French 'envoys' promote language in Lebanon

BEIRUT: Coming from all over the Mediterranean area, 300 members of the International Federation of Teachers of French gathered in Beirut at the UNESCO Palace Tuesday for their second regional congress. 

“French teachers are ambassadors. All over the world, and especially here in Lebanon, they are the first showcase of the French-speaking world” said Denis Gaillard, the cultural attache at the French embassy in Beirut, during the conference launching the event. 

The theme was carefully chosen, within the framework of Beirut World Book Capital and in alignment with the UNESCO’s objective to promote readership. Killing two birds with one stone seemed to be the only way to make this congress finally happen in Beirut. 

“We have been haunted by this dream of organizing such a big cultural event here since 2003. Our candidacy for the organization of a world congress was turned down in 2007 and 2008 for security reasons. And now the dream is about to become true” confessed Ilham Slim-Hoteit, vice president of Lebanese Association of French teachers (ALEF) and the congress’ coordinator. 

Punctuated with round tables and talks, the congress will be distinctive for the participation of a large panel of guests: editors, teachers, writers and journalists such as Alexandre Najjar are expected. 

During these four days congress ambassadors of the French language and culture will also be able to pool their experience and find inspiration and creativity to make the learning of French more and more attractive.

“Children have to learn French for the good reasons. Not only because they were told to learn French, but because they can feel the pleasure and the long-term interest of speaking this language,” said Gaillard. “More than 600,000 children from preschool to high school and half of Lebanese students are learning French,” he added. 

After the Jeux de la Francophonie in September and the Salon du Livre francophone in October, this professional congress is the last but not least French speaking event of the year in Lebanon.