Giving French learners an immersive experience Two-week ‘immersion’ programme by Alliance Francaise will help students practise their language skills with French speakers in Puducherry The Alliance Francaise here, the oldest in Asia, is poised to take French language learning to a whole new level. Its director Olivier Litvine has suggested bringing students from other Alliance Francaise centres to Puducherry for a two-week ‘immersion’ programme, which will help students practise their language skills with French speakers here, and include yoga and other programmes. An estimated 2,500 students pass out of various levels of French language courses every year from the Alliance Francaise here, which has the unique advantage of offering learners an environment that is culturally closer to France than any other Indian city. “Puducherry is unique in its focus of excellence in French influence,” says Mr. Litvine, referring to the different French institutions present here such as the Consulate, the French Institute of Pondicherry, Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient and the Lycee Francais. Students at the Alliance Francaise also have the advantage of using the interactive ‘smart board’ for classes. The team here says the regular training for teachers keeps the learning for students up-to-date. Recently, five students and a teacher were sent to Reunion Island for an educational and linguistic visit of around three weeks. The students from the advanced levels undertook training at the CIEP (Centre international détudes pédagogiques) Réunion Island Centre. Introduced for the first time for the 125th year celebrations of the Alliance Francaise here, the management hopes to continue this visit in the future too. “The trip to Reunion Island offered the students a good exposure. Reunion Island is also the closest French island in terms of culture to Puducherry,” says Mr. Litvine. The Alliance Française offers language classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced levels, classifying levels from the basic A1 through to C2, with each level requiring 80 hours of classes. A majority of the students are in the beginner level. The courses are conducted all through the year and conform to the objectives of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. At present, students here are offered classes till the B2 level if there are sufficient (a minimum of 12) students. Essentially, the B2 level involves systematic revision of the knowledge and applications of language and of communication as well as strengthening the capacity to give a viewpoint on a topical issue. Mr. Litvine’s other plans include tying up with the Lycee Francais international school to open up an avenue for engagement for the Alliance Francaise students. thehindu/multimedia/dynamic/02173/27THSMARTBOARD_2173202f.jpg
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 13:30:01 +0000
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