[EDLING:891] Teaching French as a Second Language

[Francis M Hult]

Conference on Teaching French as a Second Language

http://www.languageaid.org/english/engconference.htm

Theme: Teaching Learning, Learning Teaching

This conference is design for French teachers in Ghana and other interesting group to meet 
and articulate common concerns geared towards improving the quality of instruction and the 
improvement of French teaching and learning.

It is now widely accepted that the vehicle to attain and sustain the desired level of 
development is to tread on the regional cooperation and integration through bodies like 
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), New Partnership for Africa’s 
Development (NEPAD) and the African Union (AU).

ECOWAS seeks to remove barriers to free trade, provide coherence and harmonize trade rules 
and practices thereby promoting greater trade in the sub-region by creating a larger 
market and facilitate free movement of people, goods and services. The community is also 
working to give the sub-region a single currency and increase the level of integration and 
cooperation with particular emphasis on free trade, cross border investment, deeper 
economic integration and good political, economic and corporate governance across the 
community.

One major thing that will ensure that all the fine details espoused in the ECOWAS protocol 
is realized is effective communication among citizens of member states who will give 
meaning to the policies. Language barrier has and continues to be a major problem 
hindering the free movement of people, goods and services.

Language Aid International by this conference is taking a bold step to as it were help 
fine tune the teaching and learning of French in Ghanaian Schools from the basic to 
tertiary level as a way of preparing Ghanaians to meet the challenges of the integration 
process.

To effectively have a citizenry base of bilinguals, teachers will be very key and that 
explains why the conference centers on them.

How will we as a nation institute a cultural attitude shift with regard to the learning 
and achievement of proficiency in Languages other than English by Ghanaians. And how will 
we institute an overhaul of our educational system from the earliest levels on in order to 
accommodate this necessary attitude shift.
This event will take place from 3rd - 4th November, 2005.