Uptick in demand for learning French at Alliance Française
The number of French language learners has grown significantly over the past year at Alliance Française Pondichéry, reflecting a rising interest in picking up the language among students seeking higher education and job opportunities abroad.
Enrolments have increased from over 1,600 students in 2023 to more than 2,200 in 2024, a nearly 40% jump in a year, which is a clear indication of the growing trend.
According to Alliance Francaise, which is among the earliest and Asia's oldest chapters of the organisation with a mandate to spread French language and culture, the rise in student count is closely linked to recent initiatives undertaken by the 140-year-old institution. Its partnership with government schools in Cuddalore for summer camps, along with a recent MoU signed with Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV) to teach French to over 400 students, supports its broader goal of expanding French language and culture among students. The institute is now set to collaborate with government and private schools in Puducherry and Yanam as well.
'Students who come here often learn the language as an added benefit for their higher education or to support their aspirations for citizenship,' says Laurent Jalicous, Director of Alliance Française Pondicherry.
Established in 1889, Alliance Française Pondichéry (AFP) is the first Alliance Française to be founded in India with the aim of promoting Francophone culture and language. It is part of a global network of over 830 Alliances. Located in Puducherry, which has a strong Indo-French history from its time as a French colony, AFP holds a unique cultural position.
It is furthermore the only institute in the Union Territory certified by the French Ministry of Education to conduct DELF/DALF examinations. In the previous year, it recorded 900 student registrations for the DELF exams. With many of its teachers being native French speakers, it attracts students from various regions who seek a structured and immersive language-learning experience in a city with the tag of 'India's Little France.'
'Learners can easily transition from one Alliance Française chapter to another, as all AF units follow a set of common objectives,' says Mr. Jalicous.
Alliance Française Pondichéry, which is part of a larger network of Alliance Francaise chapters across India, has kept its focus on collaboration, rather than competition, he added.
The demand for learning French is perhaps also driven by the sheer size of the Francophonie sphere, with around 29 countries having French as their first language.
Hemavathy Perrotet, course coordinator at AFP noted that post-COVID, students who are enrolling for classes prefer the offline sessions due to the ambience the place offers and the effectiveness and better experience of one-to-one learning. 'Real-life conditions, interaction, eye contact, and body language are essential to learn and communicate in any language,' she said.
The institute additionally has a library that holds more than 12,000 books and documents about the French language, and classrooms equipped with interactive learning tools. Frequent cultural events, workshops, and job fairs in partnership with organisations such as Campus France and France Volontaires allow the institute to offer better opportunities for students with language proficiency.
However, the growing demand also presents challenges. Apart from the limitations of space at its premises on Rue Suffren, the institute also points to intense competition from mushrooming private French language centres as a key factor in maintaining uniform standards in the teaching of the language.
'Convincing students to stay committed for the long term to achieve fluency in French is equally a challenge,' the director said.
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