Le français en république d’Irlande

French is the most studied foreign language in the Republic of Ireland but its importance is currently declining, whereas Spanish is becoming more and more popular in Irish secondary schools. Yet, the French language still holds a significant position within Irish society and it is one of the offici...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCarnets revue electronique d'etudes Françaises Vol. 8
Main Author Valérie David-McGonnell
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Association Portugaise d'Etudes Françaises 01.11.2016
Subjects
French as a Foreign Language (FFL)
Ireland
language policy
Leaving Certificate
teaching
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Summary:French is the most studied foreign language in the Republic of Ireland but its importance is currently declining, whereas Spanish is becoming more and more popular in Irish secondary schools. Yet, the French language still holds a significant position within Irish society and it is one of the official languages of the most important non-English-speaking economic partners of Ireland. The current decrease in the interest for French in Ireland can be accounted for by various factors such as the non-compulsory nature of foreign languages in schools, the relatively mediocre results of the candidates to the Leaving Certificate French examination, and the popularity of Spain as a destination for Irish people. The defense of the French language in Ireland rests therefore with the local organizations which must make sure that it is available at primary level and encourage adults to visit countries where French is spoken.
ISSN:1646-7698
1646-7698
DOI:10.4000/carnets.1950