“English is the language on which the sun does not set, whose users never sleep.” - Randolph Quirk
According to Evaluserve, an internal research company, “There will be a potential demand for over 1, 60,000 foreign language professionals in Indian off-shoring (IT, BPO) industry by 2010.”
The way Indian students learn certain courses apart from their academic qualifications, they should learn an extra foreign language as well as it is always an added advantage. The students those who have the intention of pursuing their higher studies abroad learning extra language pays. It minimizes the cultural gaps arising due to miscommunication and promotes effective cross cultural communication and relations. One of the reasons why Indian students facing problems in Australia is due to lack of proper cultural awareness, understanding and assimilation.
Currently there is dearth of foreign language professionals in India which provides excellent opportunities for Indians. We can expect huge potential with immense job opportunities both in academic institutions and the industry for foreign languages.
Significance to Students:
Language is a window to an outside world. Knowing an extra langue is like opening another window to the outside world. It opens more channels, paths, avenues and provides more opportunities and makes Indian students well equipped and makes them to be culturally more fit and competitive.
Knowledge in more foreign languages enhances employability skills. It adds value and becomes another feather in their caps. Students learn several courses along with their academic activities to stay ahead of competition. Knowing an extra language tips the scales in favor of students at the time of interview. Now-a-days, people with multilingual skills are given preference by companies. For instance, if the employer has an office in Germany and the prospective employee knows German language then the employer may consider offering placement to the candidate. It is beneficial for both the employees and employers. It is beneficial for the employees as they get the job just because of knowing German language and it is beneficial for the employers as well as they do not have to train the employees about German language.
Every year, there is huge number of graduates (both professional and non-professional courses) pass out from educational institutions in India. They do lot of courses related to their domain. Besides, if they learn a new language it becomes a value addition. It makes them rise from the rest whenever and wherever they go across the globe.
Importance to Language Experts:
As per a survey, Indian translation industry is expected to cross $ 500 million in 2010 with a projected growth rate of 30% - 60%.
There are lots of opportunities for foreign language professionals and translation industry experts as the economy has been opened up and the companies are looking for expansion and growth. In this process, the language as a barrier can be broken only by language experts and translators who have huge potential to transform content from one language to another language.
There is huge potential lying untapped in foreign languages domain. There is huge demand for language professionals especially in services sectors like hospitality, tourism, and pharmaceutical sectors to name a few. Language experts, instructors and professionals have great opportunities ahead in the area of foreign languages.
It is reported that IBM gets 60 per cent of its business from English speaking countries. That means there is still 40 per cent of potential lying untapped. It is possible only when it focuses on foreign language experts and instructors for training their employees to promote their business.
Soft Skills and Foreign Languages:
“Soft skills are more important than software skills”, says Amarnath Reddy Atmakuri, Chief Executive Officer of IEG (Institute of Electronic Governance), Jawahar Knowledge Center. He opines that when people are good at soft skills they can easily be taught about software skills.
Soft skills have close association with foreign languages. People often mistake soft skills for English speaking skills in India. Soft skills are not associated with any specific language. It focuses on how an individual speaks rather than what an individual speaks. Being good at soft skills plays a crucial role in learning any foreign language. In addition, having cross cultural awareness, cross cultural competency along with the foreign language makes things easier for the learners. It also helps to build a good rapport with others. The globe is becoming smaller with the growing rapid technology and it is equally important to focus on cultural issues along with language skills to reap rewards.
Conclusion:
As Indians focus on English language they should focus on other languages as well right from the childhood. Indians have the cultural adaptability and almost all Indians have knowledge of their mother tongue, a bit of English and another Indian language. Having one more foreign language adds as a feather in their caps. Learning an extra language can be treated as a hobby as people can derive pleasure out of learning. It also activates their grey cells. It is time Indian students and academicians focused on learning new foreign languages to have competitive advantage and also to ensure success at the workplace.
The End
Friday, August 14, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Study Skills for Students - From Prof.M.S.Rao
“Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.” - Francis Bacon
Students spend most of their time in preparing for classes, examinations and acquiring knowledge on various subjects. Many of them don’t know how to put smart work. In contrast, they put in their hard work and struggle a lot to understand and grasp their academic content. They put in quantitative rather than qualitative efforts resulting into wastage of time as well as getting concerned over the results. Right study skills will help them to emerge and evolve as successful students.
What are study skills?
The methodology of planning and preparing for studying either in academic or non-academic activities for assimilation of the content for better analysis, application and practice can be called study skills. It is obvious that no two people study in a similar manner. Everyone has a unique way of preparation and methodology towards study skills. It is also an admitted fact that what works for one may not work for another.
Study skills are different from academic skills. While study skills are forever the academic skills are for short term. In addition, academic skills end the day academic life ends where as the study skills end the day the life ends.
