Express News Service By

BENGALURU: If you are a non-Kannadiga living in Bengaluru, you would have realised that knowing the local language goes a long way in getting things done in the city.

Educational websites and even WhatsApp groups today strive to familiarise users with common phrases and usages in Kannada.

But if you prefer to learn the old school way and have a couple of hours to spare on Sunday mornings, you could sign up for spoken the Kannada classes conducted by Kamala Goenka Foundation.

As the current batch of students graduate on July 3, a fresh batch will start classes at Sree Veerendra Patil Degree College in Sadashivanagar.

Twelve classes will be held over three months, at the end of which each student will be awarded a certificate. The registration fee is Rs 100.

How Did It All Start?

The Kamala Goenka Foundation, headed by managing trustee S S Goenka, is known for its literary activities. As an extension of that, the spoken Kannada classes were started in 2011.

“Our family moved from Mumbai to Bengaluru in 2002. We decided to conduct these classes for the benefit of non-Kannadigas like us,” says Lalita, Goenka’s daughter-in-law and a trustee.

Who Conducts The Classes?

Prof N Gnanamurthy has been teaching with the foundation free of cost for the past five years. With over two decades of experience in the field, he has even given lessons to IAS and IPS officers.

“In a cosmopolitan city like Bengaluru, people speak multiple languages. But by learning basic spoken Kannada, one can gel with the locals and avoid being manipulated,” he says.

His book, Self Help To Kannada Conversation, can be used to learn and practise everyday exchanges. He also provides audio CDs to help with pronunciation. “I encourage students to translate their thoughts from English to their mothertongue and then to Kannada. It helps them grasp the language faster,” Gnanamurthy explains.

The focus has remained on spoken Kannada, while students are also taught to read signs and hoardings in the language.

Who Are The Students?

The current batch comprises 25 students between ages of 20 and 70. “Forty per cent of our students are senior citizens,” Gnanamurthy says.

Call 93419 43535 or 96202 07976 to register for the next batch.