Language schools in India

sara45

I'm leaving for India on August 1st, can someone tell me how I find out the train schedule for the Shatabdi Train leaving from Delhi to Dehradun? I've found some info online but it's kind of confusing.

First I'm going to Landour and I'll then take it from there. I was going to go to Bhasha Bharati, but now I don't think I will. Anyways, I'll post regular updates on the schools I attend and how they are.

randomviolins

Has anyone had any experience or heard anything about the Vijnana Kala Vedi Cultural Centre in Aranmula, Kerala (website http://www.vijnanakalavedi.org/lang.htm)? Their focus seems to be on the arts (dance, music, painting, yoga, martial arts, cooking, introduction to principles of ayurveda), but they also offer classes in Hindi, Malayalam, and Sanskrit.

Their program sounds quite interesting, although I am a little put off by some of the admonissions on their website's tips page, not the least of which are, "DO NOT expect any kind of nightlife in Kerala" and "You can receive your guests in the centre, BUT ONLY IN THE OFFICE HOUSE." Sounds charming for a brief visit, but for someone my age considering a longer stay that would be best for serious language study it might be a little too much like being in a prison.

contrabassista

Kerala is also not the optimal place to study Hindi. It is not spoken there.

em2

I thought accomodation at Bhasha Bharati is very expensive for what you got. I stayed there for a week of my time but I was happy to move back to my guest house at Assi ghat after a week at the school. I found it was cheaper to stay at a guest house and it would be even cheaper to rent a room by the month. The food was fine, indian veg, not too spicy.
I did not feel part of the family while I was staying there. I would often eat with the brothers or on my own. The women would eat later or separately. It felt rather strange. I think I had imagined much more of a family scene and that I would feel included a bit more. It may be different for someone else...
The family would often make a point of chatting with me after I had eaten but it felt rather like they were doing their job and then they had to get back to their lives. It is just as easy to find people on the ghats or in shops and restaurants to practice speaking with.

I have to sayI was very disappointed with my Bhasha Bharati experience. I had my doubts about it before I started as I had not been able to get feedback or recommendations about it from anyone. There were several other students taking classes while I was there and many seemed satisfied. I would suggest trying it for a week and seeing how it feels. I also took classes with a private teacher at Assi ghat and would recommend him. His name is Virendra Singh and is well known if you ask around or I have a phone # and email contact if you are interested.

sara45

I met a guy in Mussoorie who went to the BB school as well and was very disappointed. He said that he learned nothing and it was a complete waste of his money. Landour language school isn't the greatest either, but it's not because the teachers don't know anything it's because they are under paid. The school charges between 150-200RS per hour and the teachers only get 50Rs. The classes are usually only 30-45 minutes. I know a student who paid a teacher 200Rs p/h outside of class and said it was the best class he ever had. There are lots of independent Hindi teachers in Landour who charge between 50-200Rs p/h. so you'll be sure to find someone your happy with.

Darryl

Hi all

I'm looking at spending a couple of weeks at Landour Language School - all the time I have for now - but when's the optimum time to go if I want to avoid heavy competition from college students for accomodation? I imagine the summer months and festival dates it'd be hard to find. I thought Feb when school opens but that is a bit too soon for me to get myself organised for trip - otherwise I was wondering how many students are still around come Nov-Dec? Anyone have an useful idea?

regards
Darryl

boundlesstraveler

Hmmm, well it's usually not that much people in Feb and March. In April it's starting to get a bit crowded and May through out September it's really hard to get a place to stay if you haven't booked in advance. Same goes with the school. In August and September there are usually a couple of bigger groups of students coming. The school close second week of December and opens again in February. Best time to go if you want to avoid heavy competion from other students is to go right before the school close or right when it opens. If you want great weather- the spring and the fall!

__________________
"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen." ~ Paulo Coelho

ploink

I'm also interested in studying Hindi in Landour, and I've been wondering whether I should book a course (e.g. the "Intensive Hindi Course") for a certain period (e.g. September to November) in advance in addition to booking accommodation in advance, and how much in advance?


If they have such courses really: It appears to me that students request for a certain number of classes for each week, and hope for the best: To have the requested number of classes, with the requested teachers, etc.

They don't mention booking courses in advance on their web page, so I don't know whether it's possible. I've been scouring the web and the indiamike threads for information, and it appears that Landour is very popular with Hindi students (also groups) almost throughout the year, and I would hate to take time off from work for "nothing" (few classes per few weeks).

