While so many major reforms are waiting to be taken from the sidings, some law proposals recently examined by the Council of Ministers are puzzling, or shocking. This is the case for the law proposal which authorises faculty members to teach in a foreign language in our French universities and Grandes Écoles. The argument put forward is that to attract students from China, India and Korea, you have to teach in English, which would be the only language these students know and want to know; and that, if we do not do that, we will simply become marginalized in the huge knowledge market to come.
Such a reform would not only be contrary to the Constitution (which stipulates that « the language of the Republic is French »), but there is nothing more plainly stupid that one could think of, more counterproductive, more dangerous and more contrary to the interests of France.
More stupid because today France has no trouble recruiting foreign students, even from Asia, and at a very high level; and they constitute 13% of the total enrolment, far more than in countries, like Sweden, Denmark or Germany, that are using English as the medium of instruction. And if there is any danger, it is rather about the risk of losing the Francophone students, because the welcome we give them is of poor quality and not because of the language used in our universities.
More counterproductive, because countries using English as the medium of instruction, when English is not the mother tongue of the teachers, will inevitably deliver a lower standard of education, as was shown for example by the resounding failure of the French University of Saigon, which used English for a while as the medium of instruction, causing the mass departure of students to the American universiy of the city. Whereas when our teaching is excellent as, for instance, in mathematics and medicine, students rush in to come and study in French and in France; and researchers in these disciplines can even publish articles in French in English academic journals.
More dangerous because it will cause a decline in the number of foreigners studying French, which is not in our interest and because others will then ask that classes be taught in German, Turkish, Arabic until the secondary and primary school levels, with even the permission to speak it in French administrations.
More contrary to the interests of France finally, because La Francophonie is a tremendous asset for the future. French is spoken by 220 million people, ranking fifth in the world, behind Chinese, English, Spanish and Hindi. It will be the fourth 40 years from now, spoken by nearly a billion people, if we can maintain our teaching of French in Africa and Asia, which obviously depends on the language of our own higher education, in France and on the internet. Whereas switching to English would be to give up promoting our culture, our civilization, our way of life which constitutes also one of the main strengths of the France mark.
If some urgent reforms must be undertaken in this area, then it should be the total opposite. Namely that we need to improve:
The reception of foreign students in France, by simplifying visa application procedures, registration process, finding accommodation, obtaining a student card for the library and the cafeteria.
The study of English for French doctoral students.
The quality of our teachings in French, so that they remain, or become once again, the top level worldwide.
If the Parliament were so blind as to vote this reform, it would be yet another sign of France giving up its position.