The Awakening.

The massacre of the 26th of November in Bombay has scarred all of us in some manner or the other. It scares me till this day to think that I escaped that bloodbath. I left VT station at 8:30 pm. The atrocities at VT started at 9:30 pm. The killers were planning to open fire at 7 pm. It could have happened any time that evening. My friend was at the station at 9 pm. My classmates from my French class were bang opposite Leopold Café when the bomb went off there. They could not return to Thane that night. They spent the night at a friend’s place at Peddar Road. I slept that night thinking that the mayhem would end by the following morning. I was foolishly mistaken. What happened next was witnessed by the world. The Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi Trident, Nariman House and VT station had turned into scenes of carnage. I was simply numbed by the thought that it was a marine invasion. What were our Navy and Coast Guard guys doing? My brother’s classmate lost his father in the Taj. His father was the Head Chef at the Taj, the captain as they call them. An acquaintance lost seven of her colleagues in the Taj. She did not sleep for 3 nights after hearing the news and had to finally be put to sleep like an infant. My friend escaped a blast at the Trident. She was right inside the building. My French teacher lost two of her neighbors in the Taj. The Director of my former workplace lives in the building right next to the Nariman House. He witnessed the tragedy up-close. Radio France International called me up for my testimonial. So were my French teachers and many French expatriates. But I finally lost it when I saw the funerals of Hemant Karkare and Major Sandip Unnikrishanan. I cried till the point that I looked diseased. That happened to a whole lot of other people too. The city is angry and united. This time our anger won’t die down. We won’t let it. We are going to use it a positive force against the enemies outside and the enemies within. We will come up will solutions and get them implemented too.

Lexically correct.

My mom has a curious affinity for dictionaries.

She loves them. She can’t seem to purchase enough of them. We have an English, Marathi, Hindi, French and even an Urdu dictionary at our place.

She taught me how to read a dictionary when I was 6 years old.

So when some months, when my sister asked my mom for some cash to watch the movie ‘Tashan’, my mother responded in the negative straight away! Taken aback, my sis demanded to know the reason for her refusal.

Our mom said that the word ‘Tashan’ is definitely not Marathi. She explained that she tried to find its meaning in the Hindi AND Urdu dictionaries and her efforts came to zilch. Hence, given that the word ‘Tashan’ is meaningless, mom reasoned that the movie is bound to be meaningless. She staunchly refused let one rupee of her money to be wasted on idiotic ‘scenes after scenes’!

My sister never got to watch the movie. Her friends went for it. They called her in the evening to say they wasted their time and money on ‘Tashan’ and my sister was fortunate to have escaped the ordeal. My sister prompted reported their views to our mom. Mom patted herself on the back for her lexical logic.

Bio! Bio! Bio!

Back when I completed class 12, there was a big mania for pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology / microbiology / life sciences and in that order. I bet half the people who jumped into these streams did know what they where getting into. For example, I have a friend who did her BSc in Biotechnology and is now completed disappointed about her decision. She did not like. She is now trying do an MBA and says that she didn’t like one single day of her biotech studies! There is a boy who also followed the same course of studies and is now pursuing perfumery. But at least his post-graduate studies have something to do with his Bachelors! I know another two girls who did their BSc in microbiology and are know studying management saying that microbiology was useless. Well there is nothing wrong about people studying management, but I completely disagree with them when they say that their studies related to the biological sciences were useless. Their reasons for choosing their Bachelors were wrong. We do not do our Bachelors just because newspapers like ‘The Education Times’ scream that the future holds great ‘scope’ for these fields. We choose our careers based on what we like. If you don’t like anything, you are bound to be in a mess.

Anyway, what I’ve found out over the last 4 years is that Bachelors degrees in Agriculture, Horticulture, Biology, Botany, Zoology, Biotechnology, Microbiology and Life sciences have nearly the same standing in the job market. It is only if you pursue a masters in one of these fields does it make sense for your careers. Now since I am in a studies councilor mood, let me tell those confused souls out there pursing one of the above fields what to do. If you can’t move abroad, it pretty difficult and expensive to make good careers related to the biological sciences. However, there are education options in France and Germany which provide good education at relatively affordable costs.

Learn German and/or French people. That will prove to be a good career move.

Then look through:

1. DAAD http://campus-germany.org for courses like food processing, environnement protection, masters in beer brewing, wine etc.
2. CAMPUSFRANCE http://campusfrance.org/en Search for courses related to the same fields. You will come across good courses.

Don’t worry. Your career decision is a good one. Just sculpt it properly

DELF B2!