SQ3R Technique:
SQ3R is the acronym for Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review. It is a tool that helps in enhancing your study skills. According to this method, the reader has to survey the overall broad picture about the content to be studied. The reader has to question about the takeaways out of the study from the available content as it helps in better focusing. While reading it is essential to look for the key concepts and key words from which the meaning of the entire content in a given context can be learnt. Reciting what was read will help in retaining the content for longer time. Finally, the reader has to review what was read. It is like looking and checking for takeaways. The SQ3R is an excellent method that helps in effective study skills.
Importance:
The study skills help in optimum utilization of time for assimilating and absorbing the content. Every individual has unique learning style. Being strong at study skills will help in better understanding, grasping and retaining the content. It develops and promotes mental faculties. Being good at study skills promotes smart work. It promotes competitive advantages over others.
How to hone your study skills?
Some people are auditory learners as they learn well by listening. Some people are visual learners as they learn well by seeing. However, we also find people learning through interactive learning. You may find out which category of learner you are as it enables you to effective study skills. Below are the tips for honing study skills.
1. Always study in a serene place where you don’t find distractions. Selection of the study place is equally important. Avoid being surrounded by people who talk negative things like gossips, rumors, criticism, and always talking ill of others. It not only diverts your mind from study but also fills with negative information.
2. Study when you have the mood to study. i.e. Check your biological clock. If you are a morning man, study during morning time for better grasping.
3. Take breaks during study as it gives your brain rest. It helps in better concentration, rejuvenation, understanding and grasping of the content.
4. Don’t cram. Learn to understand first rather than mugging up the content. When the content is well understood it can be presented in your own language as you know the content thoroughly since you did not cram.
5. Admit the fact is that short pencil is better than a long memory. Take notes wherever and whenever necessary.
6. Preparing the subject which is ahead of lecture will help in asking the right questions to the teacher. It also helps you to prepare yourself mentally to attend the class attentively. It enhances your listening and attentive skills in the classroom. It sends right signals to the lecturer for conducting an effective class.
7. Don’t dribble away your precious time during your study. Learn to manage your time effectively and efficiently.
8. If the content is big, break it into small chunks and allot time slot for each chunk. If you find that specific chunk is difficult to understand then select your style of reading and mood at which you can learn well and allot more time to understand and assimilate. Always allocate your priority of time for the difficult portions so that you can decode the complicated content.
Conclusion:
Study skills are essential for everyone including students, teachers and professionals. Parents and teachers have a crucial role to play in enhancing study skills among children. Right planning, preparation and methodology will help in understanding and retaining the content. To conclude, effective study skills not only widen and promote your intellectual faculties but also develop your personality for achieving all round success.
The End
Students spend most of their time in preparing for classes, examinations and acquiring knowledge on various subjects. Many of them don’t know how to put smart work. In contrast, they put in their hard work and struggle a lot to understand and grasp their academic content. They put in quantitative rather than qualitative efforts resulting into wastage of time as well as getting concerned over the results. Right study skills will help them to emerge and evolve as successful students.
What are study skills?
The methodology of planning and preparing for studying either in academic or non-academic activities for assimilation of the content for better analysis, application and practice can be called study skills. It is obvious that no two people study in a similar manner. Everyone has a unique way of preparation and methodology towards study skills. It is also an admitted fact that what works for one may not work for another.
Study skills are different from academic skills. While study skills are forever the academic skills are for short term. In addition, academic skills end the day academic life ends where as the study skills end the day the life ends.
SQ3R Technique:
SQ3R is the acronym for Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review. It is a tool that helps in enhancing your study skills. According to this method, the reader has to survey the overall broad picture about the content to be studied. The reader has to question about the takeaways out of the study from the available content as it helps in better focusing. While reading it is essential to look for the key concepts and key words from which the meaning of the entire content in a given context can be learnt. Reciting what was read will help in retaining the content for longer time. Finally, the reader has to review what was read. It is like looking and checking for takeaways. The SQ3R is an excellent method that helps in effective study skills.
Importance:
The study skills help in optimum utilization of time for assimilating and absorbing the content. Every individual has unique learning style. Being strong at study skills will help in better understanding, grasping and retaining the content. It develops and promotes mental faculties. Being good at study skills promotes smart work. It promotes competitive advantages over others.
How to hone your study skills?
Some people are auditory learners as they learn well by listening. Some people are visual learners as they learn well by seeing. However, we also find people learning through interactive learning. You may find out which category of learner you are as it enables you to effective study skills. Below are the tips for honing study skills.
1. Always study in a serene place where you don’t find distractions. Selection of the study place is equally important. Avoid being surrounded by people who talk negative things like gossips, rumors, criticism, and always talking ill of others. It not only diverts your mind from study but also fills with negative information.
2. Study when you have the mood to study. i.e. Check your biological clock. If you are a morning man, study during morning time for better grasping.
