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PROMOTING FRENCH WORLDWIDE

STRATEGY

Directorate- of Global Affairs, Development and Partnerships 2014 Contexte

I many respects, French can be considered a global . With over 220 million speakers, it ranks as the sixth most widely spoken language in the world, after Chinese, Hindi, English, Spanish and . A language which is present on every continent. French is an of 32 States and governments, with a total population of over 400 million. It is firmly established in , and the , Africa and the Mediterranean. It is shared by the 57 member states and governments and 20 observers of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF). A language of international institutions. French is an official language of the (UN) and many UN bodies. It is a of the and other regional organizations, such as the . It is also one of the two official of the . A language learnt worldwide. French is taught as a in almost every national education system. It is the most widely learnt language after English. It is taught by half a million teachers to 120 million pupils. A language of culture and knowledge. French-language films and literature are the most widely distributed after English-language works. With its wealth of cultural sites, particularly museums, has become the world’ leading tourist destination. Its universities rank third in terms of their foreign student numbers. France also has the largest network of international schools. A language of the international economy. The French economy is the fifth largest in the world. The French-speaking world accounts for 15% of global wealth and 12% of international trade.

Each week, nearly 40 million listeners around the world tune in to RFI, a French news radio station which is broadcast globally in French and 12 foreign languages. © Simon Decreuze/RFI 6th 32 15% most widely spoken STATES of global wealth is language, French is also and governments accounted for by the 2nd most commonly use French as an the French-spea- learnt. official language. king world.

02 Promoting French worldwide Goals and challenges

THE ROLE OF FRENCH IN A CHANGING WORLD

Demographic trends, globalization of the economy and the Internet are causing a shift in the global linguistic balance. French must take full advantage of this. Population growth in favour Risks and opportunities of the French language of globalization 6% Population growth in developed and While globalization has, on the one hand, is the GDP per capita emerging has begun to stabilize. strengthened the role of English as the gained on average by Developing countries, meanwhile, language of international communication countries as a result of especially those in sub-Saharan Africa, and diplomatic, scientific and economic belonging to the French- should continue to see a marked increase exchange, it is also helping to reinforce speaking community. in their population size. The population the main geolinguistic groups and indeed, of countries where English is an official linguistic diversity in general. It has led language could reach 4 billion by 2060 to increased trading between linguistic (compared with 2.5 billion today) and communities, giving them self-awareness the population of States in the French- and a sense of identity, as demonstrated speaking world could reach a little by the development of the French- and over 850 million. The French-speaking Spanish-speaking communities in recent 30,000 world could become the fourth largest years. JOBS geolinguistic area, after those of English, Globalization also works to the advantage have been created Chinese and Hindi. of the major vehicular languages, due to its in France as a result This new configuration should give the role in the growth of emerging countries. of trade with French- French-speaking world a major role on In countries such as China, for example, speaking countries. the international stage, particularly if the middle classes want to learn foreign Source: report entitled Le population growth in Africa continues to languages, including not only English but poids économique de la langue be coupled with strong economic growth. also other international languages. In , française dans le monde, 2012, Fondation pour les études et This scenario nevertheless relies on the number of people learning French is recherches sur le développement French successfully passed to the rising by 10-15% per year. international (FERDI). younger generation in French-speaking Globalization is therefore offering French African countries. For that to happen, all the opportunity to assert itself. The children must have access to education remains as to whether French-speakers and at least reach the end of primary will manage to join forces, campaign Change in population of five school. Schools must also be able to successfully for linguistic pluralism in linguistic areas between 1960 provide high-quality French teaching and international public life and commit to and 2060 give pupils a sound grasp of the French promoting French teaching in the various

language. There is a long way to go before education systems worldwide. (in millions) these two conditions are met. 900 800

700

600 500 ELAN-AFRICA : A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING 400 IN 300 200 Eight French-speaking States (Be- ELAN-Africa (“School and National 100 nin, , , Came- Languages in Africa”) is an initiative roon, the Democratic Republic of that was launched in 2012 to help go- 0 the Congo [DRC], , and vernments to implement this policy. ) are gradually developing ELAN-Africa is supported by France, 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 primary school education in national which seeks to promote French while languages as well as French, in order preserving . French-speaking Portuguese-speaking to failure among children Arabic-speaking German-speaking Spanish-speaking whose is not French. elan-afrique.org/english