My DELF B2 exam got over yesterday. What a relief! I slept peacefully. I desperately need that certificate and I think its coming. The hard work of the last 4 months seems to be paying off. I was just eating, drinking and sleeping French for the last 4 months. I have lost count of the number of magazines I read, the number of websites I used for French audios and the number of French movies I watched in the past 4 months. My fear of not being able to talk for the 20 minutes session of ‘Speaking’ section had nearly driven me out of my mind in August. But I did speak for 20 minutes and how! The decision to pursue DFA 1 and B2 part 1 together was a good gamble. I was advised it would prove tough but it has worked in my favor! The writing section turned out to be very easy; thanks to the exercises we did during DFA 1.

Finally my thanks to all the resources materials that helped me in my preparation for the big day:

1. Le Français dans le Monde. The magazine and the accompanying audio cds are a must for any French language student. More information on http://www.fdlm.org/
2. Radio France Internationale. The daily news broadcasts and interviews with authors, film-makers, politicians and people from diverse fields immensely help you to acquire the requisite listening skills for level B2. More on http://rfi.fr, the radio http://www.rfi.fr/radiofr/pages/001/accueil.asp and French language http://www.rfi.fr/lffr/statiques/accueil_apprendre.asp
3. At the B2 level you are also expected to understand the Canadian accent very well, in that case Radio-Canada, http://radio-canada.ca.
4. France 1, for all the information about all that goes on in France. http://www.tf1.fr/
5. TV5 Monde. For the help needed related to French exercises similar to the questions of the DELF exams http://www.tv5.org/
6. Alliance Française de Bombay. http://afindia.org/bombay
7. Alter Ego 4, Campus 4 and Café Crème 4. The best textbooks possible!

I am so happy! Vive la Francophonie!

French Language Exams

There are exactly four examinations of French that are recognized all over the world. They are:

1. DELF-DALF
2. TCF
3. TEF
4. TFI

DELF-DALF

The DELF-DALF exams are conducted by the CIEP, Centre International d’études pédagogique and awarded by the Ministry of National Education of France. DELF stands for Diplôme d'études en langue Française and DALF stand for Diplôme approfondi de langue Française. DELF and DALF have been consistent with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages since 1 September 2005

The DELF-DALF diplomas are 6 in number, DELF A1, DELF A2, DELF B1, DELF B2, DALF C1 and DALF C2, each corresponding to the respective level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

These tests are meant for non-French people who would like their French language skills recognized either for education, employment or for personal reasons. The DELF and DALF diplomas are independent, so you can appear for the examination you choose. You can also attempt the examinations for multiple diplomas during the same examination session. Contact the Alliance Française in your country to find out the examination centers in your country or click here. Have a look at the sample papers here. For information on fees, contact the examination centre where you would like to take the diploma(s). Address your queries to delfdalf@ciep.fr

TCF - Test de connaissance du français

The TCF are conducted by the CIEP, Centre International d’études pédagogique and awarded by the Ministry of National Education of France. Like the DELF-DALF every non-French person can appear for the TCF. All candidates obtain a certificate of results that grades them at one of six levels (from A1 to C2) on the competency scale defined by the Council of Europe (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This means that it is not possible to fail the TCF. There are 4 types of TCF depending on your reason for appearing for the TCF.

1. General TCF
2. TCF for Future students who plan to do their studies in France or in any French speaking country. TCF DAP for Bachelors courses and TCF for Masters.
3. TCF for International Bodies (International Relations)
4. TCF for Quebec: For those who wish to immigrate to Quebec, Canada

Contact the Alliance Française in your country to find out the examination centers in your country and the cost of the exam or click here. It is also advisable to contact the Embassy of Canada in your country if you plan to appear for TCF Quebec. Address your queries to delfdalf@ciep.fr

TEF - Test d'Evaluation de Français

The Test d'Evaluation du Français is awarded by the CCIP (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris/Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris) This certificate is valid for one year from the date the exam was taken. The TEF can be attempted for the following reasons:

1. Higher studies in France or Canada
2. Emigration to Canada
3. Emigration to Quebec

To find out the exam centers for TEF in your country and the exam fees, click here. To attempt the TEF in India or just for more detailed information, click here. Address your queries here.

TFI – Test de français international

The Test de Français international evaluates the French level of non-francophones. This multiple choice test assesses a candidate's ability to understand, speak, read and write French as it is used in the international workplace. It is conducted by ETS Canada, the same body that conducts the GRE and TOEFL.

