English-speaking maid or quality of work?

A course by Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University will teach maids not only to be well-mannered, but also to converse in English. DNA finds out what people want.

I would want my maid to talk in English

Yes, I would like my maid to attend such a course. We live in the 21st century where knowing English is essential. Also, most of them come from a background where they lack proper values and culture. So teaching them etiquette and manners is extremely important. It is especially important when they have to accompany us abroad. Good mannerisms are required there. While hiring a helper, I would look if she is presentable and maintains hygienic standards. I don’t think they understand the relevance of taking such courses. Hence, we should tell them how this would actually help them in the long run.   
Shweta Powar, Andheri

Will they have time to attend classes?

t is important that our maids learn basic etiquette and know how to talk with guests and take calls. It is important for them to know basic English, and this is because then they can impart that knowledge to their children. I don’t think otherwise learning English is something vital to their job. At the same time, they are so busy with managing many things together that I am not sure they would get the time to actually attend such classes. Also, their demands and salary expectation would also increase, which might leave the employer at the receiveing end. It’s good to empower women with such courses, but they need to be willing to opt for it.
Sushim Kamble, Mazagaon

Would help in better communication

’m not so fluent with the native language and sometimes face problems while instructing my maid; therefore, I wouldn’t mind if she learns the language I’m comfortable with. English is a global language and it would be great if maids knew the language as it will help in better communication. Also, it would open more opportunities for the maids and they would be able to go and work across the country, if required. However, I wouldn’t give it too much importance as there are other factors which cannot be ignored. For instance, hygiene, punctuality, diligence towards work, truthfulness and, of course, honesty are some of things which everyone would look for before hiring.
Ambika Sharma, Mahim

Teach their kids for a brighter future

would love my maid to attend such classes. Learning English and etiquette will definitely help her understand the changing house culture better. The new urban working couple depends a lot on maids and would prefer if they knew how to handle electronics so make life easier for them. But it’s not really required and one can do without it. But, it’s an added advantage if she knows English. Apart from that, I also think that if she does her work well, I wouldn’t mind if she doesn’t know any language.  The quality of work and punctuality matter more to me. What’s more important is that their children get better education so that they can look beyond being a maid as a career. 
Trupti Prabhu, Mulund

Sounds like a good initiative but who has the time?

I t sounds good to enroll for a course meant just for us. I am keen on learning new things and my employers sometimes converse with me in English. So I know the basic words. But I have to look after my two children after my working hours. I start my work by seven in the morning and I get back home only by 5pm. So I would have to see if it’s really feasible to opt for something like this. But otherwise it sounds like a very good initiative and I’m sure many young maids would be excited to go back to college and learn a new language.
Reema Goswami, works between Grant road to Churchgate 

Language can create communication barriers

I  would love to join a class to learn English. It’s an important language today and will also help me to educate my children better. Also, I think that more and more youngsters want a maid who is well-mannered, presentable and English-speaking. As for the older generation, they focus more on quality of work and for them such things don’t matter. I have never faced a communication barrier but my sister who also works as a maid has. Since, we both work in Bandra, there are few people like expats who don’t know Hindi well and find it difficult to communicate with their maids.
Pushpa Parmar, works in Bandra