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French Language and Anglophone countries and the official (de jure/de facto) Students: Making a Case for language of all former French colonies in Second Foreign Language Africa. It is the official language of Republic Acquisition of Benin, very close to in the West, second official language of in the East, official language of Niger in the North Odeyemi Johnson Ayodele and official language of Republic of Chad. Department of English (French Unit) in the North–East. Apart from the afore- Redeemer’s University, Ede , mentioned countries, French is the official Nigeria. [email protected] language of , Côte-d’Ivoire, Senegal, Belgium, second official language of

Canada, and the official language of France. Abstract All the countries that were once former colonies of France are multilingual, multi- The acquisition of French as a ethnic and multi-cultural. With the second foreign language by anglophone geographical proximity of Nigeria to some African students, especially Nigerians, has of these French-speaking countries in become a necessity, not only because the Africa, it is of utmost importance that its world is now a global village, but more for youths learn and speak French for various the fact that the country is surrounded by reasons. francophone countries. French is acknowledged as an important language Objectives of this Research which does not only enjoy exemplary international reputation, recognition and The objective of this paper is to attention but is also distinguished by a proud highlight the inherent potentials in the and robust history. Based on the vital and acquisition of the French language and to let decisive roles that French has played and anglophone students recognise that the continues to play in political and economic ability to speak French increases their circles internationally, it is expedient for the chances of working in the diplomatic youths of Africa to avail themselves of the community. According to Isa Mohammed – opportunity the language offers them. This Nigeria’s Ambassador to Côte-d’Ivoire, “to paper looks at the importance of French work in Foreign Service, a second foreign language to anglophone African students, language is required.” This statement was and therefore, makes a case for the students made during one of the visit of Redeemer’s in higher institutions of learning, to be University’s students on guided visit to the encouraged to master the language. country. He maintained that the second language could be French, Arabic or Introduction Spanish, but emphasised French as most important in dealing with neighbouring French is the mother tongue as well countries of Nigeria. Ambassador Isa as the first and national language of a few

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Mohammed confirmed that some of his The Importance of French Language to colleagues became Ambassadors because of Anglophone Students their proficiency in both English and French. Therefore, proficiency in two international Apart from from the constitutional languages will enhance the chances of status of French as the official or preferred getting some global jobs. language of the seven countries namely, According to Ade-Ojo (2012:15), Canada, Cameroon, , Saint Lucia, “proficiency in French opens advantageous Vanuatu, Dominican and Seychelles Islands, windows of job opportunities to each French has for centuries, served as a key Anglophone African who possesses such working language of international asset.” Some of the reputable jobs opened to organizations. It is either the only working graduates of the language, apart from language or one of the languages accorded working in the hospitality sector, includes, the special privilege of serving as the working in transnational, multinational medium of communication for transactions, organisations. discussions as well as political and There are other opportunities such as economic decisions. becoming the Personal Assistants to Chief Nimako (2014), argues that, “French Executives of international organizations, language as at today is the most dominant Attachés or Personal Assistants to international language in West Africa on Ambassadors in French speaking countries, country by country basis. Eight out of the representative at trans-regional agencies like fifteen ECOWAS countries officially speak ECOWAS and African Union (AU), and French. This means mathematically, 53% of French lecturers in universities, research the West African countries officially speak institutes and other institutions of higher French” (32). If eight out of the fifteen learning. The list of opportunity includes member-states of the Communaute working at United Nations (UN) and other Economique des Etats del’Afrique de international Non-governmental agencies l’Ouest (CEDEAO) alternatively known in around the world. With the acquisition of English as Economic Community of West French language, Nigerian students can African States (ECOWAS) are speaking the become writers, translators and interpreters language, means that it will convey who are mostly sought after. Interpretation advantage on new speakers. French is either and translation from English to French or the official language or the preferred vice-versa can be financially rewarding. The language of communication of thirty-one out ability to speak French and comprehend it of the fifty-four countries in Africa. can make migration easier, and they can According to Nimako, as of 2014, easily engage in legitimate businesses of Africa accounted for 96 million of French their choice with French speaking partners speakers (2014:22). On the basis of its users without language barriers. across the globe, French as the fifth intercontinental language, accounts for it being the preferred language of