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development - DGM 03 Goals and challenges

1.2 Pupil at Jean Mermoz French lycée in Dakar, using an interactive whiteboard. MILLION ARTICLES © [email protected] IN FRENCH on as of January The digital revolution Use of French online should 2012, which puts the French-language version is underway be promoted of the site in third place It is now essential for a language to be The role of French in cyberspace does behind the English version present on the Internet, which has be- not yet match up to its presence in the (3.84 million articles as of January 2012) and come a global public space shared by real world. French is used in around 5% the German version almost 3 billion people. The vitality of a of Internet content and ranks eighth in (1.34 million articles as of language is now primarily judged on the terms of quantity of content and number January 2012). quantity and quality of the online content of users. Internet represents an opportunity written in it. for French and its speakers throughout the Source : La langue française à l’ère du numérique, Metanet, 2012 Linguistic diversity is growing rapidly in world: for the first time, they are able to cyberspace. While in 1997 75% of online communicate, create and share content content was still in English, by 2013 this using a global platform. INITIATIVES figure had fallen to just 30%. Some lan- The French-speaking community is faced Diplomatic initiatives to promote guages that are absent from the world of with two challenges, however. The first is French increasingly involve the print are even gaining new visibility online. to create more digital content, particularly Internet: Today, around 300 of the world’s 6,000 in the fields of information and knowledge, languages can be found on the Internet, school and university education, culture IFProfs IFprofs is the leading whereas only 200 of them are currently and entertainment, business, and medi- social network for French teachers taught. cine. The second is to improve the use of worldwide (of whom there are digital resources for teaching and sprea- nearly one million). ding the French language. www.ifprofs.org

Parlons français, ’est facile is a reference website offering an introduction to the French language and encouraging Internet users around the world to take lessons THE 100,000 TEACHERS PROJECT: at an Institut français or Alliance FOR THE AFRICAN TEACHERS OF TOMORROW française language centre. www.parlons-francais.. The 100,000 Teachers for Africa - efforts have been made over the last com ject was launched at the end of 2013 decade to strengthen the position of with funding of €1 million. A professio- French in African education systems, Afripédia is a project organized nal, public domain, distance training particularly via training initiatives, the by the Institut français, the Agence scheme for French teachers that can French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and universitaire de la Francophonie be used by French embassies and International Development (MAEDI) (AUF) and Wikimedia, which African education ministries is being sees this project as an opportunity to encourages Africans to write developed (October 2014). Universi- introduce innovative tools, in line with content in French on topics ties, technical colleges, public institu- the continent’s technological progress, concerning Africa. The project tions and African companies will be the in order to improve the quality of French is supported by the Orange Foundation. first to benefit from it. While significant teaching. www.wikimedia.fr/afripedia

04 Promoting French worldwide Strategic objectives

PASS ON FRENCH TO THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS IN AFRICA

The Agence française de développement (AFD) runs a large number of initiatives 494 aiming to achieve universal primary education. The MAEDI directly contributes to SCHOOLS promoting French, in partnership with the IOF and its operators. APPROVED by the French Ministry of National Education, in 131 Several objectives are being pursued to France therefore supports innovative countries. France has the largest school network improve teaching quality : cultural and media exchanges which aim in the world, supervised • improve initial training of French teachers by to increase young people’s contact with by the Agency for French boosting the expertise of university French the language and cultures of the French- Education Abroad (AEFE). departments and teacher training colleges; speaking world. A large number of partner • provide training for teacher trainers and associations are involved; the main one is the Mission offer advice to education staff, especially laïque française (French inspectors, in order to improve in-service Secular Mission). training schemes; • support national education reforms by helping to revise teaching programmes and tools, especially textbooks; LABELFRANCÉDUCATION • promote the teaching of French for Launched in 2012, the LabelFranc professional purposes; Éducation is awarded to outstanding • provide new digital tools for French learning; foreign schools, both public and private, which follow the ’s • support and galvanize national national curriculum and offer bilingual associations of French teachers. education in French and another language. The FrancÉducation network In order for French learners to achieve the includes 57 schools in 18 countries: goals set by these African States, they Australia, , Chile, the Czech must have the opportunity to develop and Republic, Finland, Germany, , maintain their command of the language , , New Zealand, , outside the classroom or the university, and Over the past ten years, Burkina Faso has made considerable , , Spain, , Turkey, progress towards Millennium Development Goal No. 2, universal Ukraine and the . It aims use it to engage in authentic conversation primary education by 2015, but French language learning with French speakers. remains a major challenge. to become a global network, com- © Paul Kabré, for the Agence française de développement. plementary to the network of French lycées.

