Language a barrier,Delhi University foreign students get mentors

As a result,a lot of re-admissions in the same class take place every year.

To help them tide over their problems,20 colleges have appointed mentors and counsellors. Dr Rakesh Parasher,a mentor in Kirorimal College,said: “Students from Mauritius,Korea and Tibet find it extremely hard to cope with the situation. There should be some language course to help them follow the lectures.”

“I recommend that orientation sessions should be conducted for foreign students at colleges. The students should be made aware of helpline numbers and groups in case of emergency,” Parasher said.

Existing measures such as involving foreign students in college activities weren’t enough,” he said.

Tibetan girl Tenzin Norzom illustrated the predicament of the foreigners studying in DU.

“I studied English (Honours) in Miranda House. Though the teachers were very supportive,we had trouble following the accent. We couldn’t take down notes during lectures. This got reflected in the marksheet. One of my friends failed to clear the exam because of this problem,” she said,while looking for somebody who could help her with the registration papers for MA (English).

University officials admitted that they were aware of the problems and have adopted measures to help these students. “We will introduce a mechanism under which foreign students will be able to take an English proficiency test,comprising three categories (basic,intermediate and advanced). The student can assess the level of his or her English through this test,” Mishra said.

“Depending on the result,the student can opt for a course to improve his or her language skills. Though the university’s Institute of Lifelong Learning (ILLL) has an 80-hour English proficiency programme for reserved category students,putting in place such a course for foreign students will take some time,” she said.