The astounding success of the Netflix T.V Series La casa de Papel, or Money Heist—A Spanish television heist-drama series, which has been dubbed in many languages, has not only inspired a range of upcoming drama plots but has also given a fresh nudge to the interests for the Spanish Language —which by the way is widely spoken language across the globe. The show episodes were primarily shot in Spain and Madrid, and, spanned across 5 seasons. Such was the success of the show that it became one of the most-watched television series in the history of Netflix.
The Spanish pop culture, which has always attracted the youth for its Flamenco music, art, wine, dance, bullfights, festivals, etc. has developed a large audience on all the digital media platforms. As per estimates, the Spanish language is an official language in 21 countries of the world, with around 570 million speakers worldwide. It is spoken in many forms and dialects and is a medium of everyday communication of people across the continents. The primary reason for the widespread Spanish-speaking population is the colonial history of the Spanish Empire, also known as the Hispanic Monarchy, which had around 35 colonies throughout the world during the early modern period.
For India, as also for several nations, Spanish is proving to be a crucial language in the domain of business and economics as there is an increased intensity of interaction between India and Spanish-speaking nations. Undoubtedly, learning new languages and communicating interculturally have become more significant in the civilized, yet highly complex world. It is not uncommon these days to interact with bi-or trilingual persons who know local, as well as a global language. In the highly globalized world, that we are operating in, it becomes essential for any nation to develop high-quality experts in foreign languages. The shortage of multilingual professionals often creates deprivations in terms of global business for any firm, and vice versa. In 2021, a report published by CISION PR Newswire’s stated “Language Learning Market is valued at USD 31.10 Billion in 2017 and expected to reach USD 172.71 Billion by 2027 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 18.7% over the forecast period” (CISION PR Newswire, 19 April 2021). The report highlighted that the escalation in the globalization of the economy along with the advancement of technology was a prime factor behind this growth.
The OP Jindal Global University which is India’s no.1 private university (QS Rankings 2021), keeping in mind the current trends in the market and the academia, has Launched a B. A (Hons.) Spanish Programme at the Jindal School of Language and Literature (or JSLL), which has state-of-the-art facilities for the study of Spanish language and literature. The University has a truly global faculty, most of whom have learned, taught, and researched in different countries and experienced cultural migration. The University’s ‘Global Languages Centre’ and the ‘Centre for Writing Studies’ work in close conjunction with the language school to impart functional language instructions and skills to students who want to learn and excel in the Spanish language.
The university has excellently crafted a UG curriculum that assists students to develop proficiency, dexterity, and adroitness in the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures. The duration of the programme is three years (six semesters) full-time. The curriculum facilitates an intense, yet creative engagement of students with a variety of cultural forms, including literature, drama, and other arts (e.g., cinema, music). The course facilitates students in attaining B2 Spanish Proficiency Level by accomplishing stages of language learning which are listed by the internationally accepted Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Popular career pathways, after learning the Spanish language are in the domain of Language interpretations, translation, writing, research, teaching etc. Professionals who have proficiency in foreign languages are in demand for a multitude of work where intercultural communication is necessary.
As India’s trade with Latin American countries continues to rise, the need for Spanish speaking professionals is certainly on the rise. While bright professional opportunities are certainly knocking on our doors, the beauty of Hispanic culture and the soft power it carries has a whole new appeal to the youth.
The article and creatives are curated by Content, and Advertising & Digital Strategy (ADS) Team of O.P. Jindal Global University.
