FRENCH CLASSES IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 10

FRENCH CLASSES IN N.Z.

TEACHER FROM PARIS IMPRESSED PROGRESS IN LIMITED TIME Mr Michel Manillier, a young secondary schoolmaster from Paris who has spent most of this year in the South Island, thinks New Zealand teachers of French have remarkable achievements. Interviewed before he left Christchurch last evening, he said there was little which could be done in existing circumstances to improve work except more visits to France. “There is so much that you just can’t learn from books or teachers,” he said.

Mr Manillier is visitinfo New Zealand as the second the Dominion French Scholarship which brings French nationals to contribute to Education. It was provided after the term the Director of Education (Mr C. E. Beeby) spent with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation in Paris. The first holder spent most of his time in the North Island, so it was arranged that Mr Manillier should concentrate on the South Island. From February until July he was attached to Canterbury Universiy College and since then he has been at the University of Otago, in both places working in the modern languages departments. Wherever he has , been Mr Manillier has endeavoured to see as much as possible of post-primary schools. He spoke at many in Christchurch earlier this year, answered questions, and “at the request of pupils talked with their teachers in French.” This oral work could not be extended much in New Zealand because of the limited time available for languages, Mr Manillier said. Such exercises must be individual, which meant that time was lost for other pupils. ‘You must therefore concentrate on colletcive teaching,” he said. “In any case in limited time there is enough to do in learning the language.” The same applied to the reading of French literature. The schools were using an excellent collection of extracts from modern French novels which was a good introduction, but they could not hope to go much further in this field while pursuing other subjects. Both teachers and pupils (all of whom seemed to be keen on French) would love the opportunities of the British to Slip over to France for a fortnight at Easter and there have the experiences which helped so much in understanding the French language. “You are so far away,” Mr Manillier safci. , -Fine Training”

The measure of responsibility given to pupils in New Zealand impressed Mr Manillier. In France all discipline rested with the teaching staff but hdre he had seen prefects and other pupils’ groups undertaking much of their-own organisation. “It is fine training for leadership," he said. 1 The schools themselves were comparable with those in France. Both countries had fine modern buildings and also old ones in urgent need of maintenance or replacement. Mr Manillier was not prepared to comment on methods, of qualification. In France there were examinations for entry to secondary school, for advancement there, and for. entry to the university. He had not seen such wide application of accrediting as in New Zealand. The French system was intensely competitive. Mr Manillier flew to New Zealand by way of the Middle East and Australia. He hopes to return at the end of this month through some of the Pacific islands, spend a fortnight in the United States, and then some time in Quebec. •