MA in German and Spanish will also begin this year.

Speaking with Deccan Herald after the inauguration of “International Language Fair” here on Sunday, Jyothi Venkatesh, Co-ordinator, Department of Foreign Languages, Bangalore University, said, “The conversational classes for all the three subjects would be of 40 hours each and will be taught during weekends. They would be basic-level courses and would ideally be offered from May,” she said.

Plans are afoot to start full-fledged Master’s course in German and Spanish languages by next six months.

“The syllabus has been framed and we are ready to roll out the two courses in July,” she added.

The postgraduation programme for the two languages is part of the proposal sent under the Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) by Bangalore University and funds have been sought from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The department presently offers certificate and diploma courses in 13 languages, including an MA in French and Japanese.

BEd with foreign language
The proposal to offer BEd course with a foreign language is under progress and might be introduced from 2016, said Prof Jeevan Kumar, Dean, Faculty of Arts, and In-charge Chairman, Department of Foreign Languages.

“A Board of Studies (BoS) has been constituted and syllabus is being prepared. Consultation with foreign embassies and organisations such as Max Mueller Bhavan and Alliance Francaise is still on. Many modalities still need to be considered. Although we will start by offering German, we would also like to simultaneously start with French as well,” Kumar said.

Dr Devendra M, lecturer at the Indian Academy Degree College, Hennur Cross, has enrolled himself for the German language course offered by the Bangalore University.

In-charge of one of the stalls at the fair, he said, “I enrolled for a course in German at Bangalore University, since I am keen on teaching the subject in my college. I am already into teaching French and Spanish,” he added.

German in demand
According to Andrea Schafer, Deputy Director and Head, Language department Goethe Insitut / Max Muellar Bhavan, Bangalore, the number of students enrolling for German in the City has increased manifold. “In 2009, 200 students had enrolled for the course. The number increased to 3,000 in 2014. The number of exams conducted too has increased from 300 to 5,000 presently,” she said.

Eric Lavertu, French Consul General in Bangalore, Andrea Christ, German Deputy Consul General in Bangalore, Mikeal De La Fuente, Director, Alliance Francaise, Bangalore, Renato Cudicio, CEO, TBC World Group, Prof M S Talwar, Dean, Faculty of Education, BU, Kyoko Ogawa, Japanese Language Advisor (South India), Japan Foundation, were present on the occasion.