Learning Foreign Languages in Karachi
I always wanted to learn foreign languages but never had enough time or the resources to do so. A few days ago I found a sign in Defence promoting regular language classes at the Defence Central Library (DCL).
After some investigation on their website http://www.dclkarachi.com/ and through visits, I found out that every so often DCL holds foriegn language classes from professional teachers. The languages they offer are learning Arabic, French, English and Chinese. The course duration is variable and ranges between 3000 to 5000 for the entire course.
Due to my interest to learn Arabic, I found several other institutes in the region that teach arabic courses. For example the famous Berlitz institute (www.berlitz.com.pk) takes upto a mammoth Rs.60,000 per course. However, they are an international franchise and their brand name justifies their cost. A desi type of a arabic language institute is located at Khadda Market called ANAARABI (www.anaarabi.org). Their website is quite pathetic though it provides the user with their phone numbers to the institute. They have a class format of teaching Arabic while they also provide home-tutions for learning the language at around Rs.5000 for a 2 month course. The Society for the Promotion of Arabic (http://www.arabic.edu.pk) is one of the best sources in my opinion for information regarding the language and it is located near NIPA.
Learning French is also quite popular amongst the youth and there is no better facility than Allianz Fraincs (www.afkarachi.com) at 3 Talwar (Near Chartered Accountant Avenue). Even the Defence Central Library contracts their French language course from Alliance Française at about Rs.4000.
Universities in Karachi like IBA, CBM, Szabist and KU all have language courses and provides a great opportunity for students to learn the language in a class room environment.
I’m unable to find where foreign language courses for Spanish, German, Italian etc. can be learnt, so if anybody has some information in this regard, please do contribute.