Mumbai:
Just imagine. Kantabai, the maid, comes to work, and the moment you chide her for coming late, she says in the Queen's English: "I'm really sorry, but you see the traffic jams are becoming such a nuisance these days."
This imaginary scene could soon play out in your house as the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) in Mumbai has decided to start a course in conversational English for domestic helps.
An organisation called Osari, which works for the rights of domestic helps, came up with the idea. "We realized that domestic helps are largely employed by the upwardly mobile, urban class for which English is increasingly becoming the only spoken language," said Anuradha Tipnis from the organization. "We felt that if they have to hold their own in this rapidly changing environment, learning English will help."
The course will teach them not only English but also social etiquette and manners. It will train them in dealing with telephone calls or guests when the employers are not home. There are also plans to teach them to identify items like vinegar and white sauce, and to operate microwave ovens.
When asked about how eager the domestic helps were, Tipnis said, "They are more eager than us. For them, it is a language of aspiration. They want to learn it since they feel it'll open many doors for them."
Confirming that the organization has approached the varsity, YCMOU spokesperson S Belsare told DNA, "As of now, details still have to be worked out. We are meeting the organization representatives on Monday. We will look at the need and then decide."
This imaginary scene could soon play out in your house as the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) in Mumbai has decided to start a course in conversational English for domestic helps.
An organisation called Osari, which works for the rights of domestic helps, came up with the idea. "We realized that domestic helps are largely employed by the upwardly mobile, urban class for which English is increasingly becoming the only spoken language," said Anuradha Tipnis from the organization. "We felt that if they have to hold their own in this rapidly changing environment, learning English will help."
The course will teach them not only English but also social etiquette and manners. It will train them in dealing with telephone calls or guests when the employers are not home. There are also plans to teach them to identify items like vinegar and white sauce, and to operate microwave ovens.
When asked about how eager the domestic helps were, Tipnis said, "They are more eager than us. For them, it is a language of aspiration. They want to learn it since they feel it'll open many doors for them."
Confirming that the organization has approached the varsity, YCMOU spokesperson S Belsare told DNA, "As of now, details still have to be worked out. We are meeting the organization representatives on Monday. We will look at the need and then decide."
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