French in Netherlands

Informer   Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:13 am GMT
Le français, langue mondiale

Entretien avec Heleen de Hondt , présidente de la commission du congrès des professeurs de français et Noortje Jacobs-Hessing, présidente de la section français de l’association des professeurs de langues vivantes.

Madame de Hondt, les préparatifs du congrès, le français, une langue mondiale qui se tiendra les 8 et 9 avril au Reehorst à Ede, battent leur plein. Est-ce que vous pouvez nous en dire plus sur le programme de ce congrès ?

Cette année, nous avons choisi le slogan : le Français, une langue mondiale ! La signification en néerlandais est double : une langue mondiale mais également une langue sensas ! Ces deux interprétations sont reflétées dans la programmation. Ainsi, l’aspect mondial se retrouve dans les ateliers sur Webquest, sur le cadre de référence européen, sur le portefeuille européen des langues et bien sûr, dans les ateliers qui s’adressent aux étudiants MBO et HBO qui effectuent des stages en France (malheureusement encore trop peu nombreux). Beaucoup d’ateliers proposent des idées pour rendre l’enseignement du français plus attractif : la chanson dans la classe, Paris en Poésie, travailler avec TV5, le théâtre en classe, méthodes de travail motivantes, etc… Il y a en tout 46 ateliers, de durée et de niveaux différents.

La conférence d’ouverture sera donnée par Madame Henriette Walter, professeur émérite de français à l’université de Haute-Bretagne. Elle s’exprimera sur le thème du Français dans le Monde. Les animateurs des ateliers sont issues de toutes les catégories du personnel enseignant. Les organisateurs du congrès saluent la présence cette année encore de Michel Boiron, directeur du Cavilam de Vichy, qui animera différents ateliers. Entre lui et les professeurs de français aux Pays-Bas, on peut parler d’une relation privilégiée. Les prix du concours interscolaire seront également remis pendant le congrès. Les élèves devaient réaliser un programme de télévision. Va-t-on assister à la naissance d’un nouveau Philip Freriks* ? Les divertissements ne manqueront pas non plus : cinéma et chanson sont au programme de la soirée. Nous nous réjouissons de la présence de Frédéric Dortmans qui interprétera quelques unes des plus belles chansons de Brel.
Vous pouvez consulter le site du congrès sur www.congresfrans.nl pour plus d’informations et les dernières nouvelles.

Madame Jacobs, un tel congrès est bien sûr un évènement important pour les professeurs de français. Mais votre association est également active sur d’autres fronts. Combien de membres avez-vous ?

Levende Talen (langues vivantes) est une association qui fédère 10 sections et compte environ 3000 membres, dont 970 pour le français qui représente la section la plus importante. Pour stimuler et encourager nos collègues professeurs de français, nous organisons chaque année de nombreuses activités, certaines, comme la célèbre journée nationale des Etudes (Studiedag) qui se tient tous les ans en novembre, en coopération avec Levende Talen.
Parallèlement, notre commission didactique pour le français est exceptionnellement active : développement de matériel pédagogique, organisation d’un concours annuel pour les enseignants autour d’un thème particulier, journées pratiques pour les professeurs de français en VBMO, par exemple… De plus, la section français organise chaque année en collaboration avec l’ambassade un concours annuel, qui chaque fois traduit l’énorme engagement et la créativité des élèves et des professeurs.

C’est donc une association très active. Mais qu’en est-il de la situation du français aujourd’hui ? Tout n’est pourtant pas rose ?

C’est tout à fait vrai, et c’est un sujet qui nous soucie beaucoup. Nos collègues font souvent face à des réductions menaçantes du nombre d’heures d’enseignement du français, notamment dans le VMBO. On croit bien souvent encore que le français est trop difficile pour ce profil d’élèves. C’est pourquoi nous essayons de soutenir les professeurs en développant du matériel pédagogique attractif et motivant.

Et qu’en est-il de la situation pour le HAVO et le VWO ? L’enseignement du français y est-il toujours obligatoire ?

C’est encore le cas dans le premier cycle du HAVO et du VWO, et également dans le second cycle du VWO. A partir de 2007, la situation évoluera puisque les élèves seront en mesure de conserver deux langues étrangères dans leur cursus (conformément aux accords européens). Cependant le choix du français ou de l’allemand, à côté de l’anglais ne sera plus automatique. Cette plus grande liberté de choix, associée à l’autonomie des directions d’écoles (très vaste en comparaison avec la France) doit inviter les professeurs de français à la plus grande vigilance. Nous essayons d’assister les professeurs, en mettant à leur disposition sur notre site Internet des lettres types à l’attention des directions, ainsi que des argumentaires pour encourager les élèves à apprendre le français. Notre site offre de plus de nombreuses informations utiles ainsi que des liens intéressants : www.levendetalen.nl/frans/index.htm

Quel est le pourcentage des professeurs de français qui sont membres de la section français de Levende Talen ?