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EDE: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences | Vol. 1, No. 2 |ISSN 0000-0000 July, 2019 communication and commerce in many Learning were also established to countries. In this regard, it is appropriate to provide teaching and learning state that some African countries without materials for French teachers and colonial linkage with France opted for the students. The centres were also adoption of French as second official responsible for monitoring and language at one stage in their development. promoting the French language in Some cases in point are Nigeria, Equatorial . At the higher level, the Guinea (a former Spanish colony), Cape French Embassy also supports Verde, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tomé and students pursuing French language Principé (all former Portuguese colonies) education and even sometimes and Ghana. In the case of Nigeria, Late sponsors some for oversees General Sani Abacha (Nigerian military schooling (44). dictator 1993-1998), through an executive order, made a pronouncement in favour of The efforts of the government of the adoption of French as additional official Ghana to position French language to an language for the country between 14th and official level got a major boost in 2018, 31st December 1996 (Amuwo, 2001: through an announcement made by the online). For Ghana, Nimako (2014), posits, president. Asiedu (2019), states that, at La Francophonie Summit 2018, Ghana’s Ghana’s Ministry of Education in President Nana Akufo-Addo, “announced collaboration with the French plans to make French a compulsory subject Embassy in Accra has been making for high school students” (online). vigorous attempts since the 1980s to At the international organizations promote French language learning in front, French is both a working and official Ghana. A great deal of attention had language of the United Nations, European been paid to the training of French Union, UNESCO, NATO, International teachers in Ghana who would in turn Olympic Committee, International Red teach future French language Cross Society, International Criminal Court, students. In this regard, three African Union, etc. Proficiency in French is Colleges of Education (formerly essential for anyone considering a career in Teacher Training College) in the any international organisation. France is the Eastern, Ashanti and the Northern World’s top tourist destination that attracts regions were designated as centres of “nearly 90 million tourists” in year 2018 French teaching and learning. These alone. were the Mount Mary College of The ability to speak even a little Education (Somanya, Eastern), French such as: Bonjour (Good morning), Wesley College of Education Comment allez –vous? (How are you), Bien (Kumasi, Ashanti) and Bagabaga merci et vous? (Fine and you), Très bien, College of Education (Bagabaga, merci (Very well, thank you), and Northern). Ten Regional Centres of information on the popular tourists sites

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EDE: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences | Vol. 1, No. 2 |ISSN 0000-0000 July, 2019 associated with the country, raises in many Francophonie’ (OIF) 274 million French people the desire to visit Paris and all the speakers exist in the world. This fact regions of the Côte d’Azur to the snow- emanated from a 2014 report, which capped peaks of the Alps. discussed French’s progress since 2010. It is necessary to state that learning a France is in the top ten preferred destination second language as an adult presents its own for foreign education. After the United challenges, but the ends result makes the States and the United Kingdom, that are top exercise worthwhile. According to Nimako two countries with international students, (2014): Canada where French is widely spoken with English, according to Canada Bureau of It should be noted however that in all International Education (2017: online) is in cases a learner of a first language has third position with 494,525 and France in 6th no idea of a previous language but a position with 343,386, based on information learner of a second language has. by The Pie News (2018: online). Having the idea of a first language Promotion of has both advantage and disadvantage linguistic diversity by speaking French is a for learning a second language. The major contribution to preserving linguistic advantage from the knowledge of the diversity in the world and by so doing, the first language in learning the second exclusive domination of a single language. language is called positive transfer. Having discussed extensively on the status The disadvantage aspect is called of French and copious reasons why it should negative transfer or interference (40). be spoken, it should be clear to Anglophone It should be noted that although the students that there is a lot of opportunities French language is touted as the language of awaiting them as it is a career asset. This diplomacy, it is nevertheless very complex, means that the ability to speak French will full of twists and turns in terms of its enable them to find jobs in many multinational companies using French as grammatical structure (41). once these are their working language in a wide range of mastered, comprehension and speaking sectors (retailing, automotive, luxury goods become easier. French is not a difficult and aeronautics). France as the World’s 5th language to learn. Although it is a language largest economy attracts entrepreneurs, that requires a certain precision, it is also capable of expressing great subtlety. It does researchers and the cream of foreign not take long before one reaches a level of students. communication in French. It is easy for Anglophone students to make contacts with French speakers of their There are many methods on the own age through different social media Internet that make learning French platforms to engage in face-to-face video enjoyable. French also appeals to students in interaction with them in order to practice view of its melodious sound. According to and polish their spoken French. There are the l’Organisation Internationale de la also many foreign exchange programmes for EDE: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences | Vol. 1, No. 2 (July 2019) 55

EDE: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences | Vol. 1, No. 2 |ISSN 0000-0000 July, 2019 different age groups in France as well, to multilingualism in English and enhance students’ knowledge of the French, which are indisputably, the language. According to a report on EF (n.d) most patronized world languages. website: Ade-Ojo (16).

