Ce rapport part d’un constat qui paraît encourageant, mais qui, à l’évidence, escamote une menace de plus en plus imminente, face à laquelle l’AITF souhaiterait proposer quelques solutions.

- Un constat apparemment encourageant :
Selon les statistiques les plus récentes, l’Inde compte 250 000 apprenants du français. En ce qui concerne le français langue étrangère, cet effectif est des plus  élevés dans toute l’Asie. Cette réussite est due aux efforts persévérants et soutenus des  enseignants indiens du  FLE qui se sont échinés pour faire valoir, contre vents et marées, cette langue étrangère dans le curriculum indien.

- La menace qui pèse :
Ce constat ne doit pourtant pas inciter à la complaisance, car une menace imminente pèse sur l’enseignement du français. A l’heure actuelle,  cette langue paraît de plus en plus  en porte à faux dans le scénario indicatif indien : le changement constant qui s’opère dans la politique linguistique du pays tend, d’ailleurs fort légitimement, à favoriser les langues régionales. Et le français sera bientôt relégué à la quatrième place, position peu enviable, dans le système éducatif indien.

- Propositions de l’AITF
Face à cette situation, les enseignants du français devraient se rallier afin de pouvoir exploiter tous les créneaux, ne serait-ce que pour maintenir le français en Inde. Ils sont, par contre, très démotivés. Ce n’est pas la volonté qui leur manque. C’est plutôt l’appui des partenaires français et francophones qui leur fait défaut. En effet, ils se sentent découragés par la désaffection croissante qu’ils décèlent chez ces derniers. Ils ont le sentiment qu’ils sont vraiment devenus des laissés - pour - compte.

L’heure est donc venue où tous les acteurs concernés conjuguent leurs efforts afin de pouvoir affronter la menace.

Extrait de l’allocution du Président à Pondichéry lors du séminaire national les 17 et 18 mars, 2008 :

[…]

We live in an era of inter-disciplinary sciences. It is no longer a question of learning French for the sake of French. Knowledge of French should coexist with the other fields of specialty today - anthropology, philosophy, sociology, archeology, religion, tourism, etc.

Moreover, it is a well known fact that India is today a super power. The world today is deeply interested in learning more about this exotic country, its amazing diversity, its numerous languages & religions, its rapidly growing economy. Yet, there are very few translations available for our rich literature. In such a pro-Indian atmosphere, we as teachers owe it to our profession and to our country to train our students keeping these factors in mind. With this in mind, the whole concept of teaching should be modified and the syllabus completely revamped. In this connection I congratulate the UGC for having brought out its curriculum that focuses on today’s needs, that is, a knowledge of French with an inter-disciplinary approach. This should bring out a thrust on a synthesis of values where knowledge — language and otherwise forms a cohesive whole that endows the student with the technical and communicative skills required to share his expertise all over the French speaking world.

In such an atmosphere, the partners in the educational system should understand the importance of learning foreign languages. There is a move in some universities to make the regional language compulsory at the college level, thus relegating French to the status of a third language and that too, optional. Though it is no doubt a welcome step to ensure the importance of the mother tongue, such a move could have a serious impact on thousands of students, depriving them of the opportunities available today in the field of foreign languages. In this regard, there should be coordination between the policy makers and associations that champion the cause of Foreign Language Teaching. This could bring about a consensus that would retain the scope offered by foreign languages without compromising on the regional tongues.

[…]

Voir l’Article de The Hindu, mardi le 18, mars, 2008, Pondichéry.

Voici un extrait de l’article :
University Grants Commission Emeritus Fellow of Banaras Hindu University K. Madanagobalane on Monday expressed apprehensions over the move in some universities to make regional language compulsory at the college level.

At a national seminar on ‘Recent Trends in French Studies in India’, organised by the Department of French of Pondicherry University, he said the move would relegate French to the status of a third language and that too, optional.

“Though it is no doubt a welcome step to ensure the importance of the mother tongue, such a move could have a serious impact on thousands of students depriving them of the opportunities available today in the field of foreign languages,” he said.

For this, he said coordination among the policy makers, teachers and associations for foreign language teaching was essential. “This could bring about a consensus that would retain the scope offered by foreign languages without compromising on the regional languages,” Mr. Madanagobalane opined.

