Kolkata - Post Report Question and Answers
How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Not much, most people speak English, but it's nice to know some phrases. There are a lot of tutors available, they will bombard you with learning opportunities. Never used one so cannot say how much they charge. - Aug 2021
Lots of English around and in almost everything you need to do. Bengali would be useful exploring the books and crannies of the city. - Dec 2020
You can pass with just English though knowing either Hindi or Bengali will help with bargaining and finding your way around town. - Sep 2015
None. - Dec 2010
None, but Hindi or Bengali would help as people at the low end of the economic scale have little to no english, AND the english spoken can be very heavily accented and not easy to understand. - Jun 2009
Not much if any, but Hindi or Bengali would help, as English is pretty poor in Kolkata. - Mar 2009
Having Bengali and/or Hindi is helpful (especially when communicating with household staff), but not needed. - May 2008
