Alliance Francaise

Courses in India

Event in AF India

PUBLIC

The alliance public can be broadly divided into four categories, students, members of the association, people attending the cultural programs organized by the alliance, and companies; these categories are obviously not the only ones.

_ The students: In twelve years, the number of students has multiplied two and a half times and has today reached the figure of 30,000. Generally speaking, people learning French at the various alliances françaises fall in the age group of 17 to 30 years and more specifically speaking, they are generally around 20 years old. The courses at the alliances often serve the purpose of supplementing the basics that they learn at the secondary school level. Most of them have at least finished their secondary studies and a large number come from highly educated families.
The majority amongst them are still pursuing their studies. They generally veer towards " traditional " careers in science or engineering, and in the information technology sector; many of them are heading towards business, the tertiary sector (professions connected with tourism more specifically), and academics (there are many who wish to become teachers of French), not to forget careers in the international field particularly in organizations such as the United Nations wherein the second official language happens to be French.
The professionals who learn French at the Alliance are mainly working in the field of academics, or else in professions linked to private business or information technology.
The reasons which motivate the great majority of the students of the various alliances are above all professional in nature. They also cite reasons such as travel to French speaking countries and a desire to understand French culture. This year, the new laws on emigration to Canada have brought to the alliances a new variety of public which is above everything else interested in passing the TEF (the future aspirants are being asked to prove their knowledge in French by securing good marks in the TEF, for which, in order to get the maximum points, one has to possess an advanced level of French).

_ Members of the association: They seem to be for the most part English speaking (except in Bombay and Pondicherry), but essentially francophile and deeply devoted to spreading the influence of the alliance. The modalities of membership vary depending on the alliance, but one can register oneself for annual or life memberships. This membership makes it possible to get privileged access to the various cultural events organized by the alliance as well as to have voting rights in the General Assembly meetings of the alliance, and even contesting for elections to the Committee or the Board.

_ People attending cultural programs: The cultural programs hosted by the alliances are obviously not reserved exclusively to the members of the association, and entry is open to all.

_ Companies: Alliance française also offers language courses that are tailor-made to fit the requirements of companies and the professional world. It thereby ensures a dialogue between the French and local cultures by enabling French companies to integrate their locally recruited staff into their work team, or by enabling Indian companies to prepare their future installation in France. Moreover, the partnerships which have been forged in this fashion with various companies for cultural activities also participate in this dialogue between different cultures since these companies, through their financial contribution, make it possible to organize events that promote both the cultures.

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