Où lâ lâ!

Nilma Dole

Imagine sipping French ‘Bordeaux’ wine and listening to Edith Piaf love songs and whispering sweet French nothings in your cherie’s ear.

French or Français has always been considered a romantic and elite language used by over 200 million people around the world to converse. The French-speaking countries are represented by the Francophone comprising of 68 states and governments, making up the world’s 4th largest economy.

Speaking to the Daily News was director of the Alliance de Française Bertrand Dufieux who said, “French is gaining recognition as one of the best second foreign languages because in France public education is free and many opt to study at well-renowned French universities”.

Even though there initially wasn’t a strong French tradition in Sri Lanka, the director said that there is a good enthusiasm to study the language as many sit for the French subject in their OL and AL examinations.

“We get about 3,000 registrations every year for French studies and 80% of our 1,400 students are young encompassing children and teenagers” said Dufieux. Parents of 6 to 9 year olds have also been keen in enrolling their children to study French, noted Dufieux, as it the second most widely learned foreign language after English. “We are very happy that there are many who love to learn French in Sri Lanka.

So much so that the Kelaniya university has a high quality French Department for Masters studies in French” he said. If anyone wants to learn French in order to teach it as a subject, then they can qualify with DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française) and the more advanced DAIF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) certifications.

The qualification is approved by the CIEP France (Centre international d’études pédagogiques) from the French Ministry of Education. “We adhere to European Teaching standards when teaching French” said Dufieux. Commenting further he said, “There are various stages of learning from Beginners’ to Intermediate and different levels of Advanced qualifications”.

In addition to this, the Alliance de Française also offers the TEF which is the Test Evaluation in French and the director stated that it was a test to determine as to whether a potential migrant was eligible to qualify to a French-speaking nation. At present, a B2 or a C1 qualification is the criteria for entering a French speaking university,( not so much for migration).

“The French Embassy has collaborated with the national Education Ministry to train French teachers at the Kalutara Teaching Academy which produces about 25graduates every year. In fact, some even work within the Alliance network” he said.

The Alliance Française gives motivation for their French students by having different and fun language competitions. The recently concluded Francophone 10 word essay competition which was an all-expenses paid trip to France was won by Sumindri Rodrigo gave great encouragement for French learners in Sri Lanka.

“The competition was sponsored by Sri Lankan Airlines who provided the ticket and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs whom we greatly acknowledge for making it a success” said the director.

There is presently an on-going competition for writing a song in French with the topic ‘The Rights of Children’. In the future, the Alliance will offer many more motivational competitions so that there is more interest generated among the French-learning Sri Lankan people.

Highlighting more about France itself, it is a known fact that the country is visited by more than 70 million people every year and it is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural countries in Europe. “France has plenty of culture with a brimming arts field consisting of the lively music industry, cinema, theatre, art and design and plenty of diverse talents from their diverse communities.

“We work very closely with the French embassy to bring the best of French arts to Sri Lanka. In music, we build bridges between French and Sri Lankan artists who perform unitedly together”, said the director.

Various other events like the French film festival, Lire en Fête, Semaine de la Francophonie are organized by the Alliance together with the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Cultural Service of the French embassy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

This year, the Alliance is bringing down some of the best names in music like ‘Duo Classique’ where famous French artists, Clement Dufour(flute) and Tristan Pfaff (piano) performed in the Galle Face Hotel patio and a special appearance by october of an oriental French jazz musician who hails from Vietnam.

“Modern French music is a mix and a medley of various cultures that have inter-blended to give a good sound and this is what makes French music today united in its diversity”, said Bertrand Dufieux.

So the next time someone asks you ‘Tu parle Français?” (Do you speak French?)

Say with a smile, “Oui, je parle Français” (Yes! I speak French)