Studying French Language and culture in Sri Lanka
French ranks among the ten most spoken languages in the world, with around 220 millions French-speaking people and 116 millions students learning it. In Sri Lanka, French is today one the most widely studied foreign languages in the Secondary schools System. It is taught in both national and international schools. It is a subject chosen by approximately one thousand students for the G. C. E. Ordinary Level and by five hundred students for the G. C. E. Advanced Level examination.
The Sri Lankan Universities of Kelaniya, Peradeniya, Sri Jayawardenapura, Jaffna, Rajarata and Ruhuna offer their students the opportunity to learn French and discover French Literature and Civilization. Undergraduates interested in obtaining a Special Degree in French can do so at the University of Kelaniya in a 4 year course.
Yet another opportunity to learn French is afforded by the Alliance Française de Kotte in Colombo and in other provinces by the Alliances Françaises of Kandy, Jaffna and Matara/ Galle. They prepare their students for the international diplomas DELF and DALF.
The Sri lankan Ministry of Education signed in 2006 a Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) with the French Embassy in Colombo, to facilitate the special training of 35 French Language Teachers, the first batch at the Pasdunrata National College of Education. The second group of 27 young Sri Lankans completed their training at Pasdunrata in December 2009. These young teachers are presently teaching French in government schools in different regions in Sri Lanka. The third batch of 25 prospective French language teachers have successfully completed their training period at the Pasdunrata national College of Education and are awaiting their appointments to the State schools. During this period, the French Teachers’ Association of Sri Lanka ( APF) conducts continuous Teacher Training Sessions for these potential teachers of French.
The French Embassy continues its support through the French Teachers Association, offering the services of visiting Teacher Trainers from France to assist in the development of curricula in partnership with the Ministry of Education and to provide further teacher training at the College of Education. Outstanding teachers are offered regularly scholarships to follow special training programmes in France. Besides, a national contest in French language is organized worldwide each year. The Sri Lankan winner of this contest, in 2012, whose thesis was based on “Human Rights in the 21st century” will leave for France this summer for a International youth council on the subject. A. P. F.
The Fre n ch Te a c h e r s ’ Association has been in existence in Sri Lanka since 1978. It is a professional organization, affiliated to the Embassy of France and is the only Association of teachers of French in the country. Since 2006, the APF, as it is popularly known, is a member of the International Federation of French Teachers (FIPF), which has its head office in Paris. More than 100 Sri Lankan Teachers of French are members of this association. This numbers are to increase when the teacher trainees at Pasdunrata NCOE get their permanent appointments. The members regularly attend seminars and workshops conducted by the APF in order to improve their teaching skills. The APF occasionally benefits from the expertise of specialized Teacher Trainers from France who visit Sri Lanka to further enhance the teaching standards of its members. The French Government allocates an annual grant to help the multi faceted activities of the APF. ASSOCIATION DES PROFESSEURS DE FRANÇAIS A SRI LANKA
C/o Cultural Service, French Embassy, 89 Rosmead Place, Colombo 7.
apf.srilanka@gmail.com