In collaboration with the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and the Embassy of France in Armenia, French teachers’ training has been launched under the “French as a Foreign Language: Training, Modernization and Promotion” program.

RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, and the Ambassador of France to the Republic of Armenia, Olivier Decottignies, attended the launch of the training at Yerevan High School № 29 and greeted the participants.

In her welcome remarks, the ESCS Minister underlined that a memorandum was signed with the French Embassy last year to implement a joint teacher training program aimed at enhancing the French language teaching quality.

“The objective is to enhance the quality of French language instruction and provide a genuinely Francophone environment. Advancing the quality of French language instruction is an important direction deriving from the reforms in the general education sector. The new standard for general education necessitates advancements in foreign language instruction in our schools,” Zhanna Andreasyan said and highlighted the significance of the program not only from the perspective of developing teachers' abilities, but also in terms of the advancement of the Francophone environment in general.

In this context, the ESCS Minister reminded that Armenia will host the 10th International Sports and Cultural Games of La Francophonie 2027, which, according to the Minister, is first and foremost Armenia's commitment to developing the Francophonie environment and following the core values ​​of the International Organization of La Francophonie: democracy, protection of human rights, and peace.

Zhanna Andreasyan expressed gratitude to the French Embassy in Armenia for its active cooperation and support.

“There is successful cooperation with France in many sectors, in particular, numerous programs are being implemented in the field of education. This is yet another evidence of friendly relations between the two countries and the ever-growing and closer cooperation,” stated Zhanna Andreasyan, reaffirming the RA Government's commitment to expanding cooperation.

Additionally, the ESCS Minister wished the training participants successful progress: “I am hopeful that all our teachers will be much more enthusiastic to keep up their job as a result of the training. We have an active network of French language teachers, and a very good environment has been shaped that fosters professional development.”

French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies also welcomed the program participants: “Considerable work has been carried out over the past year to get to this point, for which I am truly grateful. Armenia is indeed one of the active participants of the International Organization of la Francophonie. The efforts of the ESCS Ministry in teaching French and creating a Francophone environment are highly appreciated. Francophonie is an entire system of values: peace, dialogue of cultures. Thanks to the engagement, efforts and passion of French language teachers, French is widely disseminated in Armenia today,” noted the Ambassador and concluded his speech with the French proverb “There is no such thing as love; only proof of love”, illustrating his point with the example of teachers providing that proof in classrooms.

The first stage of the “French as a Foreign Language: Training, Modernization and Promotion” program will be held from June 23 to 27 in Yerevan, as well as in Kotayk, Aragatsotn, Armavir and Ararat regions. From June 30 to July 4, trainings will also be held in the Lori, Shirak, Tavush and Syunik regions of Armenia. Around 240 teachers are participating in the training program.

The three-year training program (156 hours) is designed to enhance and modernize the professional skills, knowledge, and capacities of French language teachers in Armenia. The curriculum has been developed in accordance with educational reform requirements and is aligned, in particular, with the new state standards for foreign language learning.

The curriculum consists of nine modules, of which six will be delivered in person and three will be conducted remotely.