Zubair Qureshi
In order to acknowledge the hard work of the Pakistani French language teachers, the Embassy of France in collaboration with Alliance Française (AF) organized a small but well-attended reception at the Residence of the French Ambassador.
Director General (DG) of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) Brig ShahzadMunir, Ambassador of Belgium Mr Charles Delogne, the Swiss Ambassador Mr Georg Steiner and Director of AF Mr Ali Bhatti were among the distinguished guests who attended the reception and paid tributes to the efforts of the teachers of French language for familiarizing the French culture, history and rich values through teaching of the French at their respective institutions.
In his welcome address, Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) the Embassy of France Mr Guillaume Dabouis said the International French Language Teachers’ Day (“JournéeInternationale des Professeurs de Français”) was observed every year on Nov 23. This year, the theme is “Proud to be French language teachers.”
The French language teachers are among the first contributors to promote the French language and diversity of francophone cultures in Pakistan, he said adding as French language teachers, they played an instrumental role in preparing the young Pakistani students to live in an increasingly globalized world and open new doors to them on a personal, academic and professional level.
The French Embassy is committed to strengthening its ties with the French language teachers and has been working actively to provide professional training as well as networking opportunities for teachers (scholarships to be trained in France, training received in Pakistan, conversation classes and networking online and in-person activities). All these efforts aim at fulfilling two goals: provide professional development opportunities and create a sense of community and belonging between like-minded educators, said the DHM France. Certificates of appreciation and gifts were also given away to the French language teachers on the occasion.
He also highlighted the role of the AF, the Association of French Language Teachers of Pakistan and the French Department of National University of Modern Languages in doing a tremendous job to achieve these goals. Similar celebrations were also being held in Lahore and Karachi, it was told.
While addressing the occasion, DG NUML said the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) is keen to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties between Pakistan and France. Therefore the university is offering various courses of French language to its students and they are in return giving great results.
Somia Ashraf, President of the Association of French Language Teachers of Pakistan on behalf of the teachers, expressed gratitude to the French embassy for hosting a reception in honour of her colleagues.
