By Shafaque Alam,
One may have certain mediated perceptions about New Delhi’s Jamia Nagar, a predominantly Muslim locality. But don’t get surprised if you hear people talking in English! The fever for the seemingly becoming lingua franca of urban Indian population has not spared this otherwise Muslim ‘ghetto.’ Shafaque Alam explores the locality:
Several private institutes offering ‘Spoken English courses’ have mushroomed in the Jamia Nagar locality, so called because the area developed in the vicinity of the Jamia Millia Islamia. Upwardly moving lower-middle and middle class, who are educating their children, are fast realising the importance of the English language in one’s educational performances and career prospects. These ‘spoken courses’ are thus aimed at bridging the gap.
L-R: Shanu, a student, Mohammad Perwez, Director Asian Academy, in conversation with the reporter
There are several privately run Spoken English institutions in the locality catering the ‘high’ demand for the language. Teachers in these institutions are aware of the fact that most of their students come from either Hindi or Urdu background, and hence find it difficult to learn the English language. They have hence devised special mechanism to teach English in an easy way.
Asian Academy of English Language, a coaching centre at a throwaway distance from the Jamia campus, claims that learning the language of former colonial masters has never been as easy: “English Seekhna kabhi itna aasan na tha.” Students at this academy too think it offers ‘unique’ teaching methodology. Mohammad Pervez, Director of this Academy, who also teaches at the academy, explains that he often records video of the class to identify and rectify mistakes in phonetics, or other grammatical errors. He allowed this reporter to attend one such class to experience, what he claimed, is ‘unique’ method.
“English is very important for higher studies and jobs. And there is a boom of call centre industry in India. These call centres offer handsome salary and other facilities to their employees. But they need young talents who can speak English in neutral accent,” says Shahnawaz, who, after spending some years in call-centre industry, is running another spoken English coaching in the locality, Lingua Gen- X.
Sachin Tomar, a teacher at the American Academy, near Batla House bus stand, says, “As English is not our mother tongue, we have designed a unique method of teaching so that the students do not see it as an alien language.” English is taught here as Edu-tainment – a combination of education and entertainment. American Academy has around 600 branches across the nation, and a student enrolled in any of the centre, can attend classes in any part of the country, claims the administrator of the centre.
There is another English teaching institute in the Zakir Nagar locality, near New Friends Colony, named Dynamic, whose USP is that it is run by Americans. The academy charges ‘modest’ fees of Rs 1900 for one month, or Rs 4000 for three months.
Students at a Spoken English class in Jamia Nagar
There are some who offer English courses at reasonable fees in the locality to support those students who cannot afford higher costs charged by reputed institutes in the capital. Youth Empowerment Services (YES) is one such non-government organisation based in the Jamia Nagar locality that focuses on youth development and mentoring programmes. Salman Jafri, Director of YES told TCN, “We have been teaching spoken English to students with a purpose of serving the society. We do not have any commercial motive. We charge only Rs. 500 for 45 days which includes study material.”
The institute has been functioning for over two years now, and has trained hundreds of students, most of them from the underprivileged section. YES also provides scholarship to the poor and meritorious candidates. YES spoken English programme is an initiative of the New Millennium Foundation.
Students in these spoken English classes come from varied backgrounds: madarsa, students who studied in government run Hindi medium schools, college students, housewives, or professionals looking for better prospects.
Many students in these centres appeared satisfied and were glad that they could now speak some English. “Trainers at my institute make us familiar with some most common words used in English newspapers, which have helped me in reading and understanding them,” says Anees, a student at one of the institutes.
However, some students complain that these institutions are not up to their expectations. Students looking for better coaching institute rue that most of the centres do not offer any ‘demo classes’ and hence they are not sure which one to join.