Free English courses

This morning France is really making it's way to improve their education system. I heard on the radio that according to the Minister of Education Mr. Xavier Darcos the students will be offered possible rigorous seminars in English-language ability during school vacations in February and summer. Mr. Darcos reiterated that young and old are not proficient in speaking good English is considerably a "handicap" in today's world and for International competition! He tells that while affluent families pay for their children to study English courses abroad, he is offering them for FREE to everyone right here. He proposes as well an English courses for 2 hours at a daily basis accompanying education in high school after 16h. Mr. Darcos comments are extraordinary in a country where politicians and people have often tried to conserve the influence of France. I heard previously that France wanted their Language to be an international form of communication but it will be impossible because French language is so much difficult and expensive even for little courses. This will only be accessible for those who are able pay expensive courses. In the end they drop the battle.

Now my choice to speak with my children in English will serve them best in the future and of great advantage.

Comments

Wil said…
This sounds like a great opportunity for those who want to improve their English. If one can't travel abroad to study English or a foreign language, a classroom is the best place to learn a language instead of, for example, language tapes.
Chibog in Chief said…
but how will mr darcos do this???
Anonymous said…
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Mahalia
http://chocolateword.net
http://bloggityblogs.wordpress.com
Makis said…
They should really start teaching english at an early age in school (before it was at 12) but it is more on lack of practice & the French are actually shy to speak it. And it's part of France's charm to not speak english (even if it gets me crazy sometimes).
Francesca said…
KOREK, haze! dyan sikat ang mga pinoy. Ask sa akin ng mga french friends ko: Why we speak english, did we study abroad? Or we lived in america or UK?

sabi ko, hindi, its our second language.

Kaya impress sila, kasi poor country daw tayo but we speak english like we are rich, hehe

i read naman sa newspaper metro, na everywednesday, hahabaan na ang klase, three hours na english course ang mga elementary students!!!
yay!
Anonymous said…
canada is supposed to be bilingual - French and English - but most residents speak English because it's the universal language. so it's great that the ministry of education in france decided to give free classes to learn english.
Analyse said…
yehey! i've heard that too and it's a great change!
Anonymous said…
that's good indeed :-)
unlike most Brits who won't even try learning another language
as for me, I would have liked to learn French because it's such a delight to hear French people speak :-)
Yen Prieto said…
the problem naman ate is even if the french knows how to speak english, they tend to forget they know how when a tourist talks to them.
Anonymous said…
A least expensive proposition is getting Rosetta Stone. I learned to speak portuguese using the portuguese language pack. It has english, mandarin, french, spanish (spain), spanish (mexico),... and even Swahili. www.rosettastone.com
kala said…
Great news!!!
Anonymous said…
I had wanted before to learn French for it sounds so romantioc and sophisticated, but hadn't had much time. It could be so true that it could be so difficult to learn it, especially the pronounciation.
Anonymous said…
Wow Haze, I never thought I would see the day when the French would admit the importance of English. That's great for your kids to learn.
Anonymous said…
Oh wow! The French are finally opening up to the English language. And the courses are for free ha. That's just perfect!

Cambodia, which is a Francophone country, is now also realizing the importance of learning to speak the English language.
Anonymous said…
yup! that's really value added. french and american, magandang ide yan. start them while they are young. english cartons will also be helpful, and english comiks.
raqgold said…
that's great. i hope people would take advantage of this offer. here in germany, they have are now starting english course in the first grade!
haze said…
WIL I agree with you school because there is always an exchange between students ;)!

DHANGGIT well let's wait and see!

MAHALIA and speaking the international form of communication is still easier! No problem for linking.

MAKIS yes they speak but they really need to get serious and practice it otherwise they won't learn.

FRANCESCA oh it's because we're colonized by Americans. But when the Spanish conquered Philippines we were obliged to speak Spanish di ba.

EVI yes in Quebec they are Francophone.

ANALYSE indeed fantastic!

PINING oh it's not too late. If I can you can, just take some French courses :D !

YEN they are very nationalistic kasi :( !

SOULSHIEK wow that's great, I would like to learn other languages too like Spanish as it would be easier I guess because we are still using some Spanish words right !

KALA absolutely!

MAJORTOM the pronunciation, conjugations and some exceptions are really difficult but when you master them, it is really a beautiful language!

ANGELO finally but I hope they will really start learning in kindergarten !

TOE a great advantage and I hope students will really grab the opportunity, it's rare :D !

SEXY MOM and that's what I am doing with my kids every time they watch a film I put the Original Version.

RAQGOLD that's ideal first grade will be the best stage to learn English, I hope in France they will start from there too !
sadako said…
aba maganda ito kapatid. The tables have turned. Before, english speaking countries are obliged to learn french because they said french is the international language as what we always hear during papal mass and the olympics, but then again not all english speaking countries have the capacity to learn french.

with this, many english speaking tourist will not anymore have a hard time communicating with french people when they go to europe.

I remember a friend of mine who attended a three day conference in paris, he enrolled in a french class for two months just for that 3 day event. mas mahaba pa ang inaral nya kesa sa inatendan nya hehe tapos pagdating dun marunong naman pala mag english yung iba french haha
haze said…
BPJ korek ka kabatak ! Yes they are considering that French language should be an international form of comm pero in their dreams, it's to complicated.