Hélas, tous les professeurs de français ne sont pas membres. Nous évaluons le taux d’adhésion à environ 30 à 35% et espérons que de plus en plus, l’adhésion deviendra automatique. Heureusement, beaucoup de formations en soulignent l’intérêt. Le magazine Levende Talen, et son pendant scientifique Levende Talen Tijdschrijft ont bonne presse chez les jeunes professeurs. On y trouve régulièrement des contributions intéressantes, aussi bien pour le MBO et le HBO que pour l’enseignement pour adultes. Le fait que la VLLT soit devenue en janvier 2005 un syndicat en plus d’être une association professionnelle, rend l’adhésion des jeunes professeurs encore plus utile.
Au prochain congrès, nous espérons convaincre les professeurs qui ne sont pas encore membres de l’intérêt de cette adhésion.

Bonne chance avec le congrès et le développement de la section français de Levende Talen, et ceci tout naturellement dans l’intérêt de la position du français aux Pays-Bas.

*Présentateur du journal de 20 heures (ndt)

http://www.ambafrance-nl.org/spip.php?article5768

En Anglais:

French, world language

Interview with Heleen Hondt, president of the congress of teachers of French and Noortje-Hessing Jacobs, president of the French section of the association of teachers of modern languages.

Madame de Hondt, the preparations for the congress, the French, a world language to be held on 8 and 9 April to Reehorst in Ede, in full swing. Is it that you can tell us more about the program of this conference?

This year, we chose the slogan: French, a language World! The meaning in Dutch is twofold: a global language but also in a language sense! Both interpretations are reflected in programming. Thus, the global aspect is reflected in the workshops on Webquest on the EU framework, on the portfolio of European languages and of course, in the workshops for students and MBO HBO conducting workshops in France ( Unfortunately, too few). Many workshops offer ideas for making the teaching of French more attractive: the song in class, Poetry in Paris, working with TV5, drama class, working methods motivating, etc ... There are 46 workshops, time and different levels.

The keynote address will be given by Madame Henriette Walter, professor emeritus of English at the University of Haute-Bretagne. She will speak on the topic of French in the World. The workshop leaders are from all categories of teachers. The organizers of the conference welcomed the presence this year by Michel Boiron, director of Cavilam Vichy, which will host various workshops. Between him and French teachers in the Netherlands, one can speak of a relationship. The prize will be awarded interscolaire during the conference. Students should make a television program. Will we witness the birth of a new Philip Freriks *? The entertainment will certainly not cinema and song are on the agenda of the evening. We welcome the presence of Frederick Dortmans who will perform some of the best songs of Brel.

You can visit the congress www.congresfrans.nl for more news and information.

Ms. Jacobs, a conference is of course an important event for teachers of French. But your association is also active on other fronts. How many members do you have?

Levende Talen (languages) is an association which brings together 10 sections and has about 3000 members, including 970 for the French which is the most important section. To stimulate and encourage our professional colleagues in France, every year we organize many activities, some, like the celebrated National Day of Research (Studiedag) which is held every year in November, in cooperation with Levende Talen.
Meanwhile, the Committee for English teaching is exceptionally active: development of teaching materials, organizing an annual competition for teachers around a particular theme, practice days for teachers of French in VBMO, for example ... In addition, French section organizes each year in collaboration with the Embassy an annual competition, which each time reflects the enormous commitment and creativity of students and teachers.

It is therefore a very active association. But what about the situation of France today? Yet all is not rosy?

That is quite true, and it is something that concerns us greatly. Our colleagues are often faced with reductions threatening the number of hours of teaching of French, particularly in the VMBO. It is believed that many French is too difficult for this profile of students. That's why we try to support teachers in developing educational materials attractive and motivating.

And what about the situation for the HAVO and VWO? The teaching of French is it still required?

