Bhubaneswar, Nov. 6: Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) has launched a centre which will provide its students an opportunity to learn foreign languages like French, Swahili and Arabic.
The ‘SOA Centre for Languages’ was ceremonially launched on Saturday where foreign students studying in the university will impart training to students in the three languages.
Launching the new initiative, SOA Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Amit Banerjee highlighted the importance of the language centre saying it would also help the students learn other languages like Mandarin, Japanese and Spanish. The centre also will extend training in other languages including Dzongkha (from Bhutan), Bangla, Tamil and Hindi, he said.
Mr. Kenguruka Sidoine, a Ph.D. scholar in Biotechnology in the university, Mr. John Mulungi, pursuing master’s in Computer Science and Mr. Jaffar Ebrahim Alkadi, a B.Pharm student, will be teaching French, Swahili and Arabic respectively.
Several other students including Ms. Kamga Kapche Michelle Bendicte (French), Ms. Aya Nasreddine Aldome Ibrahim, Ms. Lidia and Mr. Tarek (all Arabic) will also teach at the centre. Swahili is mostly spoken in African countries.
Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Dean of the faculty for management sciences and Prof. Nachieketa K. Sharma, SOA’s Director for University Outreach Programme (UOP) also addressed the programme. Mr. Sidoine sang a French song while Ms. Lidia sang in Arabic.
