There’s an article on the BBC today about the French Education Minister’s decision to offer free English lessons to all students in the school holidays. The BBC says …
Xavier Darcos announced the plans on Monday, insisting that speaking fluent English was the key to success. Xavier Darcos said it was a “handicap” to speak poor English. He said that while “well-off families pay for study sessions abroad, I’m offering them to everyone right here”.
Coming from France, which usually resists any English, this is a huge statement to make. I also imagine this might lead to new employment opportunities for those of you in Europe!
P.S. Speaking of school holidays, I’ve extended the CD7&CD8 Owners Club half price offer until Friday, be sure to take advantage of it if you don’t already have CD7! After Friday CD7 will go back to the normal price of 4,200 yen (around $38)
I’m very reserved about this. I don’t see them really inmplementing a program. If you consider that English is “required” in primary schools however they want secondary school teachers to do it as overtime. End result: most primary kids, at least here in French Guiana, have NO English! Many teachers are too busy to take on primary classes as well! So, while this latest is an idea that looks great on paper, it doesn’t mean it will amount to something! Not to mention that Darcos has really been a huge disappointment here as he refused to meet with the local and departmental representatives to resolve our very special problems. Our Recteur (like a big school board director)is cutting classes, teachers, programs while we are growing super fast and are VERY VERY behind in all developement. It’s been a huge scandal and one month of strikes by teahcers, students and parents this past May… Thank you Richard for sharing this on your blog!
I guess it’s one of those things that sounds like a good idea in the papers, but maybe not so in real life!
I’m just amazed he even made such a suggestion. I remember writing my university final report and having to change almost every other word because it was considered “too Anglicised”!