Why study Mandarin (official Chinese language)?

China’s economic shift has attracted the eyes of whole world towards it and in the present globalized world China has become a hot word.  In the field of international, trade, business as well as in international relations one can’t survive without having a fair understanding of Chinese language. Besides business, corporate sectors, the government leadership also have a great demand for the language.  With the language one also enters into the huge world of ancient and rich Chinese culture and civilization, and thus develops a better understanding of the country, society and its people.  In this way learning the language also helps in filling the gap between the nations and its people.

By Chinese, we mean Mandarin here, which is the official language of mainland China and Taiwan. Mandarin Chinese is the most taught foreign language after English in Japan. In U.S. most schools are running Chinese language courses, and it has become a very sort after stream all over world. Mandarin Chinese is the most used language on the net.The study of the Chinese language opens the way to different important fields such as Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology, culture etc.

Career opportunities:

In today’s competitive world, with the advantage of knowing Chinese language, one gets an edge over others. It gives lucrative job opportunities in the following fields:

1. Ministries, embassies, diplomatic services and different government sectors.
2. Multinational companies and BPOs.
3. Tourism, tour guiding, entertainment.
4. Public relations and mass communication, content writing, publishing etc.
5. Language teaching at various government and private schools, institutes, colleges etc.
6. Interpretation and translation etc.

And all the above mentioned sectors provide a handsome salary according to the language competence and fluency of the candidates. In MNCs, BPOs on average one gets an average starting package of INR 30,000-50,000 per month; tourist guides earn a handsome amount in a few days trip; and in the field of translation/interpretation the language experts get INR 2000-6000 per day depending upon the proficiency, caliber and work-ex of the professionals.

Chinese is considered one of the toughest languages in the world. But despite this widely-held belief, millions of people are studying Mandarin Chinese as a second language. Currently Mandarin Chinese is spoken by over 1 billion people around the world, about one fifth of the global population. Each year more and more students around the world whose mother tongue is not Mandarin are studying it with enthusiasm and success.
So, why can’t you!

• Jobs in Korean Companies in India

There are hundreds of Korean companies/ groups that are functioning in India. These companies are operating in almost every sector, i.e. business research, consumer electronics, R&D, life sciences, media, banking, services, etc.  Candidates having proficiency in Korean language are preferred in Korean companies as their head Office are based in Korea and they need to communicate with the Head Office on regular basis.
With conclusion of CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) between these two countries which came into effect from January 1, 2010, more companies are likely to move-in to India. Apart from Korean companies in India, many Indian companies have invested in S.Korea, like Tata Motors has bought Daewoo Commercial Vehicles, M&M has bought Ssangyong Motors. Besides these acquisitions, many companies like Infosys, Wipro etc. has their branch offices in S.Korea.

• Jobs in Other MNCs

Apart from Korean companies, there are numerous MNCs from India, USA and Europe which hires Korean languages professionals for their office in India. WIPRO, TCS, Infosys, Oracle, HP are among giants which tens of language professionals. Jobs in these companies are related to account payables, translations, purchase, technical writings, proof readings, interpretation etc.

• Govt. Jobs

Not only in MNCs but Language Experts have good future in government sector also. Many government agencies like Cabinet Secretariat recruit language experts. Persons having higher qualifications can opt to go to academics as well.

• Freelancing Jobs

In digitalized world, language experts can earn handsome money by working as a freelancer in different domains such as Interpreter, translator, tourist guide etc. As per en estimation more than 50% of language experts do not join any company but prefer to work as freelancer.
Language as an add-on asset for PROFESSIONALS

Above briefing are about jobs for those who want to work as Korean Language Expert. However, opportunity are unlimited if one has profession degree i.e. engineering, management, law etc. Korean companies prefer candidates who know Korean language besides having professional degree. Candidates can leverage their proficiency in building their career.
As we all know, S. Korea is a technologically advanced nation with passion for research. Academic environment is one of best in the world. Not only Korean government but many universities, research foundations, trusts and companies which provides financial support and opportunity to students to come and study in Korea.

The study of any language is considered as an important gateway to understanding of our roots, culture and philosophy. Tibetan language is spoken by approximately ten million people in more than a half a dozen of countries in the Asian sub-continent including Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, India and South West China. It is understood by Mongolians who have had traditional monastic education. Learning Tibetan language is key to understand the Tibetan people, their way of life, religion and history. Studying Tibetan will also help to preserve the Tibetan culture. People who are interested in Buddhism will find the importance of Tibetan language and appreciate the rich Tibetan literature on Buddhism and related subjects. The Buddhist philosophical texts were originally created in Sanskrit and then translated in various other languages including Tibetan, but now some of the rare texts in original Sanskrit are lost and available in translation form alone. An effort is being made by various organizations to retranslate the Tibetan version into Sanskrit.

Thon-mi Sam-bhota first studied Sanskrit with Pandita Devavidyasiizha and Brahmin Lipikara of Kashmir and then invented the Tibetan alphabet with thirty consonants and four vowels in early 7th century. The Tibetan alphabet is based upon the Devanagari script. He decided to have four vowels i, u, e and o instead of sixteen vowels which existed in Sanskrit. The thirty consonants, twenty four consonants were based on the Sanskrit alphabet while six consonants were created according to the need in Tibetan speaking tongue which did not exist in Sanskrit alphabet. Six reversed consonants were later added to facilitate the standard transliteration of Sanskrit into Tibetan.

Designed to conform with the existing Tibetan language, Thonmi's Tibetan alphabet is one of the few scripts in the world which was solely created for the purpose of translating Buddhist scriptures. Scholars and students of Buddhist Studies in modern times have recognized that the Tibetan language is one of the most important languages which have preserved few of the most accurate translations of the complete Buddhist Canon.
Central University of Jharkhand is the first Centre of its kind in India to offer five year integrated M.A. program in Tibetan language and Culture. Further, the Centre has plans to start research programs in Tibetan language leading to M.Phil and Ph.D. research due course of time.

List of Ph.D. students in Tibetan Language

Job opportunities

There are job opportunities in academics and research, several ministries, Govt. of India as well as tourism industry (Buddhist Sector). At present, there are approximately 25 Universities/Institutions/Govt. autonomous organizations where Tibetan language/Tibetan Studies related courses are offered. This includes the prominent Institutions like Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (Leh, Ladakh, J &K), Central University of Tibetan Studies (Sarnath, Varanasi, UP) and Central Institute of Himalayan Culture (Arunachal Pradesh). It shows the importance and prospects of Tibetan language in academics and research.