English must for French kids?
LONDON: The French are known to have had a hard-nosed attitude towards the English for long.
But, now children in France may be compelled to learn English from as early as nursery school if Nicolas Sarkozy gets his way.
The French president, who has recently come under fire for his own grasp of Francais, has said that he wants France's youngsters to learn "the language of Shakespeare", the 'Daily Mail' reported.
He has further enraged a proud nation by suggesting that French children should learn the Queen's English from as young as three, the report said.
Critics fear Sarkozy's proposal will dilute the cherished French language and halt its dissemination.
The mooted educational change has sparked intense debate in France, with staunch right-wing traditionalist intellectual Eric Zemmour dipping his oar, praising his country's resistance to learn English. "It is a sort of unconscious linguistic resistance to the colonisation of minds," he was quoted as saying in 'The Sunday Times'.
Zemmour said that the desire to study English is just a "fad", akin to "learning German during the occupation". However, French Education Minister, Luc Chatel, this week said: "Not mastering English in France these days is a handicap."
But, now children in France may be compelled to learn English from as early as nursery school if Nicolas Sarkozy gets his way.
The French president, who has recently come under fire for his own grasp of Francais, has said that he wants France's youngsters to learn "the language of Shakespeare", the 'Daily Mail' reported.
He has further enraged a proud nation by suggesting that French children should learn the Queen's English from as young as three, the report said.
Critics fear Sarkozy's proposal will dilute the cherished French language and halt its dissemination.
The mooted educational change has sparked intense debate in France, with staunch right-wing traditionalist intellectual Eric Zemmour dipping his oar, praising his country's resistance to learn English. "It is a sort of unconscious linguistic resistance to the colonisation of minds," he was quoted as saying in 'The Sunday Times'.
Zemmour said that the desire to study English is just a "fad", akin to "learning German during the occupation". However, French Education Minister, Luc Chatel, this week said: "Not mastering English in France these days is a handicap."
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