As Indians, most of us are natural bi-linguals or even tri-linguals. We communicate not only in the mother tongues we are born to but also in languages like Hindi and English. Scientific studies have however shown that there are several advantages to be gained by learning a foreign language.
Learning a previously unknown language actually increases the size of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex areas of the human brain. This means that by learning a foreign language one becomes capable of thinking better, of developing a better memory, of acquiring greater cognitive skills, and of enhancing perceptual sensitivity.
Knowledge of an international language can also help one to become more open-minded, aware, out-going and social. Attention spans increase, and as those who learn a new language get to be familiar with another culture, they become capable of looking at the world in a new way.
Foreign language learning also improves existing language skills in individuals, and tests have indicated that the brains of people who learn a new language remain more active and healthy for a longer period of time contributing to a reduced risk of dementia in old-age.
Sister Nivedita University (SNU), an upcoming premiere University under the fold of the renowned Techno India Group of institutions, is an exception to this in so far as its mandate includes the teaching across four semesters of at least one international language to its undergraduate and postgraduate students across all disciplines. As a result, students who graduate from SNU leave with the added advantage of having knowledge of a foreign language when they move out of the campus to employment domains beyond.
In this regard the School of International Languages of Sister Nivedita University which is the brainchild of Sri Satyam Roy Chowdhury the Hon’ble Chancellor of the University, fulfills a double responsibility. It is not only responsible for reaching and teaching French, German, Japanese and Spanish languages to University learners, but also responsible for the running of separate Certificate and Diploma courses in a total of six languages – Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish, French and Esperanto.
The objective of these latter courses is to enable any and all of age 18 years and above to learn these foreign languages. Such SNU courses cater to an existing demand from professionals and others for a superior language-teaching facility accompanied with a University certification. This is mainly because almost all foreign-language teaching centres in this part of the country and elsewhere are little more than NGOs, many functioning without proper academic orientation, pedagogic control, discipline or rigour.
It is self evident that prospective employers will desire candidates with a proper certification of their claims of having knowledge of a particular foreign language, and this is precisely what SNU-SIL has to offer.
It is also true that as the world shrinks due to globalization and increased international business transactions, more and more jobs will call for personnel equipped with foreign language skills. Certainly many employers show greater inclination towards considering the CV of a candidate indicating who is properly certified by a University as possessing a foreign language skill as an added qualification.
The SNU School of International Languages (SNU-SIL) is a new and advanced language teaching facility. Its comparative newness has a number of advantages, not the least being a commitment to innovations in course content and delivery, a forward looking vision, and future planning for the application of innovative teaching-learning methodologies and processes.
It is a commitment of SNU-SIL to provide all entrants with some of the best of training and learning opportunities. This is because in language learning (unlike pedagogy in other standard academic disciplines) the provision and acquisition of information is not the norm. What is required instead is a holistic skills-development initiative on the part of the instructor to impart knowledge in aspects of syntax and lexis accompanied by extensive practice in Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing skills.
The teachers at SIL endeavour to fulfill just these objectives by engaging new learners in a one-to-one interactive process in online classroom sessions and will continue to do so in possible blended-learning scenarios in the near future. Students are often given access to recordings of classes already taken, and full advantage will also be taken of the resources of recently developed digital-learning platforms to be implemented shortly. The School is also engaged in the process of building up an e-accessible resource base and at present frequently screens foreign-language films for the advantage of its students.
Certificate and Diploma courses at SNU-SIL come on an extremely cost-effective basis, and classes are generally held on a two-days-per-week basis in the afternoon/evening hours, or in the case of some language courses, on weekends too for the convenience of those in employment or those still studying in other colleges and universities.
Taking a Language Course in SNU is easy, quick and convenient. Trained and experienced foreign language teachers make learning easy and enjoyable. The superior infrastructure and online/offline resources are among the best. And fees for Certificate and Diploma courses are much less than what is demanded by other comparable language-schools in Kolkata. There are also a wide spectrum of courses available, ranging from a 6-months’ Basic Certificate course of 100 hours, to a 1-year Advanced Certificate course of 200 hours, a 300-hours course, and a 400 hours/2-years Diploma course in any one of six different languages on offer.
YOU MAY ALSO WISH TO KNOW
WHY LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?
YOUR REASONS MAY BE
- For increasing EQ (Employability Quotient)
- To begin a career as a foreign language Translator/Interpreter
- Take up freelancing
- To state on your CV that you know a foreign language
- To emigrate to another nation
- Prove that you too can pick up a new language
- Impress others
- Develop the ability to Read/Write/Speak and Talk in a foreign language
WHY YOU MAY WANT TO LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AT SISTER NIVEDITA UNIVERSITY?
- Trained and experienced faculty
- All languages under one roof/in one campus
- Modern technological teaching aids
- Learner-friendly curriculum
- Graded learning process
- Convenient class days and timings
- Provision of Language-learning materials
- Peaceful and hassle-free educational environment
- Uninterrupted scope for learning
LANGUAGE COURSES AT SNU
- Chinese
- Esperanto
- French
- German
- Japanese
- Spanish
PROFILES OF COURSE CONTENT
FOR JAPANESE AND CHINESE
- Script/ Alphabet
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Conversation
- Reading, Listening and Writing skills
- Culture and etiquette
FOR EUROPEAN LANGUAGES
- Syntax
- Lexical skills
- Speaking
- Reading
- Listening
- Writing
- Phonetics
- Grammar
COURSE CATEGORIES
- Six-months’ B-Certificate Course of app. 100 Hours duration
- One-year A-Certificate Course of app. 200 Hours duration
- 1.5 years H-Certificate Course of app. 300 Hours duration
- Two-years Diploma Course of app. 400 Hours duration
- Possibility of upgradation of courses to Degree/PG levels
COURSE FEES
- Consolidated course fee or Rs. 7500/- only for each course of 6-months
AWARDING AUTHORITY
- All Course-Completion Certificates and Marksheets will be awarded by Sister Nivedita University
ENQUIRIES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
- Prof. MONIKINKINI BASU
- Email id – infosnusil@snuniv.ac.in