A student exchange program in Since English and French rule the France will teach you many cultural world in the area of communication, lessons. France is a country with a Anglophone students upon completion of long, proud history. it holds a unique their academic programmes, in the place in our collective imagination. University, that is, those who are proficient Imagine going beyond tourism to get in both languages can choose to be to know the real France. A foreign translators and can work with their various exchange program in France is one governments as interpreters especially of the best ways to enhance in-class during important international meetings. language learning. It will also give It is pertinent to mention that many you many ways to become a part of highly placed Anglophone Africans in the culture and society as you politics, business, academics as well as those improve your French language skills on diplomatic and professional assignments (online). have been embarrassed, psychologically traumatized in different Francophone Thousands of French schools are entwined countries in which communication and with counterparts around the world’s largest interpersonal relations are compulsorily educational network. According to Ade-Ojo conducted in French. The experience of (2012): Professor Oyewale Tomori - first Vice- Chancellor of Redeemer’s University – With English enjoying the right of serves as an example in this case. As a way being the official language of each to encourage French as a course of study in Anglophone African country and the the university, he gave an account of his medium of instruction in each of its inability to place an order for the meal he educational institutions, the wanted in a French restaurant. He ended up knowledge of French, the second not being able to eat what he was given most important human language of because he could not speak French. world-wide communication as an Nigeria and Ghana are typical additional language by Anglophone examples of Anglophone countries in Africa Africans, will empower them to where many highly qualified professionals respond more positively and and experts have been disappointingly edged confidently to the realization of their out of top-ranking positions in sub-regional, affective goals. Proficiency in continental and international regulatory French will also help them bodies because they are not proficient in beneficially harness the blessings of French language. Anglophone students

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EDE: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences | Vol. 1, No. 2 |ISSN 0000-0000 July, 2019 should take the bull by the horns by being case in Redeemer’s University, Nigeria, proficient in French in order to occupy the whose recent Immersion programme took rightful positions meant for them in future in place in University of Abidjan, Cote international organisations. d’Ivoire. The impact programme was so At present, it is beneficial to enriching to the extent that the students Anglophone Students to study and learn started expressing themselves proficiently in French to a higher level by acquiring French at the end of two weeks. They had Master’s and Doctorate degrees in the the opportunity of being taught in class by language in order to become classroom French lecturers. They also went to the teacher and lecturers in high schools and market to buy things and they made friends universities. French language lecturers are among the Ivoirians through the language not enough in universities in Nigeria and it club programmes organised on Saturdays. is now enviable and lucrative to be a Professor of French unlike in the past when professors were not well remunerated. References: Conclusion Ade-Ojo, S. (2012). Practical French for Considering the enormous benefits Anglophone Learners. Ibadan: Agoro embedded in the knowledge and proficiency Publicity Company in French, each Anglophone country Ade-Ojo, S. (1993). “Foreign Language especially Nigeria (because of its Learning in Nigeria, Challenges, Resources population), should as a matter of urgency and Reach.” A paper presented at Nigerian put in place a pro-French policy that will International Language Fair NEXPO encourage the young ones to be interested in LINGUA, 92, Lagos, Nigeria, 14th -16th. the language. Such policies may include April, 1993.. giving scholarships to students who want to Ajiboye T. (2002) Nigerian and French: A study French in the university. It will be in paradox of closeness and distance. the interest of individual Anglophone Inaugural Lecture. Ilorin: University of students that the status of French be raised in Ilorin each country’s academic curriculum such as Amuwo, K. (2001). Introduction. Transition making it compulsory in their secondary as Democratic Regression. Eds. K. Amuwo, school curriculum. D.C. Bach, and Y. Lebeau. Nigeria during Anglophone students should not take the Abacha Years (1993-1998 : The the learning of French with levity as it can Domestic and Internationa Politics of guarantee their survival in future. French Democratization. Ibadan: IFRA-Nigeria. language Immersion Programmes should be http://www.openedition.org/6540 organised every year in French speaking countries in order to expose students to the Asiedu, K.G. (2019). Ghana’s President Francophone ambiance. This has been the wants to make French a formal language but it’s not a popular plan. Quartz Africa. EDE: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences | Vol. 1, No. 2 (July 2019) 57

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https://qz.com/africa/1588566/ghanas- president-wants-french-as-a-second- language/

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