[…]

^ Vers le haut

Extrait de l’allocution du Président à Madurai lors de l’atelier de Connexions les 23 et 24 août, 2008 :

[…]
The Association has stretched itself high and wide to cover almost ever sphere of activity that would have a positive impetus on the standard of French teaching in the Indian context. Far from restricting itself to the conduct of meetings, the AITF has been holding seminars and workshops with experts as resource persons. It has taken into account changing trends in the field of higher education as there is a paradigm shift in the teaching-learning process with the emphasis being on student-centred learning.

Motivated by this aim, we have been making inroads in the fields of methodology of teaching of French. Our activities have led us to collaborate with several national and international bodies like the French Embassy, the Ministry of Quebec, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, the National Institut of Scientific Research (INRS), Quebec, the AIEQ (International Association of Quebec Studies), etc. Our International Congress held in February 2007, the 4th to be held since the birth of our Association, was a major landmark, bringing forth new dimensions to the study of French. The presence of a galaxy of distinguished scholars and luminaries in the field of French studies from across the seas made this Congress all the more impressive.

One of our major activities has been the publication of several books of literary and practical value. Just under a month ago, we scaled a new peak by the release of two Tamil translations of the works of Quebec authors Gilles Pellerin and Naim Kattan in Canada This event organised by the Ministry of International Relations received an overwhelming response in Canada and our association stole the limelight with several interviews in the press and on the radio Canada.

In spite of such hectic activity in the field of French studies, the going has not always been smooth as far as the status of French in India is concerned. Recently, there was a major threat to the very existence of French as second language in Tamil Nadu with the government stipulating that Tamil be made compulsory as second language. In this context, French would have been relegated to the status of a third language and that too, as an optional subject in Part IV.

Though the Association has always acknowledged and stressed the importance of mother tongue, this contemplated step would have jeopardized the future of hundreds of teachers, and worse still, prevented a large chunk of students from embarking upon a career in French, at a time when career opportunities in foreign languages are aplenty. 

Concerned about the government’s proposed move to side-line French and other languages, we expressed our apprehensions during our seminar on ‘Recent trends in French Studies in India’, held in March 2008 at Puducherry. We had opined that coordination among the policy makers, teachers and associations for foreign language teaching was essential. Only this could bring about a consensus that would retain the scope offered by foreign languages without compromising on the regional languages, in particular a classical language like Tamil.

After having given due considerations to the several representations made by the language associations, the government had decided to safeguard the status of French and other languages, while stipulating instead that Tamil be made a compulsory Part IV option for non-Tamil students. Though the government is making sincere efforts to encourage the study of French in India, yet it is equally bound by the necessity to propagate the regional languages. We are happy that the government has taken cognizance of our concerns and that the status of French is being retained.

However, the time has now come for the French teaching community of India to be aware and vigilant about the risks with which the situation is fraught.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to state that of late, we are witnessing a slackening in support given by foreign collaborators due, perhaps, to change in policy or some other unknown factor. The activities of the CLAIM have also shown a sure slowing down. No doubt, our foreign collaborator is considering it a waste to use up its funds in propagating the teaching of French in schools and colleges. It prefers instead to focus more on how to attract Indian students into their country. Unfortunately, such efforts do not meet with success, mainly because Indian students always prefer to study in the U.K, the USA or Australia, not just because of the language barrier, but also because of the job opportunities available in these countries.

Be that as it may, it remains that the teaching of French in our regular institutions is being given a back seat by our collaborator, in preference to the Alliance Française which focuses on the DELF/DALF courses that are moreover not relevant to our educational system. Of course, every organization has the right to act as per its convictions. We hope that they soon realize that their policies are in fact detrimental to the long term development of French studies in India.

In the light of the weakening collaboration, the AITF has thus set upon a plan of autonomous action. We have decided to move on our own steam, propelled by our strong convictions and determination to strive in the cause of French studies in India.

[…]

Voir l’article de The Hindu, lundi le 5, mai, 2008, Madurai.

Voici un extrait de l’article :
The state government has made changes to the proposed Choice Based Credit System in universities and colleges following requests from certain quarters to relax the guidelines for the benefit of students.

A high level meeting of higher education officials held in Chennai on Friday decided to accommodate various views and suggestions, which include not to make Tamil language compulsory for students (in Part I) […]