LEARNING a foreign language was earlier seen as a hobby. But today, youngsters are opting to learn Spanish, French, German and Italian, to name some of the popular languages, for full-time careers. Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and Russian, are a few more.

Learning centres: Jamia Millia University’s Faculty of Humanities and Languages,  the MMAJ- Academy of Third World Studies (MMAJ-ATWS) offer courses in the various languages, as well as Delhi University.

Students can also opt for a Diploma in foreign languages from recognised institutes such as Alliance Française (French), Instituto Hispania (Spanish) and Max Mueller Bhavan (German), to name a few. Undergraduate courses in various languages are available  in JNU, University of Pune, University of Delhi, EFL university Hyderabad, admission to which is through entrance tests. 

Job opportunities: These courses not only offer career options in translation and interpretation but also in teaching and in research (university  and school teaching) in India and abroad. Students can get government jobs through UPSC, print and electronic Media (All India Radio has foreign language services), Indian Armed Forces, RAW, paramilitary forces, embassies, multinational companies, call centres,  tourism etc.

Pay packages: While interpreters charge Rs. 1,000 per hour to Rs. 25,000 a day, translators earn on a per word basis (ranging from 60 paise to Rs. 5 per word). Foreign language professionals are also needed by the IT and offshoring industry, primarily for jobs involving collection of information, working on foreign language documents, voice-based tasks, training, transaction and migration processes, quality management etc
 

Institutes offering foreign language programmes:

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