What Krashen is saying might be put this way ; you cannot learn a foreign language - you can only learn about it. If you want to use the language, you have to acquire it.

Let us for a moment accept that Krashen is right about this (although if you look at the lectures recommended on the first screen, you will see that there are good reasons to doubt that he is). What does it suggest about teaching English is a foreign language in the French school system?

To answer this question, we should first consider the objectives that we have. These objectives are not simply a matter of personal taste ; they are set out in the numerous laws and directives that regulate the school system. When we sign on to become schoolteachers - to become agents of the state - we agree to do all that is in our power to attain those objectives. (This does not mean that we should accept them uncritically, or apply them without thought ; as citizens we have a right and a duty to examine and seek to ameliorate the laws of our state - particularly, perhaps in areas where we might be most particularly informed - and as teachers we will find ourselves in situations where we have to make tradeoffs, compromises and adjustments. But we should not forget that we are 'functionaries').

You will find the texts that you must apply in the programmes published by the CNDP. Some of these you can download directly from their site, but others you will need to order or to purchase from one of their shops. You will need to read both the programmes concerning language teaching and those setting out the more general objectives of the school system. You will find, for example, that learning how to behave in a democratic society has recently become a priority of the Education Nationale, and that all teachers are expected to contribute to training the young in their duties and rights as members of the Republic.

But for the moment, let us concentrate on the main objectives of FL teaching as such. Find out what they are, and then ask yourself to what extent we can avoid getting the children to learn about language if we are to do our job as teachers in the French educational system.

(If you have a question of a comment, write to me at tmason@timothyjpmason.com)