BANGALORE:In Khajuraho, policemen are fluent in French, German and Spanish apart from the local language. This way, they are able to keep an eye on security and mingle with the tourists. In Goa, shopkeepers and shack owners engage in casual conversations with Germans and Russians, hoping they will spend more time at their tea stalls. India and Japan will soon be building an industrial corridor between Mumbai and Delhi, hoping this infrastructure project will foster closer ties. The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor engineers have since enrolled for Japanese language classes so that communication with their Japanese counterparts is made easy. As countries move closer and their interdependence grows with each passing day, it is important to acknowledge the fact that knowing a foreign language has now become a necessity. For MBA students, having an extra language on their resume increases their chances of landing a job with an MNC. For lawyers, it gives them a better understanding of international law. For artistes and actors, it opens a window into the culture of other societies. It is not surprising that young people have shown a sudden burst of enthusiasm towards learning a foreign language. Vivek Dilip (25), who runs his family business, says: 'I have started speaking Japanese so that my business association with my Japanese clients is more personal. There is a noticeable difference in the comfort level I now share with my clients.' Wanted: Language specialists Being able to speak a foreign language is a definite career plus, youngsters say. Industries like airlines, tourism, technology, hospitality, textiles and law require language specialists. S Suchitra Latha, former merchandising officer for Gokaldas who worked with French technicians, says the expertise could only be shared through a translator. 'I was a part of the knowledge transfer process,' she adds. Ram Narayan Mohan, who has been speaking Russian for more than 20 years now, has worked with a host of companies that require his language skills. From seafood exporting to shipping, Ram believes that knowing a foreign language has not only made him a global citizen, but also helped him through some difficult times in a foreign country. Rising demand thrills BU Jayanthi Venkatesh, Head of Department of Foreign Languages, Bangalore University, says French and Spanish are the most sought after languages among youngsters. 'A large chunk of students come to class with a plan to either travel abroad or to seek jobs,' she says. Opening windows of opportunity In 1985, Bangalore University set up the Foreign Languages Department with just one programme - a master's in French. By the '90s, the university started two Beginner level courses in French ' Certificate and Diploma. By 1995, due to liberalization and globalization, Bangalore became the most favored destination of multinational companies. Many of them reportedly requested the university to include Italian, Japanese and Russian in their foreign language studies department. By 2004, there was demand for a full-fledged department of foreign languages with more than 80 takers for every language offered. Today, the university also offers languages such as Korean, Portuguese and Finnish. However, Jayanthi says: 'Only a small percentage of young people have realized the real potential in learning a foreign tongue. Often, I meet youngsters who are unaware of the kind of job opportunities available. When I tell them that corporates are willing to pay language specialists more than engineers, their jaws drop in surprise! Not a pastime anymore Hari Joshi (37), a Japanese and Portuguese language instructor, learnt Portuguese only to 'pass time' during his three-year stint at JNU, New Delhi. 'I loved the atmosphere at the campus and wanted to stay longer. So I joined a foreign language class.' He now runs a foreign languages institute in Bangalore and takes on projects with multinational firms as a language specialist. 'I train everyone from directors of companies who are posted abroad on assignments to management trainees. And, I enjoy every bit of it,' he says. Language of the global citizen Dr Anne Renate Schoenhagen, Head of the Language Department at the Goethe Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan since 2008, believes the world in indeed shrinking. 'Otherwise, why else would Japanese students learn German?' she asks. Through the workshops and training sessions that Max Mueller Bhavan has been conducting over the years in Bangalore, Dr Schoenhagen interacts closely with many youngsters. 'About 80 per cent of our language learners are looking to either work in a German firm or pursue research work in Germany,' she says. Companies like BMW, Daimler, Siemens, Lufthansa, SAP, Bosch, Infineon, BASF and many others require international partners and have found a foothold in India. 'Knowledge of a foreign language can develop a desire to understand and empathize with people from other countries. The access to understanding a foreign culture and society dissolves misconceptions.