Learning French language

Till the year 2004, students passing out from Alliance Francaise got an India-specific certificate issued by the Alliance network. An international certification in French language training was introduced in the year 2005.

Approximately 2000 students received the DELF-DALF certification that year. The number increased to 8,800 in the year 2009 and this year approximately 11,000 students will pass the certification from the Alliance network in India.

The figures indicate the growing popularity of French language among Indian students. "French has always been a popular foreign language (among Indian students) and has maintained its status," says professor Vijaya Rao of Centre for French and Francophone studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Concurs Shubhada Kaul, professor of French language at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

"In the last 12 years, French as a language and French courses have all been rising in popularity." At present there are more than 250 students studying French as a foreign language, at various levels of proficiency at Jamia.

The Delhi University is no exception as well. "This year there were over 2000 applicants for admission to the BA (Honours) course conducted at the department," says professor Kusum Aggarwal, of the Department of Germanic and Romance studies, DU.

Even more colleges are showing interest in launching part-time courses in French language, she says. "The number of seats for students learning French has more than doubled since I joined in 1987," says professor Asha Pande of the Centre of French and Francophone Studies, University of Rajasthan. Even then, "we have long waiting lists and mind you the cutoff (mark) is highest in French courses," she points out.

The courses:

"Learning French language is not difficult any longer, thanks to the existence of Alliance Francaise, not only in the metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad, but also in all major cities of India like Chandigarh, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Pondicherry and Trivandrum," says Chantal Prost, attache for cooperation in French language, Embassy of France. She is also in-charge of promotion of French language in Indian schools and universities.