Top schools set to introduce French courses
OPTIONAL La Martiniere Girls’ College, St Francis’ College and Study Hall likely to roll out the language from Class 5
LUCKNOW: French will no longer be Greek for students as top English medium schools of Lucknow are set to start a course in what is dubbed as the second most spoken language of the world. More comprehensive and authentic than ordinary hobby courses/summer classes already conducted by a few institutes, the language course taught in schools will come with a certificate directly from the French embassy.
LUCKNOW: French will no longer be Greek for students as top English medium schools of Lucknow are set to start a course in what is dubbed as the second most spoken language of the world.
More comprehensive and authentic than ordinary hobby courses/summer classes already conducted by a few institutes, the language course taught in schools will come with a certificate directly from the French embassy.
Taking the lead in implementing the plan are La Martineire Girls’ College, St Francis College and Study Hall. “It will be rolled out from Class 5 and children will have the option to study French or Sanskrit,” said a teacher.
Aware of the fact that a foreign language has more potential in this globilisation era, majority of students have decided to drop out from Sanskrit classes.
Says Farida Abraham, principal, La Martineire Girls College, “We have been working on it since last year and are awaiting a formal consent from the ICSE board. Hopefully, it will start from this July when the school reopens after summer vacation.” A foreign language has more potential in this globilisation era, so majority of students have decided to drop out of Sanskrit classes. There are about 350 French companies in India and so it increases the job opportunities for students speaking the language.
As of now, the plan is to introduce the course from Class 5. But, it will be gradually expanded to other classes. “As the subject will be taught at a young age, the students will be able to learn it faster,” she says while insisting that the council has agreed in principle to start the course but the proposal awaits a formal approval.
“We have identified a teacher and have designed the timetable accordingly. If all goes well then maybe from next month or from July, French teaching will start in our school,” said Fr Denis Naresh Lobo, principal, St Francis College.
According to Fr Lobo, the school had decided to start teaching the language when a delegation from the French embassy visited the city recently.
Study Hall School in Gomti Nagar is already running the course from this session. “The response is overwhelming,” says Shalini Sinha, principal.
“I am happy that I will learn something new which will help me in my profession when I grow up,” says Rakesh, a Class 5 student.
French is spoken across the world and a large number of countries have adopted it as official or administrative language.
With 2,78,000 foreign students in 2013, France is the third gloal destination for students with international mobility (after the US and UK). Also French companies are widely present in India.
“There are about 350 establishments and so it increases the job opportunities for students speaking French language,” remarked Caroline Schmitt of French embassy during her recent visit to the city.