Zahorulko speaks at DPS, Bhagalpur. Picture by Amit Kumar

Delhi Public School, Bhagalpur, has brought in a Ukrainian faculty member to teach students Russian in the foreign language department.

Borys Zahorulko (62), a doctorate in linguistics, joined the institution around two weeks ago. He said there is a wide scope of foreign languages, including Russia, in India.

Speaking to The Telegraph after taking charge, Zahorulko said: “Russian is a completely new language for the students here. Initially, they will have a little problem but with modern and scientific teaching methods, they will soon find it easy. They will also develop an affinity for the language.” Visual and graphic aids will be used to teach the students Russian.

The school in Bhagalpur is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Foreign languages are a part of the board’s curriculum across the country.

A Russian language syllabus is already in place for the students of classes IX and X. The institution although plans to start teaching students the language from junior classes.

Zahorulko, who has worked in different parts of India for the past 10 and odd years, said: “We will introduce Russian from Class V but we don’t have a syllabus for that. We have to design the course curriculum keeping in mind the students’ levels.”

He added: “There are many similarities between India and Russia, as well as in the phonetics of Sanskrit and Russian. I hope the students will not have any problems learning it.”

A doctorate in English linguistics, Zahorulko will also look after English literature in senior classes.

Arunima Chakravorty, the school principal, said two teachers will join the institution soon to teach the students Russian. The institution already has Arabic in its curriculum.

Persian and Pashto, the two official languages of Afghanistan, will soon start at the school. He added there is a lot of potential for people educated in Russian language. People can work on translations and can also become interpreters.

Rajesh Srivastava, the pro-vice-chairman of the school, said the institution’s foreign language department aims to strengthen public diplomacy and people-to-people exchange that are cornerstones of countries like the US, helping India charter its policies with her Asian neighbours.

“Abdali requested me in a meeting on July 10 in Delhi to start these languages at the school to develop and strengthen public and diplomatic relationship between the two countries,” he said.