This exam can be attempted for educational, professional and personal purposes. The score obtained on the TFI can be used on the resume to indicate your French language proficiency. Look here to see what the scores mean. Contact the following offices to know the centers in your country or contact the TOEFL centers in your city to know if they conduct the TFI also. In case if you plan to give the TFI in Europe, click here.

Head Office/Siège Social Educational Testing Service Canada Inc. 212-133 Princess Street Kingston, Ontario K7L 1A8 Tel: (613) 542-3368 Toll Free: 1-800-615-8666 (Canada & U.S.)

Québec Office/Bureau du Québec Educational Testing Service Canada Inc. C. P. 69044 Laval, Québec H7X 3M2 Tél: (450) 689-3151 / 1-888-689-3151 Téléc: (450) 689-2790

The scores obtained on the DELF-DALF, TCF and TEF correspond to each other. Have a look at the following website to find the equivalences in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

http://www.alliancefrmarseille.org/en_cours_cadre_europeen.html

It is best to prepare for these exams by pursuing French courses at the Alliance Francaises in your country.

All the best!

Caste? Indian. Thank you very much.

Towards the end of November 2001, we were nearly into the final days of school, class10 i.e. S.S.C. we had to fill out our application forms for the Secondary School certificate examination. Before filling out the final form, we were given a dummy form to fill. The dummies were supposed to be checked by checked by the administrative staff of the school to rule out idiotic errors. Once, a boy supposedly filled in the name of his father as Reverend Father Ivan Mascharenas instead of his own father’s name! Can you beat that? At the age of 15? Anyway, the poor soul must have been confused or simply absent-minded. So we got along the business of filling our forms and submitted them. Some students were summoned to the office of the administration for errors in their forms. I was one of them. I was baffled. Errors? In my form? Impossible! I went to the office. I was handed over my form. Not a single problem. Most of my schoolmates standing there were called for the verification of their caste status. It was my turn. I asked the officer what was wrong. She said I had not entered my caste. Indeed I had not and on purpose. I had left it blank. I told her that I was not interested in filling that detail. I didn’t even know my caste to fill it in the first place. She said it was mandatory as incase if I belonged to some backward caste I would be eligible for government benefits. I said I was not interested. My dad is an orthopedic surgeon and my mom has studied law. I was more than privileged. Thank you very much. Moreover, I continued my tirade by stating that throughout our school days we had been ingrained with the idea that we were Indians first and Indians last. Nothing in between. She refused to accept my form. I argued that the form stated (in very fine print) that the candidate should have be an Indian national and must be born before 30th of December, 1986. I fulfilled the criteria. No success. She refused to accept the form. Instead she gave me a file of our admission forms that we had submitted at the time of taking admission into school. I was told to find out the caste entered in my form. I grudgingly did that but I did have my revenge because I got to joke about my schoolmates looks in their photos as 4 year olds. I reached my form in that file. I recognized Dad’s handwriting. He had entered both religion and caste as Hindu. I saw no problem with that. I filled in that stupid detail.

High Time We Start Disrespecting Our Elders

OK, I do not advocate retorting every few sentences, but we need to realize that respect is like money. You have to earn it to receive it. Your age or social status does not automatically grant you access to money or respect. I sickens me every time people talk down to us youngsters about the importance of respecting elders. What for? I completely understand and agree with the fact that our are far more wider than us due to their experience and the knowledge they have gained over the decades. After all, they have already committed and learned from many mistakes that all of us do all the time. We must profit from their experience. That's exactly what they wish too. But what about those who have remained stupid despite their years? What about their egoistic bastards who refuse to learn? What about those sclerotic morons who refuse to look at newer, different point of views? Should we respect them too? Or will it be better to ask them to shut up? I prefer they latter. I have seen endless number of geriatric entities going around sermoning young people to respect them without caring two hoots for the fact that respect is to be commanded and not demanded. Beggars, fuck off! I do not care a damn about those who are liked by many senior people (including our parents' generation, not just our grand-parents' generation) for being very respectful towards their elders as respecting elders says nothing about your intentions and character. You may be doing that out of sycophancy just to earn brownie points. Or just for giving the impression that you are well-bred. I prefer people who respect everybody impartially. Someone who respects their elders and juniors equally is someone who truly has class. It is easy to respect people who are elder to you, who have a elevated social or economic status as compared to yours or those who are simply seem stronger than you in terms of sheer physical strength. But what is seriously cool is respecting those younger than you, those less economically / socially privileged as compared to yourself or simply those smaller in size than you. That's strong character! That's cool! I won't go around faking respect for people if they do not deserve it just because they were born before me. You haven't done me a favor.