Kamal Ghorui
Language remains one of the biggest barriers faced by many international students in India. English may be widely spoken, but it is not spoken by everyone. For a foreign student, learning a local language quickly enough to avoid problems — not only in school, but also in everyday life — can be difficult.
Many institutions market themselves as English-medium, but in practice, classes often shift heavily into the local language. For students arriving with no knowledge of Hindi or another regional language, this can mean falling behind in studies, classroom discussions, and other activities. Academic performance can suffer, and participation in extracurriculars often becomes harder.
“It’s hard and boring to stay in a class where you barely understand anything the teacher is teaching, and the sound of Hinglish is the most confusing. One time, I realised later that the teacher meant another word after writing on the board,” an international student once disclosed to me.
“I have had problems with some courses in school just because the lecturer was unable to speak in English, but only Hindi,” said Misha, a student from Malawi at Chandigarh University. She described how difficult it was to keep up with her studies because of the language barrier. A classroom, she said, should be a place for learning — not confusion and misunderstanding.
Misha also recalled visiting the FRRO office for a police verification process and struggling to locate it because the receptionist could not speak English. At the office, she faced the same issue and was asked to wait for the only person who knew English, delaying her paperwork. Such delays can create stress, especially when visa or residency documents are time-sensitive.
“When I landed at the airport in Delhi, I asked a guard where the boarding gate for Dehradun was. The guards laughed at the way I pronounced the word, even though I felt I said it correctly,” said another student.
Language difficulties extend beyond campuses and offices into markets and neighbourhoods. Some students say they are overcharged because they cannot negotiate in the local language.
“I went to the Clock Tower market to buy a shirt. The seller gave me a higher price than to local people, saying it was Rs 2,500 when it was less than Rs 1,500.”
“I had to use hand gestures to communicate the proper price of the things I wanted,” said another student.
For many, the challenge is not only academic but also emotional. Moving abroad already means adjusting to a new environment, new systems, and new relationships. When communication itself becomes a daily struggle, navigating ordinary life can feel isolating — and sometimes lead to stress, loneliness, or depression.
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