Pune schools show a yen for Japanese

PUNE: While a large number of software firms within and outside Pune are training their programmers in Japanese language, some schools in Pune have set a new precedent by introducing Japanese language courses for their students.

Apart from the traditional French and German language courses, Japanese has now acquired a prominent place among foreign languages taught by various schools in Pune. Sinhgad Springdale Residential Public School, Jnanaprabodhini Navnagar Vidyalaya (JNV) and Dr Shamrao Kalmadi School are some of the city schools that have included Japanese language courses in their curriculum.

The increasing demand for Indian professionals in Japan and projections of greater demand in the years to come is one of the primary catalysts for this development. "This is the first foreign language we have introduced," said JNV principal Suman Shenoy. "Our courses are open to students from other schools as well. We will be starting the classes in August," she added.

"We will also have an introductory session for our students between July 25 and 30 to acquaint them with the details of the course," she added. Spring Dale school Principal Priya Menon said her school had decided to introduce Japanese in its curriculum because of the "extensive job opportunities available for Indians in Japan."

The courses, focusing on the basics of the language, are offered to students from classes V to X as an extra curricular activity. "Out of the four levels that generally constitute a comprehensive course in Japanese language, we only have the first level, which is ten months long," said Spring dale teacher Joyti D Dawaldhakta who comes from Seed Infotech, a firm specialising in teaching Japanese to IT professionals.

Narendra Barhate, CEO and Director, Seed Infotech, said: "We provide Japanese teachers to a few schools in Pune like Springdale because this language has a large scope due to the emerging Indo-Japanese collaborations."

Rachna M Navale, a class X student of Spring Dale, said that the first level enabled students to learn communication skills. Both schools conduct these classes on weekends. Spring Dale offers the ten-month course free of cost while JNV charges Rs 2,000.

Dr Shamrao Kalmadi School has a Vishwa Bharti Language and Culture Centre (VBLCC) that offers coaching for students from other schools as well. "We'll start a two-month introductory course in Japanese in August. The classes will be twice a week and the course is open to all school students," said Vikram Singh Chadha, head, VBLCC. Most students are excited at the prospect of learning Japanese.

"I am planning to do higher level courses in Japanese as well," said Raj Phadtare, a Springdale student.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/74361.cms