Few facts first –
A recent study by Adzuna has reviewed over 2.5 lakh job postings to reveal which languages will help you land a higher paying role. Of the 10 languages analysed, Chinese speakers are the highest paid, earning ₹11,89,234 per annum on average in December 2018 – more than double the average yearly salary in India during that period.
English is the highest in demand (but European languages are the most profitable). Jobs for bilingual English speakers boasted 25,570 vacancies in December, and applicants could expect to earn a salary 11% higher than the average national income during that time.
For jobseekers hoping for a higher salary and a greater amount of job opportunities, European languages are promising. French, Spanish and German all feature in the top five highest-paying languages, and the top five highest in-demand languages offering average yearly salaries of ₹9,83,769, ₹9,80,379 and ₹9,51,375 respectively in December 2018.
The world is now a global village and MNCs today work in multi-cultural space. Professionals visit and often stay in different countries for months, even years. Knowledge and proficiency in foreign languages can be of immense benefit for them, as it will help in better communication, a better understanding of cultures and in turn better business. Top MNCs like Accenture, Evalueserve, Wipro, Fiserv, TCS, Tech Mahindra. Infosys. Kuliza and Scabbard hire polyglots in large numbers. The scope for foreign language experts are numerous and include job positions in multinational companies and corporate giants. Language skills are now acknowledged as essential for advancement in career.
Foreign languages in demand –
- French
- Spanish
- German
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Korean
Today many schools offer foreign language courses right from class V. Students can opt for a foreign language of choice right from the age of 10 or 11. This early start will help them build comprehensive expertise in the language. If this is not an option, one can always learn a foreign language after 10+2 and opt for an under-grad course in an institute or college. One can then do masters followed by PhD in language from a recognised university. A three year bachelor’s degree in foreign language is offered to students who have completed 10+2 from a recognized institution. A two year Master’s degree can be pursued after completing graduation in the same language. Courses in Korean, Japanese and Chinese are not easily available, and can be expensive. Chinese is offered by Viswa Bharati University, Shantiniketan in West Bengal. Arabic and Persian are offered by many national universities and the fee is also minimal.
Where in India can one learn a foreign language?
- Ram Krishna Mission, Kolkata
- Alliance Francaise
- Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Jawaharlal Nehru Academy of Languages, New Delhi
- Japanese Information and Cultural Centre, New Delhi
- School of Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
- University of Delhi, New Delhi
- Pune University, Pune
- Rajasthan University, Jaipur
- Max Mueller Bhavan in Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai
- Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad
- Indo Italian Chamber of Commerce, Mumbai
Certificate courses and diploma courses are also offered by various institutions in India. These are short term courses and students can enrol after completing their 10+2. Language expertise means proficiency communication skills, grammatical know how and strong comprehension of writing, speaking, listening and reading a language.
Course fee and scholarship
If enrolled with a central university the course fee will be minimal. However, private institutes like Max Mueller Bhavan or Alliance Francaise charge quite highly which might go up to Rs 3-4 lacs.
Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University offer scholarships foreign language students. They also have student exchange programs and have partnered with a number of foreign universities. Students get the opportunity to study in those universities duing the tenure of the course. For students studying Korean and Japanese languages South Korean and Japanese governments provide several scholarships. Max Mueller Bhavan also offers scholarships and a chance to visit Germany to learn the language and culture.
Language experts are high in demand in diverse sectors including –
Education
Entertainment
Hospitality
Tourism
Embassies
Diplomatic service
Mass communication
PR
MNCs
publication houses
Popular job roles for foreign language experts include –
Foreign language specialist
Teacher
Online content writer
Technical translator
Decoder
Freelancer
Interpreter & translator
Tourist Guide
Air Hostess or Flight Steward
Attendant at hotels
Translator for MNCs and Government Organizations
Research Associate
Besides, new job roles are emerging every day as the world goes more and more global. The UNO, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and many others like Ministry of External Affairs, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) always look for foreign language experts.
Remuneration
Freshers can expect a pay package of Rs. 10,000 to 15,000. PR and marketing executives can earn Rs 30,000 – 50,000 a month and teachers are offered a monthly salary of Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. Translators get something between Rs 300 to 500 per page while interpreters earn around Rs 1500 to 2500 per hour.