
Language has always been a medium to convey messages or emotions in a way that makes it easy for others to understand what a person might be feeling or thinking. The best poems and greatest stories remain unknown, hidden within famous yet unread course books.The appreciation for language appears to have declined over the years, leading to a decrease in the prominence of language departments in degree colleges.
We sat down with Dr.Trapthy Sharma, the head of the Language Department here at ST PAULS COLLEGE, Bangalore. Ma’am has been a part of the ST PAULS family since the institution’s beginning phase.
From faculty member to department head, her journey has involved many hellos and goodbyes from countless students. She has always felt proud of the students who learned a language under her care and guidance. She has consistently strived to bring out the best of their potential.
The Language Department fosters a symbiotic relationship with its students. The college offers more than 12 languages, including Hindi (taught by Ma’am herself), English, Kannada, Malayalam, and Urdu.
During our conversation, Dr.Trapthy mentioned that a lot has changed since her time as a student. Students today have a much heavier workload than she did. There has been a shift towards extracurricular activities in recent years. Students are exposed to many responsibilities beyond their coursework, and this has demonstrably brought a positive change. They act more maturely and handle pressure better.
While discussing extracurricular activities, we asked Ma’am about the fests organized by the Language Department. Dr.Trapthy has taken many initiatives to ensure students experience different cultures and languages through these college fests. The primary purpose of these events is to introduce students to new cultures and languages. Secondly, they provide a platform for students to showcase not only their talents but also their roots and traditions in a fun and educational way. The well-planned events help students get familiar with their peers and faculty members.
Ma’am also emphasized the importance of understanding language concepts. She stressed that without a good grasp of language, we are incapable of accurately conveying our feelings, which can hinder our long-term goals. According to her, the first step towards growth comes from knowing the language of the place you live. This understanding is essential for comprehending the important aspects of the culture. It fosters empathy and creates a special bond built on respect for each other’s efforts.
During the conversation, she also made a very relevant point for the current times: the value of a language degree. People often view language as a side subject or an additional course, which undermines its importance in any field of work. Media, Law, Advertising, Psychology, IT, Corporate – regardless of the field, language can be a significant barrier. Studying a language course equips one with a strong grasp of the subject itself. It provides the crucial ability to articulate thoughts clearly under any circumstance.
As per Dr.Trapthy’s view, language is not only important for initiating a conversation but also for keeping it going. This applies to conveying news, knowledge, stories, or speeches. Fluency and a strong command of language boost confidence and bring greater attention to your work.
As our session concluded, we asked Ma’am to leave a message for students pursuing their dreams to become professionals or are about to enter that phase of their life. Here’s what Dr.Trapthy said: “Students are like statues made out of a lot of love and care. But a plain statue wouldn’t hold someone’s attention for long. The need to decorate a statue comes from the desire to be seen and noticed. The same applies to students. As language and grammar are the basic foundation of our society, it’s important for students to adorn themselves with as much knowledge and as many languages as they can. When they go out into the world, people will be instantly drawn to them. The more they learn, the more they’ll grow.”
That’s all from us. This is the ST PAULS Team, signing off until next time. Stay safe, keep achieving, and keep dreaming.
Learn more about BA courses and specializationsat ST PAULS COLLEGE, Bengaluru.