English is one of the world’s most common languages, spoken on every continent. However there are places in Europe where the English taught in schools is not good enough for students to be able to speak fluently. French President Nicholas Sarkozy has attacked the education system in his home country for lagging behind modern teaching methods and hindering the effectiveness of English language lessons in French schools. This battering of the way English is taught in French schools has led to bigger opportunities for teaching English as a foreign language in France’s schools and private teaching institutions.
Now school leavers are taking their learning of English to the next step by paying for lessons in private colleges. Even though students in France are given English lessons for 6 years of their school life, they are taught in a written and not oral method which makes it harder for them to speak English confidently. Conversational English is now being taught by private tutors to help people build up their ability to speak the language.
Sarkozy wants this method of teaching to replace the traditional method being used in state schools. France really needs to improve its standing in the Test of English as a Foreign language because it stands only 69th out of 109 countries even though it spends 5.9% of its GDP on education. As one of Britain’s most historical neighbours with a long term economic and political relationship, this is surprising.
And it is no surprise that resistance to learning English to a higher level is coming from within France. The Academie Francaise has been perfecting the French language since 1635. And in terms of French culture, English imported words have been kept out of film and music for 25 years.
Some students have been scared into limiting their knowledge of English for fear of eroding the French language. However there are those pupils who are willing to pay the expensive fees for private tuition. In terms of business, no CV is complete without the ability to speak English detailed on it.
So there has never been a better time to teach English as a foreign language with new policies about to be put in place. And France is a great location to teach if you do not want to move too far away from home.
Tags: teaching English as a foreign language, teaching jobs abroad, tefl, TESOL