[lg policy] India: Foreign languages likely to fall victim to Bengali-must policy

[Harold Schiffman]

 Foreign languages likely to fall victim to Bengali-must policy


   - Thu,18 May 2017

[image: Foreign languages likely to fall victim to Bengali-must policy]
<https://www.nyoooz.com/news/kolkata/814222/foreign-languages-likely-to-fall-victim-to-bengalimust-policy/#>

Summary: Kolkata: Sanskrit and foreign languages like French, German and
Chinese could be the casualties of the state's compulsory Bengali policy.
"There's a lot of interest in foreign languages because we are not global
citizens. "While many parents have chosen foreign languages for their
children, Sanskrit is high on demand too, particularly among students who
have Hindi as second language. It changed this year for logistical reasons
and now students can opt for either French or Chinese from Class III.
Physician Simanti Niyogi opted for Sanskrit for her daughter Shrinjita
because having studied Hindi and Sanskrit herself, she was more comfortable
with it.

Kolkata: Sanskrit and foreign languages like French, German and Chinese
could be the casualties of the state's compulsory Bengali policy. While
Sanskrit as a third language from Class V to VIII has been popular among
some schools for decades, foreign languages as third language have gained
currency in the past 10 years.Till last year, South City International
School had French as compulsory third language from Class I. It changed
this year for logistical reasons and now students can opt for either French
or Chinese from Class III.

But if it became compulsory for students to study Bengali, principal John
Bagul said students who have Hindi as second language will have to abandon
French and take up Bengali."There's a lot of interest in foreign languages
because we are not global citizens. Many students will later travel abroad,
either for higher studies or career assignments,"he said. Bagul added he
believed learning Bengali was important, but making it compulsory will
restrict foreign languages while there will be many avenues for students to
learn Bengali beyond school in Kolkata.Future Foundation offers French as a
second language from Class I.

*Source:*
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/foreign-languages-likely-to-fall-victim-to-bengali-must-policy/articleshow/58723252.cms


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