THIS week is known in the French-speaking
world as “la semaine de la langue française et de la Francophonie” (the week of
the French language and the French-speaking people).
I have just arrived from a function hosted by
the French Ambassador here in Port Moresby to celebrate the week and had an
opportunity to speak with him.
The ambassador is aware that many students
who learned French in the past are in the top positions in the diplomatic corp.
But sadly, those were students who were given
that opportunity back in the 1970s and early 1980s.
I also told him about the opportunities that
came my way due to the fact that I learned (a bit of) the language.
I shared my making mistakes (which became
learning experiences for me) while communicating with people in Nouméa and
Wallis and Futuna recently.
A STUDENT CAREER TIP: If you are interested
in pursuing a career in the diplomatic corp, journalism or as a language
teacher, I suggest you take up French with your studies.
Journalists in top media firms in the world (e.g.
CNN, BBC, etc) would certainly know another language, apart from English.
Your choice will reward you immensely.
Studying the language would enrich your life
in some way.
The University of PNG offers French courses
as electives. I hear that the University of Goroka also offers French.
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