WIDEN ACCESS TO FRENCH OVER LEARNING €700 MILLION PER YEAR of the French State French is learnt as a foreign language in most countries in the world. The French budget is assigned to Government runs a range of programmes that are tailored to demand, particularly promoting French. This sum is for the most part in emerging countries. allocated to the French school network, which receives more than €400 This strategy, which aims to strengthen the • promoting innovation in French teaching; million. The rest is used position of French in all education systems • supporting networks of French teachers; to finance cooperation and receives support from the Institut • boosting the development of French- projects led by the Institut français, involves: language university courses and français network and the programmes run by • advocating the teaching of at least two international branches of French the Agence universitaire foreign languages; education establishments, and de la Francophonie • contributing to initial and in-service training encouraging foreign students to come (AUF), TV5MONDE and of French teachers; to France. the operators of France • supporting bilingual education involving Médias Monde ( and RFI). French, particularly by awarding the “LabelFrancÉducation” label;

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development - DGM 05 Strategic objectives

PROMOTE FRENCH AS A LANGUAGE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION A language gains international status when its use is guaranteed in key global contexts such as multilateral diplomacy, international trade, , mainstream 300 media and the Internet. MILLIONS HOUSEHOLDS Encouraging the use of French • developing business law and the defi- in over 200 countries in European and multilateral nition of technical and industrial stan- and territories receive dards in French. the international media forums channels TV5MONDE, Work in this area is carried out in colla- RFI, France 24 and Monte boration with the IOF and aims to ensure Expanding the presence Carlo Doualiya. the following: of French in the media • observance of the requirement for and on the Internet knowledge of French during staff France has chosen to remain present DIPLOMA IN recruitment and in-service training in on the global media landscape, with the PROFESSIONAL French for civil servants; dual aim of participating in the information • use of French in official documents and battle and furthering the influence of the FRENCH on the websites of international institutions; French language. The MAEDI, the IOF and the • existence of and interpreting The MAEDI thus strives to: Chamber of Commerce and services; Industry are introducing a diploma • promote French and French-language • use of French by nationals of IOF Member in professional French which media abroad; is aimed at foreign diplomats States in meetings and conferences, lan- • offer its expertise to foreign media or- and senior civil servants, and guage regulations permitting; ganizations, especially those in Africa, corresponds to the skill level of an • development of networks of French- through the work of Canal France In- “independent user” (level B1 of the speaking diplomats and experts. ternational (CFI), to help them produce Common European Framework of high-quality local audiovisual content, Reference for Languages, CEFR). In the international economic often in French. sphere The MAEDI strives to raise the economic With regard to the Internet, the MAEDI has profile and boost the appeal of France two objectives: 10,000 and the French language by: • support the development of digital FOREIGN • attracting future economic decision- content in French, particularly in certain DIPLOMATS makers from foreign countries to French key sectors such as higher education, and civil servants receive higher education establishments; vocational training, culture and informa- training in French each • encouraging universities and other trai- tion; year, 65% of whom ning structures abroad to offer courses • improve the use of digital resources to are women. More than teach and learn Frenchs. 70,000 civil servants have in professional French or economics received this training since programmes in French; 2002. • providing lessons in French for special purposes (FOS) and diplomas in profes- Source: Le français est une sional French, through Institut français and chance, 2013, IOF Alliance française language centres;

