General
- Where is Zabaan located?
- If I am unable to come to East of Kailash for classes, what are my other options?
- Do I need to have any background in Hindi and/or Urdu before beginning at Zabaan?
- If I’m unable to arrange for childcare, can I bring my children to Zabaan?
In the Classroom
- What is the student capacity of your classrooms?
- How qualified are the Zabaan instructors?
- What kind of teaching methodology is used at Zabaan?
- What are the facilities like at Zabaan’s location in East of Kailash?
- Can I cancel a scheduled session?
- Why doesn’t Zabaan teach English?
Visas
Payment
- What are Zabaan’s rates?
- How do I pay?
- When am I expected to pay for a Public Group Class and/or Private Instruction?
- When am I expected to pay for Online Instruction?
- Will I receive a record of my payment?
- How can I receive a refund for purchased instruction time?
- Can I cancel a scheduled session?
Online Instruction
- Which Zabaan courses are available through Online Instruction?
- How does Online Instruction work?
- How will my homework be corrected?
- What are the computer hardware requirements?
General
Zabaan is located in the pleasant residential area of East of Kailash in South Delhi just across from the Kailash Colony Metro Station, making us easily accessible from anywhere in town. Our center is close to Greater Kailash I & II, Nehru Place, Lajpat Nagar, Defense Colony, and South Extension.
Our center’s address is E-36, Second Floor, in East of Kailash.
2. If I am unable to come to East of Kailash for classes, what are my other options?
If you are unable to take classes at Zabaan and live somewhere in Delhi, a Zabaan instructor can, in some cases, meet you at your home, office, or a coffee shop of your choice. In addition to the cost of the session, the cost of travel to and from will be added. This arrangement can be set up for individuals and groups. If you live outside of the Delhi region and would like to learn basic-level Hindi, you can register for online instruction.
3. Do I need to have any background in Hindi and/or Urdu before beginning at Zabaan?
It is not required that you have any background in Hindi and/or Urdu before beginning to learn at Zabaan. Our instructors do not assume any foreign language and/or linguistic background knowledge. If you do have some background in Hindi and/or Urdu, you’ll be given a short proficiency test to help us place you at the appropriate level.
4. If I’m unable to arrange for childcare, can I bring my children to Zabaan?
Yes! Please feel free to bring your children along. We have a large space and one of our staff members will be happy to look after your children while you’re in a class or having a one-on-one session. This service is free of charge.
In The Classroom
1. What is the student capacity of your classrooms?
We have four classrooms; one can comfortably seat 15 students, one can seat 10 students, and the other two classrooms can each accommodate six students. The rooms are well lit, clean, and breezy. The atmosphere is conducive to learning (and teaching).
2. How qualified are the Zabaan instructors?
Our instructors have many years of experience teaching Hindi and Urdu. They understand what it takes to learn how to read, write, speak, and comprehend Hindi and Urdu. Zabaan instructors have created handouts for all our courses based on their years of experience teaching these languages and they are fully capable to create new materials as needed.
3. What kind of teaching methodology is used at Zabaan?
While each Zabaan instructor has his or her own unique teaching style and personality, Zabaan generally endorses a communicative approach, while still emphasizing the need for formal grammar instruction and practice. According to the communicative approach, the most effective second language acquisition takes place when the learner has to use the language to solve tasks and get things done (whether individually or in groups). Please see How We Teach for a more detailed discussion of the teaching principles that every Zabaan instructor endorses.
4. What are the facilities like at Zabaan’s location in East of Kailash?
Zabaan has four classrooms. One of them seats 15 students, one seats 10, and the other two each seat six. The classrooms are breezy, clean, and well lit. Our student desks are made for comfort and practicality. There are 3 restrooms available for students and RO drinking water available at any time. We are located on the “second floor” (actually the third up) in a building with an elevator.
5. Can I cancel a scheduled session?
Yes. If for whatever reason you are unable to attend a scheduled session, please contact Zabaan or your instructor directly either via e-mail or by phone at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled session. Your session can be re-scheduled with the instructor at a mutually agreed-upon time. Classes cancelled within 48 to 24 hours before the scheduled start time are charged 50% while classes cancelled within less than 24 hours are charged the full rate.
If you are unable to attend a Group Class, you will simply be counted as absent for that session and will be responsible for catching-up on your own time.
For details about refunds, please see question 6 under “Payment” questions below.
