The Hindu Business Line : Going places with language skills

Is it the love of learning a foreign language that lures youngsters to the Alliance Francaise or the Max Mueller Bhavan? Not entirely. They come in the hope that multi-lingual skills will be their passport to a whole new world of opportunities.

Fifteen-year-old Dharini has completed Class X exams and is on vacation. Ask her about her plans for the future and her eyes light up. She wants to study in London and become a writer. Santosh Kumar is in his final year of MCA. The next step for him is finding a job.

And 25-year-old Vishwanath Kandaswamy works as a marketing executive in an industrial parts company. He is looking for a job in Europe, where many of his friends are working.

Three people in different stages of their life, each pursuing different aspirations and ambitions. And although it may seem there is nothing common among them, they are all connected by a common thread — the French connection. The three of them are among many youngsters studying French at the Alliance Francaise in Chennai.

Is it the love and thrill of learning a foreign language alone that brings these youngsters here? Not entirely. They are here because they feel that knowledge of a foreign language other than English will give them a passport to a whole new world of opportunities and career options. One where their language skills will count a lot.

For instance, Dharini believes French will come in handy almost anywhere in Europe. "It will definitely open up new avenues and help me appreciate and understand cultures better, something which is very important to be a successful writer," she says.

If French is in great demand, German too has a steady stream of takers. Although many learn German primarily to go to Germany for higher studies, there is a significant number who think it is very useful, career-wise.

Vishwanath, who has applied to quite a few companies in Belgium, is studying both French and German. He says knowing these two languages is "definitely a must in any European country, both at work and outside the workplace as well."

There are many more young hopefuls like Vishwanath and Dharini who think that their multi-lingual skills will add weight to their curriculum vitae and help them find jobs anywhere in the world. Take Santosh, for instance. Not satisfied with technical skills alone, he signed up for a French course, a few months ago. Today, he is confident that his technical knowledge, coupled with his language skills, will land him a job in any corporate organisation. "MNCs these days look for people with linguistic knowledge. So, I am sure I will have a definite edge over others," he says.

Today, one can find several computer professionals, engineers and MBAs making a beeline to institutes that offer language courses. Says Seetha, an Alliance spokesperson, "We have a special fast track course for technically-qualified students who want to learn the language quickly. Even in our regular classes, about 60 to 70 per cent of the students are MBAs or engineers. Some of them are looking for a job here or abroad, while some others are already working and feel a foreign language will assist them in overseas projects."

But how will knowing a foreign language help them in their careers?

The world is shrinking beyond one's imagination. Businesses are expanding rapidly and reaching all corners of the globe. Boundaries — physical and linguistic — are being broken. Rapid changes are occurring in the way business transactions are conducted.

"Globalisation has brought countries closer to one another. There is greater interaction between them and knowledge of a foreign language will go a long way in enabling better communication and understanding," says Sumitra Muthukumar, a professor at the Alliance Francaise.

Several companies and call centres in India deal with clients and partners in France, Germany and other European countries where French and German are widely spoken. Many French and German companies also operate in India or outsource technical support from BPOs here. Having awakened to the needs of businesses, companies do not want to leave any stone unturned. They feel that going that extra mile to please clients will make all the difference between success and failure. Many companies have taken the first step in bridging the language gap by engaging tutors from Alliance and Max Mueller Bhavan to train their employees in French and German.

Says Mathangi Jeyabaul, language specialist at eServe International, Chennai, which provides IT-enabled solutions, "We deal with clients not only from France and Germany, but also Belgium, the Netherlands and other countries where these languages are spoken. Speaking in their language instils confidence in the minds of the clients that people in another country are adept at helping them in their own language, and it also shows that we're well-equipped to handle their business. It builds personal rapport. Knowing a language definitely helps break communication barriers."

The focus on creating a personalised business environment has meant that even professionally qualified people feel the need to upgrade their qualifications to stay competitive in the employment race. Multinationals, IT companies and BPOs in the country not only look for people with the required technical qualifications but also those with linguistic skills.

Says Malini Rao, Assistant Manager (HR) of Alstom, Chennai, "Knowledge of French does make a difference and candidates knowing French are definitely at an advantage during recruitment since we are a French company and our clients are mainly French."

Yamini Rai, part of the recruitment team at Cognizant Technology Solutions, Chennai, too agrees that in certain cases, candidates who know languages such as German and French are preferred to those who don't.

And even for the non-technical people, there are opportunities galore. There is an increasing demand for linguistically skilled people for interpretation and translation of technical documents, transactions and e-mails. "About 70 per cent of the students who passed out from our institution have found jobs as interpreters and translators in corporate organisations for their German skills alone," says R. Vijayalakshmi, Secretary of the language department, Max Mueller Bhavan. The job market for people with such skills will only look up with Indian companies clinching more foreign deals and more MNCs wanting an Indian presence. And the BPO boom, the backlash notwithstanding, should also add to the party.

Another factor is that though the craze to go abroad isn't as pronounced as it used to be before, it hasn't died down. And more importantly, the US is no longer the only preferred destination, as several youngsters seek employment in Europe. There are also many who seek employment in countries such as Canada (Canadian immigration authorities insist on a French language certificate), and in the once-French colonies of Africa, where knowledge of French is extremely beneficial.

Jean Pascal Elbaz, Director, L'Alliance Francaise, says Europe, especially France, is considered an option for work and higher studies as it is easier to obtain a visa. Although companies in Europe may not insist on knowledge of foreign languages, this does boost an applicant's chances of employment, says Elbaz.

Manasi Apte, sums it up by saying, "At work, I do most things in English but sometimes when I meet someone from France or have information available to me only in French, my French knowledge is extremely useful. I think knowing at least one European language is a big plus here."

Picture by Shaju John

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