In a survey published a few years ago, the British Council predicted that two billion people worldwide would be studying English by the year 2020. It has changed from being a symbol of the elite to being a fundamental competency required for professional employment and successful business.

In other words, it is comparable to literacy in the way that literacy used to be a privilege but has since evolved into a necessity. In India in general and in Surat in particular, most students who acquire English as a second language are giving themselves more alternatives for careers in international business.

It is common knowledge that most businesses use this as their official language for day-to-day operations. For instance, the German software corporation SAP and the Finnish telecom giant NOKIA are known to use English in verbal communication for their business activities. The same is the case for most big Indian big companies.

Additionally, the international business community sees English as a lingua franca. It is increasingly valued as a preferred language for communication across a range of different language-speaking governments and prestigious educational institutions. One cannot think of doing inter-state business in India without using the link language, i.e., English.

Considering its widespread recognition and necessity for communication, English has been regarded as a vital component in courses related to international business and management across India, Surat is no exception.

But first, let’s look at Surat’s history to better understand where verbal English is as of today, and why written English and spoken English are becoming more and more important in Surat. This will help us understand 1) why Surat requires special English language academies and IELTS coaching classes, 2) why most syllabi need communicative English as a component, and 3) why students planning to study abroad should pay special attention to their English skills.

What’s the History of English with Surat?

In the history of the Indian subcontinent, Surat has had widespread recognition. Even sacred texts like the Mahabharata made several references to the city in its record. On his way from Mathura to Dwarka, Lord Krishna made a stop there.

If you study the history of business in India in the last 1000 years, Surat will appear again and again. The concept of “bank” is Surat’s gift to the world. It was a business hub before and during the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent. It’s no surprise the East India Company started its Indian operations from Surat.

“The British established their first Indian factory (trading post) at Surat (1612). The city gradually declined throughout the 18th century. The British and Dutch both claimed control, but in 1800 its administration passed to the British. By the mid-19th century, Surat had become a stagnant city of 80,000 inhabitants.”

Source: Britannica — Click this link to explore

Now let’s see the post-Independence business scene in Surat. The commercial “Sari mein Sari Parag Saree” is perhaps the first thing that springs to mind when someone mentions sarees. One of the numerous well-known brands in Surat had this marketing slogan for sarees. This is due to Surat’s prominence in the domestic and international trade of Indian traditional clothing including kurtis, salwar kameez, and sarees. Many big textile businesses had to hire people who were able to communicate in English effectively.

The centre for cutting, polishing, and supplying diamonds is also Surat. It also goes by the name “The Diamond City of India” for this reason. Most diamond companies were owned and run by people who had amazing business acumen but little to no English. They had to depend on interpreters during their interstate or international transactions.

How has the Lack of  English Speaking Hampered Surat?

Even though Surat prides itself on being the diamond capital of the world, only manufacturing is done there. Major duties like sales, marketing, and promotion for the textile and diamond industries are carried out in large cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The fact that the residents of Surat are not particularly at ease speaking English is one of the key causes. Additionally, Surties do not place as much value on the English language.

Due to the linguistic barrier, trading is very tough for the locals. The growth of the city is considerably hampered by this impediment. In fact, this gives a small group of individuals in Surat considerable importance because they are fluent in both written and spoken English.

Moreover, the textile and diamond industries do not need skilled and educated labourers. The majority of young people with education are unemployed or not happy with whatever work they get. Most of the communication in most business houses here is in Gujarati or Hindi. Many new IT companies have also come up, but they face the same problem. English is not widely used in Surat.

Even students who are planning to go abroad find it difficult to score well on the tests such as IELTS or PTE or TOEFL. To raise their performance and score, they have to struggle a lot. They have to put in a lot of additional effort to acquire English, which they should actually have acquired automatically via their school and college studies.

Why can’t People in Surat Speak English Properly?

 

When one interacts with individuals in Surat, it’s simple to understand why they aren’t able to speak in English effectively while having a strong grasp of written communication. However, the following are some of the main causes why Surat residents struggle with verbal and spoken English:

The people of Surat

• put little to no effort into learning the language.
• have negligible interest in reading.
• have very few public platforms to hone oratory skills.
• have inadequate conditions for learning English.
• lay less emphasis on spoken communication in academic organisations.

How may Spoken English or IELTS Classes Assist Surat’s Students Improve their Verbal English?

IELTS classes in Surat can help students to improve their spoken English or verbal communication in the following ways:

• Level-based instruction for students or learners.
• Convenience of guided and blended study for tests like the PTE, TOEFL, or IELTS.
• Mock tests to boost student performance.
• First-hand exposure to authentic English, oral and written.
• Activities in English such as public speaking, group discussion, and debate.

Final Thoughts

To communicate successfully as a prospective business person in Surat, it is highly recommended that you increase your written and spoken English. Acquiring fluency and eloquence will be of enormous help in your personal and professional life.

Fluentlingua is, of course, one of the best options for learning authentic, good-quality English in Surat, Gujarat. 😉

Best wishes and happy learning,
Team Fluentlingua