3. Take breaks during study as it gives your brain rest. It helps in better concentration, rejuvenation, understanding and grasping of the content.
4. Don’t cram. Learn to understand first rather than mugging up the content. When the content is well understood it can be presented in your own language as you know the content thoroughly since you did not cram.
5. Admit the fact is that short pencil is better than a long memory. Take notes wherever and whenever necessary.
6. Preparing the subject which is ahead of lecture will help in asking the right questions to the teacher. It also helps you to prepare yourself mentally to attend the class attentively. It enhances your listening and attentive skills in the classroom. It sends right signals to the lecturer for conducting an effective class.
7. Don’t dribble away your precious time during your study. Learn to manage your time effectively and efficiently.
8. If the content is big, break it into small chunks and allot time slot for each chunk. If you find that specific chunk is difficult to understand then select your style of reading and mood at which you can learn well and allot more time to understand and assimilate. Always allocate your priority of time for the difficult portions so that you can decode the complicated content.
Conclusion:
Study skills are essential for everyone including students, teachers and professionals. Parents and teachers have a crucial role to play in enhancing study skills among children. Right planning, preparation and methodology will help in understanding and retaining the content. To conclude, effective study skills not only widen and promote your intellectual faculties but also develop your personality for achieving all round success.
The End
Saturday, August 8, 2009
How Do Students Learn From Their Failures?
“If you got it, ask yourself why and try to repeat the action. If you failed, ask yourself why and try to learn from the experience.” - Dale Carnegie
Can you have omelette without breaking the eggs? Can you have success without facing failures? Of course, not. People treat failure as a stigma which is unfortunate. In fact, man learns many things from several failures and ultimately evolves as a successful person. It is basically because; man treats every failure as a learning opportunity for his progress and prosperity.
Students usually live in their reel life as long as they are in educational institutions. They will understand the real life only when they enter into employment. There are certain things students should learn while in educational institution itself as it helps them to face the challenges at the workplace squarely.
They should learn to prepare a resume about their failures. They should first list out number of failures they encountered in their lives and should write down how they overcame from failures. Did they fail in different areas? Did they fail due to their own mistakes or due to the forces arising out of external environment? The process helps in analyzing the reasons for failures and taking corrective steps. It enhances their thinking, analytical and problem solving skills. In addition, it helps them in learning certain lessons in their lives. They can fail differently but not at the same thing several times. It makes them to think in a more realistic and practical manner. The takeaways out of their failures will help them in facing the real challenges in the corporate world with more confidence and courage.
Remember the fact that everyone has their own share of failures. If there are no failures in life, it indicates that people did not risk anything in their lives. Not to have taken a risk is also a risk. Students should learn to risk and try whatever possible as they are young and energetic. They can rise even if they fail as they are filled with energy and enthusiasm.
Always remember one thing in life there are no problems but only opportunities. Every problem offers some prospects in disguise. Students should be able to spot and tap for their advantage.
Life is not a cakewalk. It is a circus with highs and lows. Students should not get elated with success and should not get dejected when faced with failures. They must be in a position to take the challenges in their stride.
To sum up, as exercise is to your body, problems are to your mind and failures are to your success.
The End
Can you have omelette without breaking the eggs? Can you have success without facing failures? Of course, not. People treat failure as a stigma which is unfortunate. In fact, man learns many things from several failures and ultimately evolves as a successful person. It is basically because; man treats every failure as a learning opportunity for his progress and prosperity.
Students usually live in their reel life as long as they are in educational institutions. They will understand the real life only when they enter into employment. There are certain things students should learn while in educational institution itself as it helps them to face the challenges at the workplace squarely.
They should learn to prepare a resume about their failures. They should first list out number of failures they encountered in their lives and should write down how they overcame from failures. Did they fail in different areas? Did they fail due to their own mistakes or due to the forces arising out of external environment? The process helps in analyzing the reasons for failures and taking corrective steps. It enhances their thinking, analytical and problem solving skills. In addition, it helps them in learning certain lessons in their lives. They can fail differently but not at the same thing several times. It makes them to think in a more realistic and practical manner. The takeaways out of their failures will help them in facing the real challenges in the corporate world with more confidence and courage.
Remember the fact that everyone has their own share of failures. If there are no failures in life, it indicates that people did not risk anything in their lives. Not to have taken a risk is also a risk. Students should learn to risk and try whatever possible as they are young and energetic. They can rise even if they fail as they are filled with energy and enthusiasm.
Always remember one thing in life there are no problems but only opportunities. Every problem offers some prospects in disguise. Students should be able to spot and tap for their advantage.
Life is not a cakewalk. It is a circus with highs and lows. Students should not get elated with success and should not get dejected when faced with failures. They must be in a position to take the challenges in their stride.
To sum up, as exercise is to your body, problems are to your mind and failures are to your success.
The End
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