<p>I have been traveling all my life.Every 2 years my dad gets posted out. I have studied in 11 different schools! I can speak 4 different languages [except hindi and english], but 2 of them are indian languages with different dialects. Will the above mentioned things help me?</p>
<p>It'll help some. You can speak Indian and English correct? I don't know what dialect means for india, but if you said that you could speak southern English. That's pushing it.</p>
<p>Indian isn't a language :-p that'd be like calling english 'American'</p>
<p>india is very diverse as far as languages go... hindi, pujabi... i think english is the lingua franca when it comes to business and junk... no?</p>
<p>desi power!!</p>
<p>LOL @ ammarsfound!</p>
<p>Yeah I am talking about punjabi, gujarati, bengali etc</p>
<p>And I can speak french and a bit of german</p>
<p>Sorry, it is not a hook. However, you can write about your experience in one of your statements so that the admissions committee can get a fuller picture of you.</p>
<p>It certainly is not a hook, but don't downplay it's value. If you are fluent in english, french, and hindi that certainly will impress ADCOMs</p>
<p>I had kind of understood its not a hook. </p>
<p>i think I will try and mention my experiences in my essays as sybbie said.</p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
<p>Although most people find being a big deal , most ADCOMS find it irrelevant as almost all Indian applicants can speak at least 3-5 languages. South Indians get a huge advantage as most of them can read and write 3-4 languages at the minimum. The fact is ADComs know its BS , as being able to speak Hindi and Punjabi and Urdu and English at the same time is an easy feat (go watch an Indian movie youll know what I mean ). If you know international languages (read/write) then that is something definitely helpful but not a hook. Multi-Lingualism is far more a hook for jobs than for college.</p>
<p>Edit: Btw colleges also know the way it works in India , that you study 2 languages(Hindi + Whatever) in school besides english and your ethnicity adds another language to what you learn.</p>
<p>Oh ya , I learnt all this cuz I was trying to get college credit for 3 languages I studied and 2 for which I had given tests , I got shiet!</p>
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Btw colleges also know the way it works in India , that you study 2 languages(Hindi + Whatever)
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<p>I dont think I quite agree with that. In my school (and the previous 11 schools I have studied in) I have just studied hindi and english. The third language doesnt come into the scene. The 5 languages that I have mentioned above are languages excluding Hindi and English. I can speak (and write some) Punjabi, Guajarati, Bengali, French and German. And since I am not tamil it sure does take time to learn and write languages since the languages mentioned above all have different scripts. Knowing languages may not be a hook but does show my curiosity towards other languages. </p>
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as being able to speak Hindi and Punjabi and Urdu and English at the same time is an easy feat
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What?! Writing Punjabi and Urdu is easy? Woah! Both the languages have completely different scripts. I am not denying the fact that people cant write both of them but it sure is not easy! It takes months to write both punjabi and urdu clearly.</p>
<p>lol yea whoever said it was easy CLEARLY does not know what they are talking about</p>
<p>I said ability to <em>speak</em>, not write . Speaking != Writing. </p>
<p>And I said before , I make a strong distinction between the ability to speak and the ability to write and read , both writing and reading are extremely valuable and take far more effort to learn, which can easily be tested as well , saying that I can carry a conversation in a certain language is not as effective for college application purposes.</p>
<p>AFAIK , all schools at least that follow the CBSE/ISC(in India) curriculum test 2 languages in 10th , while a lot of people opt for Hindi(as 2nd language besides english) , a large portion do other languages such as sanskrit , french etc. That effectively adds 3 languages as almost all schools have hindi mandatory till 6th grade.</p>
<p>I am currently studying in CBSE now and my brother is in X. I have never seen students taking 3 languages, if they go in for Sanskrit they have to drop hindi. Even if you take french you have to drop hindi or sanskrit whichever is applicable, As far as speaking is also considered try speaking correct punjabi, urdu or sanskrit... If knowing a language to some extent is also considered that add one more language to my list. I can write sanskrit too{to some extent that is}.</p>
<p>Ajay what I meant was that effectively you studied 3 languages , Hindi till 6th/8th Grade , and then Sanskrit etc for the following , you might give only boards for 2 English + Whatever Else.</p>
<p>What I am trying to get at is a lot of Indian applicants claim to be multi lingual (some to the extent of 11 languages) but the fact is no AD Com is going to test it as they realize its extremely easy to CLAIM this rather than actually having undergone testing etc in each individual language. And those who actually have formally learned these do have it as a hook , but for Joe Indian Applicant citing this fact seems pretty run of the mill.</p>
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I am currently studying in CBSE now and my brother is in X. I have never seen students taking 3 languages, if they go in for Sanskrit they have to drop hindi.
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<p>Back when I went to school in India (CBSE), English was mandatory (K-10), Hindi from (K-8). You picked a 3rd language in 5th Grade (Sanskrit or your Ethnic Language). You choose between Sanskrit - Ehnic Language - Hindi in 8th again.</p>
<p>Yeah you choose between sanskrit and hindi these days.</p>
<p>Do you guys choose between Sanskrit (3rd Language) and Hindi in 9th or is there no 3rd language now?</p>
<p>There is no third language Class 8th onwards.</p>