French and languages in schools

Sir, – Further to recent correspondence (September 2nd), introducing a greater variety of languages in schools would be a welcome step. Yet it would be foolish to dismiss the utility of the French language.

Regrettably, French is too often taught as solely the language of France, and with some luck Québec. Leaving Cert comprehensions are populated by Pierre and Marie from Paris, never by Fatima from Guinea or Merwan from Algeria. Yet only a fraction of the world’s Francophone people lives in France, and this proportion is steadily diminishing.

French is growing fast. A projection by investment bank Natixis estimated that the language will be spoken by 750 million people by 2050. Most crucially, this growth is occurring in what will be the economic powerhouse of this century – Africa. A focus on French’s international, especially African, flavour would make for not only more employable but also for more socially aware citizens. The need to engage students with the developing world has never been greater. – Yours, etc,

RALPH HURLEY

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O’DWYER,

Kahler,

Rochester, Minnesota.