In this present age of industrialization and globalization, language difference is capable enough to create a barrier in communication. People should be able to comfortably communicate with every person irrespective of his or her place of origin. This rapidly changing era necessitates the knowledge of minimum of a single foreign language. Language ability becomes indispensable in professions like business, hotels, tourism industry etc. Realization of this fact has made several institutes to start courses on foreign languages. People, nowadays, have started opting career based on foreign language. India is making a remarkable progress in the area of foreign languages.

People having a passion for language find the profession in foreign language very attractive. The necessity for people trained in foreign language is growing with the overseas expansion of trade links. Skills in languages like German, Chinese, French, Russian and of late Japanese, Korean and Spanish are in huge demand. One can choose to start a profession in tour operation, technical translation, online content writing, decoding, interpreting etc.

Comprehensive knowledge of a language is a prerequisite for an interpreter because his or her task is to transfer verbal speech from one to other language whereas, a translator’s job is to translate written statements which require outstanding writing skills.

Economical globalization in India coupled with the incoming business projects through multinationals in India and joint ventures of Indian and foreign companies have brought a wide scope of job opportunities for people proficient in different languages. The growing amount of cultural, scientific and technological information guarantees the increasing need of people who are capable of facilitating international communications. Education in foreign language assist one to pursue a career in the field of tourism, public relations, entertainment, mass communication, embassies, international organizations, diplomatic service, BPOs, publishing houses etc. Among them, call centres and tourism provides ample job opportunities.

The future career prospect varies between languages. Even some governmental work demands knowledge of minor languages such as Pashpio, Tajiks, Uzbek, Portuguese, Hebrew etc. apart from German, French, Japanese, Spanish etc.

Eligibility and Courses

A Career in foreign languages necessitates one to pursue either of the 3 kind of courses i.e., Degree course, Diploma course and Certificate course. Some institutes even offer post-graduation and PhD. in foreign language extending up to 6 years.

The eligibility criteria for degree and certificate courses are successful completion of 10+2 whereas, for diploma course, the eligibility is the completion of a certificate course in the concerned language in the majority of institutes. Some of the popular courses in Foreign Language include the following:

  • Advance Course in Translation
  • Certificate Course in German
  • Certificate Course in Translation
  • B.A. French
  • Certificate Course in French
  • Diploma in French
  • Foreign Language and BPO Training
  • Integrated Master’s course in Foreign Languages
  • M.A
  • Introductory Course in Translation
  • Bachelor’s degree course in foreign language
  • M.Phil
  • Ph.D

Career Prospects

Foreign Language Career prospects range from public relation, executive and secretarial assignments to interpretation and translation jobs. Translators are hired by different industries, research institutes, publishing houses, government organizations like embassies and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) etc. Presently, even companies like HP, Samsung, Oracle, Hyundai, Thomson, LG, GE, Moulinex, Aventis etc. are recruiting language experts. Besides these, a language professional have job openings in teaching, tourism and travel industry, hotels, exhibitions, fairs, export agencies, airline offices, trade organizations and radio stations. But to opt a teaching career, one should possess a graduation degree in that language along with a degree in teaching.

Though job openings for regular service are few but the successful completion of a professional education in any foreign languages can open up avenues to lucrative jobs in the below-mentioned areas:

TEACHING: Among the existing career opportunities in foreign language, teaching is the most regular one. A teacher gets ample opportunities to enhance the skills. Since, many institutions have started classes on foreign languages, the openings for teaching jobs exist at every level. Those unwilling to pursue any full-time profession can even go for private tuition.

INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS: As a translator or interpreter, one should have an excellent command on more than two languages. Since, the job role of an interpreter includes interpretation of spoken words from one to another language, an interpreter, besides possessing good knowledge of a language, should be an expert in verbal communication.

An interpreter’s job is of various types. At times, they are even engaged in concurrent interpretation used for conferences, meetings, speeches etc. For this kind of interpretation, an interpreter needs to sit in a room which is sound proof and spontaneously interpret the speeches in the required language after they are heard through a microphone. Apart from this, there is two other kind of interpreting: consecutive and liaison. Consecutive interpreting is the one where the orator halts for some time when the speech is interpreted to the listeners. It’s mostly used in formal speeches. Liaison interpreting is used to facilitate verbal communication between two people talking different languages. Official delegations and business groups on overseas business trips are accompanied by interpreters who are in big demand for their methodological translation.

Translators translate books, articles and scripts to specified languages which make their work related to varied fields like business, technical or scientific literary. Besides possessing linguistic skills, one needs to have adequate knowledge of the work to sustain the essence and style of the original writing.

FREELANCING: Often people choose to be a freelancer after pursuing foreign language courses. These people are offered jobs by translation bureaus, foreign companies, research organizations, worldwide organizations like FAO and UNO, publishing houses, Reserve Bank of India etc. Proficiency in foreign language together with an additional qualification in management, tourism, airlines or hospitality industry can provide better career opportunities.

Institutes in India

Institute of Translation Studies
Post Box No. 1024, No.338, 12th Main, 58th Cross, 3rd Block, Rajajinagar,
Bangalore – 560010

Inflight Airhostess Training Institute (I.A.H.T.I.)
O-2, Lajapat Nagar Part : 2nd, 2nd Floor , New Delhi- 110034

St. Teresa’s College
Park Avenue Road, Near Govt. Guest House,
Ernakulam (Ernakulam Dist.) – 682011

Hope International Academy
34, Sakthi Vijayalakshmi Nagar, 100 feet Bye Pass Road, Velachery,
Chennai- 600042

Sristys Aviation
Sristy’s School of Air Hostess, 307, Swarnajayanthi Complex, Ameerpet,
Hyderabad

Jyoti Nivas Pre-University and Degree College
Hosur Road, Koramangala , Bangalore- 560095

Bangalore School of Business (B.S.B)
B-II/61 MCIE, Mathura Road, New Delhi- 110044

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
J.N. Academy of Languages, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi 110001
Ph 23389942

Indian institute of foreign trade
B-21, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016
Ph 26857908, 26965124, 26965051

Indian Institute of Korean Language and Culture
Haneela Complex, 2nd Floor, Gurunanak Pura, Vikas Marg
New Delhi 110092
Ph 2214771, 2218375

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
B-21, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016
Ph 26857908, 26965124, 26965051

Italian Embassy Cultural Centre
50-E, Chandragupta Marg,
New Delhi 110021
Ph 26871901/903

Institute for Career Studies
New Delhi YMCA, 1, Jai Singh Road
New Delhi 110001
Ph 2336501

Institute of Russian Language
Russian Centre of Science & Culture,
24, Ferozeshah Road , New Delhi 110001
Ph 23329101, 23329102

Max Mueller Bhavan
3 Kasturba Gandhi Marg,
New Delhi 110001