I should email them, I know.

__________________
But rather, ten times rather, die in the surf, heralding the way to that new world, than stand idly on the shore! -Florence Nightingale

contrabassista

Have you checked out Himalayan Hindi House at www.angelfire.com/indie/himhindi/? Sounds like a very organized environment to me, and maybe more what you are looking for. As for me, I can only get to India in January, so the mountains are out. I'll have to visit my local Dunkin' Donuts shop the other 11 months.

ploink

Hi, I took a look at HHH earlier (I think one IMer has been there), I took another look now, and HHH appears organised (much more school-like and much more expensive, but may be worth the investment), but it also appears that HHH has ONE course per year only? ("6 WEEK ELEMENTARY INTENSIVE COURSE: August to September: Dates to be announced") Plus, "There will be no more than Five students in a course at a time. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis." I should register now if I want a place?! (And I haven't even asked for a study leave... I'm planning only.)


BTW, it appears that HHH is also planning to become Hindi Sanskrit Yoga Trekking Centre ("Sanskrit, Yoga and Trekking: Arrangements are being made to provide these services."):
http://www.geocities.com/hindisanskrit/index.html

I'm not very organised myself, and Landour appears flexible, (I'm thirty something so I wonder whether HHH is too school-like), and Landour/Mussoorie is a better base for exploring the region. Still, my employer and managers don't love India & Hindi quite as much as I do, so if they give me a study leave for studying Hindi in India, I want more to study seriously (and learn) then and less to "explore". I guess...

And I guess I have to write some emails... to Landour / HHH.

contrabassista

Hey Ploink,

When you say thirties something, you are talking to someone who is fifties something and been through similar situations learning German and Japanese, the latter to help me forget my 50th. Maybe I'm now working on forgetting my 60th.

Anyhow, when you try to immerse there is plenty of adventure in just discovering more intimate things about the culture. I thought HHH could give the structure needed for immersion while using the local mountain color and culture to enhance it. If I weren't duty-bound in the summer I would be there.

This is the director's summer gig back home from Australia. That is why there are only summer courses. Besides, you get to escape the heat of the plains.

Lucky you to have the choice! (If boss agrees)

ploink

Ah, contrabassista, you are right... My M.A. degree certificate is less than a month old, thus I shy away from... erm, school, school-like courses, erm....? OK. I stop. I sound stupid. Really stupid. Because I want to study Hindi, and learn Hindi, and I'd love to be at the Himalayas, it's one of my dreams, to see the Himalayas, and to be at the Himalayas. (I've been to India twice, ten weeks in total, and never been more to the north than Delhi.) So, yes, I suppose I am lucky to have the choice, even though I wonder whether HHH already has tens of people on their "waiting list", waiting for the dates of the course to be announced. I guess I just feel "OMG, do I have to decide now?!" - I just started planning, but it appears that decisions and bookings are best made early, whether I opt for Landour or HHH - or something else. I've also planned to travel in the summer, in South East Asia, so maybe I could combine the two travelling and studying - if I have the study leave, and if I have the money.
Thanks!

boundlesstraveler

I would book the course as well as accommodation as soon as I knew what dates I would wanna study at the school. All you really have to do when you know the dates is to send a short note to the school letting them know what dates you want to study there and if it's full time or part time, and then meet with the principal when you arrive in Mussoorie and talk with him in person about what you want to get out of your time there.



If you choose to study full time it is four classes a day and part time should be two classes a day. What you request is what hours (morning or afternoon) and teachers. And they try to meet your requests, but during the busy period it might be hard to always get what you request.


It's usually not that busy in the beginning of the year and towards the end of the year, but it is a popular school and May-October it is crowded, but if you have booked in advance it should be no problem. During the summer months there are usually a few bigger groups of students coming. I would recommend early spring or fall!

Good luck with your plans!

boundlesstraveler

Also, keep in mind that the school is closed now and opens again in February, so you might not get a respond from them until then if you e-mail them!

ploink

Thanks boundlesstraveler. I also received an encouraging PM from an IMer who's been to HHH. It may be easier for me to arrange to attend Landour even though HHH appears to be . Now I only the need the courage to try to realise my dreams - Hindi & the Himalayas! Maybe it isn't what I expect it to be, but I won't know if I won't even... <trying to be courageous>
<trying not to (ab)use smileys too much>