This is still the case in the first round of HAVO and VWO, and also in the second round of VWO. Starting from 2007, the situation will change as students will be able to keep two foreign languages in their studies (in accordance with the Europe Agreements). But the choice of English or German, next to the English will no longer be automatic. This greater freedom of choice, coupled with autonomy for school boards (very large in comparison with France) is to invite French teachers to be extremely vigilant. We try to assist the teachers, by making available on our website letters to the attention of management, as well as arguments to encourage students to learn French. Our site offers more useful information and links of interest: www.levendetalen.nl / engels / index.htm

What percentage of teachers of French who are members of the French section of Levende Talen?

Alas, all teachers of French are not members. We assess the rate of adherence to approximately 30 to 35% and hope that more and more, the membership will be automatic. Fortunately, many training stress interest. The magazine Levende Talen, and its scientific Levende Talen Tijdschrijft have good news for young professors. There are regular contributions interesting for both the MBO and HBO for adult education. The fact is that the VLLT become a union in January 2005 in addition to being a professional association, makes membership of young teachers even more useful.

At the next conference, we hope to convince the teachers who are not yet members of the interests of the membership.
adroit   Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:04 am GMT
ça suffit! Con
aderecho   Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:27 am GMT
<< ça suffit! Con >>

Why, because this one negates the lies of the hispanic fanatic in this forum in his blogspot in the Dutch language that Spanish is replacing French in the Netherlands using google translator?
Visitor   Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:29 pm GMT
Mourning the decline of French

In today's Guardian, Marcel Berlins approves of Jacques Chirac's walk-out from the opening session of the EU spring summit last week, prompted by a speech in English by the French leader of the EU employers' organisation. Ernest-Antoine Sellière did so because English is "the language of business". Berlins notes that he could have added "of international trade, the internet, pop music, the tourist industry and Hollywood":

French cannot compete. All it has in its favour is that it is the most beautiful language in the world, the most elegant, expressive and mellifluous. It's also the pre-eminent language of culture. But that's irrelevant if all you want is to do a deal.
What Chirac was concerned about, apparently, was that as French becomes less important on the international stage, it infiltrates and degrades French as well, which has been changing very rapidly of late, changes increasingly spearheaded by the younger generation, an example being "the language of the banlieue (slum/suburb), much in evidence last November during the riots of the disadvantaged". Of course, the language of the French slums is likely to be different from middle-class French, because they are populated by large numbers of Arabs and Africans. And as for the preponderance of English popular culture, dreck is dreck in anyone's language, but if the French have not produced a culture they consider worth keeping in the last forty years or so, you can hardly blame their youth for looking elsewhere.

Actually the real reasons French is on the decline is simply that it failed to colonise enough of the right places in the 18th and 19th centuries, and because Europe is enlarging. The British got underpopulated areas like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and (for a while) America. It also colonised most of India and large parts of Africa. Today, English is the lingua franca in many of these places - still used officially in India and Pakistan (its replacement with Hindi being resisted by, among others, the Tamils). France first tried to grab its neighbours' countries, and got trounced. It later got north Africa (which it misruled dreadfully), the desert and semi-desert of the west African interior, Haiti, Syria, Lebanon, Québec, and a few pockets of India - mostly places where a major international language was already spoken or widely understood: Arabic.

French is still an official language in many of these places, the internationally known names of several cities in Algeria, for example, being French rather than Arabic or any other local language. Read any English guidebook of Morocco, and you will find streets being named in French, rather than Arabic or in English translations.

As for the decline of French in Europe, this was bound to happen as French ceased to be the biggest single language spoken in the EU. In the Cold War days France was the biggest country in the EU by far, and French is also spoken in Belgium, Luxembourg and parts of Italy. Italian has similar Latin roots to French, while English and German have substantial amounts of French or otherwise Latin-based vocabulary, and French is generally the first foreign language British children learn. This is not the case any longer, with the arrival of large populations of Slavs whose language has nowhere near this level of French influence, and with French being only one of four major Latin languages. Probably the EU's biggest single language is German, with eastern Germany and Austria now in the union (with speakers in France, Poland, Belgium and Italy), but because of the problems you might have in getting the Poles and Czechs to accept German as the language of European business, it's not really a viable proposition.

I find it rather amusing that Berlins thinks French culture is particularly threatened, with fewer than 100 million speaking the language worldwide - compare this with fewer than half that number speaking Polish and with other European languages with fewer than 10 million - worldwide, not just at home. What do the Lithuanians do when speaking at these summits - do they never speak any language except Lithuanian? The only reason Chirac walked out in a huff is because in bygone days, he would have been able to go to other EU countries and expect to hear French. And I'm not sure the Italians would agree that French is "the most beautiful language in the world, the most elegant, expressive and mellifluous".