SOLIDARITY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE OLYMPIC LANGUAGE IN THE SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN As part of the legacy of Pierre de Coubertin, two official languages Young people play a key role in driving and citizenship. In this framework, CFI are enshrined in the Olympic change, which is why France has cho- also supports local radio programmes Charter: French and English. sen them as the primary beneficiaries for young people, online media, and Promoting French during the of a €1 million programme called Sa- journalism training (Institut supérieur Olympic Games, encouraging its firLab, in the Southern Mediterranean. de l’information et de la communica- use in international sport forums In 2013, SafirLab, which is organized tion [Institute of Advanced Informa- and raising the profile of sport in by CFI and the Institut français, provi- tion and Communication Studies] in the French-speaking world are all key objectives of France’s soft ded support for 33 young people pro- ). diplomacy. posing initiatives in the fields of media

06 Promoting French worldwide LA FRANCE UNDERTAKES TO:

SUPPORT TEACHER TRAINING IN FRENCH-SPEAKING AFRICA 1 Help to introduce diplomas and in-service training of French teachers. ADVOCATE THE TEACHING Promote the sharing of innovative teaching OF SEVERAL LANGUAGES methods, especially via the Internet. 2 IN ALL COUNTRIES In all countries and the relevant international forums, campaign for the teaching of at EXPAND BILINGUAL EDUCATION least two foreign languages. Encourage INVOLVING FRENCH States to make multilateral commitments in 3 Encourage the development of bilingual this regard. programmes involving French, particularly by awarding the LabelFrancÉducation label. The goal is to grant the label to 100 schools by REINFORCE THE STATUS 2016. OF FRENCH IN INTERNATIONAL 4 INSTITUTIONS Work to maintain and increase the use PROMOTE THE USE OF FRENCH IN of French as a working language in the THE DIGITAL SPHERE AND European Union, the United Nations system IN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA and regional organizations, especially the 5 African Union. Promote the development of French content online. Use digital resources as a tool for learning and teaching French. Promote TV5MONDE, RFI and France 24. Support other French-language INCREASE THE CONTRIBUTION media in the world, in particular via CFI. OF FRENCH TO THE 6 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY Encourage teaching French for professional ENHANCE THE FRENCH SCHOOL purposes and sitting for diplomas in NETWORK ABROAD business French. Boost the international 7 Preserve the diversity of pupils educated in influence of French business schools and the French schools, both in France and abroad. development of French-language courses in Ensure teaching is excellent throughout the economics. Promote French to entrepreneurs network. Meet the growing global demand for and innovators. French-style education. STRIVE FOR QUALITY IN INSTITUT FRANÇAIS AND ALLIANCE 8 FRANÇAISE LANGUAGE CENTRES Professionalize the language centres of the French cultural network abroad. Ensure high quality throughout the network. Develop diplomas in French to certify the level achieved by students and validate their learning.

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development - DGM 07 www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en placed linguistic diversity and the promotion of French at the heart of its foreign policy. as wellindiplomacyandtrade:thisisthestrategyadoptedbyFrance,whichhas community, encouragetherest it,andpromote oftheworldtolearn itsuseonline, Ensure thatFrench ispassedontotheyoungergenerationofFrench-speaking are opentothem,withoutdelay. changes willonlyhaveareal impactifFrench speakersseizetheopportunitiesthat content. Thishelpsthemtodevelopasenseofunityandidentity. However, these them newopportunitiestofosterlinksandshare information,knowledgeandcultural French speakersworldwideby2050.Globalizationandthedigitalrevolution are giving constantly. Asaresult ofpopulationgrowth inAfrica,there couldbeover700million Contrary topopularbelief,thenumberofFrench speakersintheworldisrising organizations. Itrepresents positivedevelopmentsandassetsworldwide. tems andtoholdthestatusofanofficial languageorworkingininternational continents. Itisoneof the fewlanguagesto be taught in all nationaleducation sys- French isagloballanguage,whichspoken inaround thirtyStatesacross thefive FRENCH WORLDWIDE PROMOTING 91533-75732 ParisCedex15 27, ruedelaConvention Cultural, Academic andResearch CooperationDirectorate Development andPartnerships Directorate-General ofGlobalAffairs,

Press and Communication Directorate - © Cover photo: MAEDI/F. de la Mure