EFLU to roll out new proficiency course in 13 languages

Hyderabad: English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) Vice-Chancellor Prof E Suresh Kumar on Monday said the university will be rolling out a thirty-hour proficiency course in oral communication skills in 13 languages as part of open educational resources (OER) for all under a unique programme of University Social Responsibility (USR).

Addressing media here on the occasion of marking the conclusion of the EFLU Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, Prof Suresh Kumar said the university had introduced the first-of-its-kind concept of USR in the country through which OER in English, Sanskrit, Hindi and 10 foreign languages, such as Russian, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Persian, were developed.

The courses are almost ready to be hosted online. The thirty-hour proficiency course is meant to provide oral communication skills in each of the languages free of cost. The courses are expected to be launched by Union Minister for Human Resource shortly, he added.

Apart from it, the university is also coming up with Mobile Applications on 'Spoken English' and 'English Pronunciation.' The free Mobile Apps to provide an opportunity for the general public to improve their oral communication skills and English pronunciation.

Meet a Leading Light (MALL) is another unique programme launched to emphasise the importance of shaping the personality of students at the University.

The new initiative MALL has been introduced to enable students to meet and interact with eminent personalities and celebrities in an informal setting and get to know the secret of their success.

The students would learn lessons from them and would make an attempt to emulate them. This programme is conducted on-campus as well as off-campus, he added.

In the academic activities, Prof Kumar said the EFLU is introducing online international journals as part of enhancing the research output, seven online international journals would be launched with foreign experts on the editorial board along with the deans and head of departments concerned from the EFLU.

Two journals are to be released shortly. In addition to it, the University has also established a Centre for Translation Studies (CTS) to take up project works related to translation from and into English, Hindi and foreign languages being taught at the University.

The University has also conducted an 80-hour proficiency course in Chinese exclusively to the Officers of the College of Air Warfare and the EFLU has increased the number of online entrance test examination centres from 8 to 23.

Throughout the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, the departments, centres and schools of the University had conducted several programmes marking the year-long celebrations.

They included photo exhibitions, seminars, organising expert lectures with professors and academicians from foreign universities. He said that the closing ceremony of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations would be held on Tuesday at the University Park, EFLU.

US Consul General in Hyderabad Katherine B Hadda will be the chief guest and Dr Adnan Altay Altinors, Consul General, Hyderabad Turkish Consulate General of Turkey, Suresh Chukkapalli, Honorary Consul, Consulate General of the Republic of Kores will grace as guests of honour, he said.