6. Why doesn’t Zabaan teach English?
Given the number of institutes already teaching English across India, we don’t currently offer English and wish to focus all of our attention on teaching Hindi & Urdu. If we receive enough interest, it’s possible that we’ll offer English at some point in the future.
Visas
1. Do I need a visa to enter India?
Yes. If you are not a national of India or an OCI/PIO card holder, then you must apply for and obtain a valid visa from an Indian consulate before entering India.
2. What kind of visa do I need to learn at Zabaan?
You can receive language instruction at Zabaan if you’re in India on any valid visa. The possible visas are tourist, business, conference, entry, employment, student, research, medical, medical escort, missionary, or journalist.
Payment
Please write to learn@zabaan.com or call us at +91 96501-22722 to inquire about our rates.
After setting up your personal rate with us, you can pay in cash or by check (made out to: S.A. Zabaan Pvt. Ltd.) for Public Group Classes or Private Instruction. Either way, you’ll receive a written record of your payment on a monthly basis. For Online Instruction, we take payments through Paypal, which requires that you have a Paypal account setup. Please send your Paypal payments to zabaan@gmail.com. Due to changes in RBI (Reserve Bank of India) rules, each individual PayPal payment must be less than USD $500 per transaction.
3. When am I expected to pay for a Public Group Class and/or Private Instruction?
For Group Classes we expect a payment for one month of sessions in advance, as the rate for the group class is based on the number of students participating. A refund for missed classes is therefore only possible in exceptional cases.
You are expected to pay for each session of private instruction either before the start time of that session or right after its conclusion. In cases of special circumstances, please contact a Zabaan staff member to discuss making a possible exception to this rule. You are free to pay for multiple sessions at once (i.e. such as paying for a whole class like Basic Hindi or on a monthly-basis), or to pay on a session-by-session basis.
4. When am I expected to pay for Online Instruction?
You’re expected to pay for each online session at least 24 hours prior to its start time. In cases of special circumstances, please contact a Zabaan staff member to discuss making a possible exception to this rule. You’re free to pay for multiple online sessions at once, or to pay for online sessions on a session-by-session basis.
5. Will I receive a record of my payment?
Yes. When you pay in cash or by check, you will receive a receipt from a Zabaan staff member. When you pay for Online Instruction through Paypal, you’ll receive confirmation through Paypal at the e-mail address you provide.
6. How can I receive a refund for purchased instruction time?
Because they’re offered on a first-come-first-serve basis, Public Group Classes are non-refundable. If for whatever reason you require a refund for purchased Private Instruction or Online Instruction time, please contact a Zabaan staff member at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled session time to receive a full refund of your payment. If you contact a Zabaan staff member for a refund between 48 and 24 hours of your scheduled class, you’ll receive a refund of 50% of the total class value. Cancellations of less than 24 hours before the scheduled start time are not refunded.
7. Can I cancel a scheduled session?
Yes. If for whatever reason you are unable to attend a scheduled session, please contact Zabaan either via e-mail or by phone at least 48 hours prior to its start time. When you cancel less than 48 hours in advance, charges will apply (please see above).
If you are unable to attend a Public Group Class, you will simply be counted as absent for that session and will be responsible for catching-up on your own time. If you are unable to attend a Private Instruction session, it can be re-scheduled with your instructor at a mutually agreed-upon time. Likewise, Online Instruction sessions can be re-scheduled with your instructor at a mutually agreed-upon time.
For details about refunds, please see question 6 above.
Online Instruction
1. Which Zabaan courses are available through Online Instruction?
Zabaan is currently offering all of its courses online except for our free Urdu Script class which is only held in person at our center in Delhi.
2. How does Online Instruction work?
Using a software program called Skype, which allows for free international online video phone calls, and which allows the student to see his or her instructor’s screen, Zabaan instructors are able to teach Basic Hindi to students anywhere in the world. Payments are made through the Paypal link on this website and personal rates are discussed by e-mailing a Zabaan staff member. Online sessions are scheduled with your instructor at mutually agreed-upon time to meet online within Skype.
3. How will my homework be corrected?
You will complete your homework by hand, scan it, and then send it to your instructor via e-mail by the assigned due date. Your instructor will then print it out, carefully write corrections and comments on it by hand, scan it, and then send it back to you via e-mail.
4. What are the computer hardware requirements?
To see a list of the computer requirements, please visit our Online Instruction page.