If you are enrolled in any Delhi University college and learning a foreign language is on your mind, then you are in luck as many popular colleges are offering part-time certificate courses in French, German, Russian and many other ‘exotic’ tongues. And the best part? No sky high cut-offs and the courses are open for everyone, across colleges.
Ramjas College Principal Rajendra Prasad said: “We are recognised internationally for our foreign language courses. We used to have fun courses like Forensic Science and the like, but a few years ago a University rule giving each college the authority to conduct only a certain number of certificate courses was introduced. Since our language courses were a big draw, we had to scrap the rest. Our students are given priority, after which admissions are available on first come, first serve basis.”
He added that teachers were all hired from the University’s Departments.
Hindu College, however, usually has tie-ups with outside language Franchises. “We are still offering Spanish, German, and French like last year, but this time Chinese, Korean and Japanese might be added. We have in-principal approval to begin these courses and logistics like teachers from within the University or tie-ups with outside franchises have to be completed,” said Hindu College Principal Pradyum Kumar.
“Classes are usually held after college is completed in the evenings, so students have to be prepared for this. We do not conduct weekend classes since our classrooms are occupied,” said Hans Raj College Principal V.K Kawatra.
Many colleges offer such courses and admissions are usually done after the normal under-graduate admissions are over. The timings vary for each one of these courses at each college.
These certificate courses are different from the four-year undergraduate courses in languages, which have entrance tests and cut-offs.