In France, three to four million people prefer to speak Arabic, mostly from North Africa. This high intensity of people makes this language the second most popular language. Despite this fact, few schools in France teach this language. This situation raises concerns about its future.
Many parents who are good at Arabic do not teach this language to their children.
They often avoid speaking Arabic in front of their children because they are concerned about how others might react. This complexity of parents makes it difficult for children to learn and use Arabic.
The documentary “Mauvaise langue” (Bad Language), looks deep into these complexities. This documentary was made by Nabil Wakim. Wakim was a journalist whose ancestors belonged to Lebanon. He shares his experience after the 2015 attacks in Paris; he made the decision to not speak Arabic with his daughter.
He was afraid that this language would put his daughter’s life in danger. This shows the challenge of keeping one’s language and culture alive in a changing world. A journalist shared his history when he moved to France. He was four years old when he with his family moved to France. He felt ashamed when his mother spoke Arabic in public places. This highlights how Arabic is often viewed negatively in French society. Many linked this language with Islam, terrorism, or even danger. These beliefs have damaged the Arabic reputation in public debate and education.
Historically, many have seen Arabic as a language of immigrants and the poor, particularly from former colonies like the Maghreb. In 19070, France decided to launch a program that taught Arabic and other languages to children. This step helps kids of immigrants connect with their origins. President Macron stopped this program in 2020. According to him, the teachers do not belong to France and come from other nations. This decision highlights the ongoing challenges Arabic faces in France, where it is still seen through a negative lens.
France’s education system is facing many challenges because most of the teachers don’t know how to speak the French language. Furthermore, they are also not under the control of the National Education Ministry. Macron is concerned about Arabic-speaking teachers. He was afraid that these teachers might teach things that were not in favor of France’s laws. However, in Macron’s concern, teachers of Portuguese and Italian language were not included.
This discussion took place in the conversation of “Islamist separatism,” which resulted in to end of the ELCO program. In 2021, France passed a new law. Many believe that this law unfairly targets Muslims. This law permits mosques to be closed and punishes “separatism.” The former Education Minister, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem made an effort to promote the Arabic language in 2016. But right-wing parties opposed her effort. They claimed that it supported Islamic teachings. As a result, she had to abandon her plans. Both she and filmmaker Wakim regret that Arabic is wrongly seen as a threat in France, despite its cultural value.
Arabic is frequently mistakenly viewed as a danger in France, along with anxieties about Islamism and the “Great Replacement.” The fact that Arabic is spoken by people from a wide range of backgrounds, including Christians and atheists, is overlooked by this viewpoint. It demonstrates a lack of awareness of the realities faced by Arabic speakers in France.
There are currently only 150 Arabic teachers working in the secondary school system as a whole, and hiring new teachers is a relatively rare occurrence. While many areas don’t provide
Arabic education at schools in immigrant-heavy neighbourhoods is the primary places where Arabic is taught. Part of the reason for this lack of access is that school administrators and officials are not very interested. Some school administrators are hesitant to provide Arabic classes for fear of drawing in lower-class pupils.
Many families feel uncomfortable teaching their children Arabic as a foreign language. They worry that classes might not be offered in subsequent academic years. Many lower-class families feel Arabic may lead their children into this modern era of French society.
