NEWS
FRENCH INSTITUTE IN TURKMENISTAN CHANGES ITS ADDRESS
The French Institute (The Institut Français) in Turkmenistan has moved to a new location. Its new address is as follows: 69 Ata Garryev Street (formerly Sokolovsky Street), Ashgabat 744000. Please call 36-83-70 to contact the French Institute staff for more details.
For nearly two decades, the French Institute in Turkmenistan has been enthusiastically welcoming Turkmen students coming here to learn the French language. It is the French Agency of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The institution first opened in Ashgabat as the Jules Verne French Cultural Center, and acquired its present name and status – the French Institute in Turkmenistan in July of 2015. This little corner of France in our capital, where the beautiful and pleasant-sounding French language is spoken, offers people the chance to immerse themselves in a colorful and alluring environment and to explore the country’s ancient culture and history.
One of the Institute’s main objectives is to spread French culture, to promote traditions and national holidays of France and its people, and to provide interesting insight into the country’s modern-day development. It offers learners and visitors a rich array of spectacular and unforgettable events celebrating French cuisine, national folklore, theater and cinema, modern writers and artists.
One of the most popular events, stimulating a keen interest in learning the French language is a series of creative competitions held as part of International Francophonie Day, annually observed on March 20. It is the holiday for all French-speaking people and those who love and learn French. Therefore, the competitions are open to all French language enthusiasts.
The grand prize in the contest is a trip to France to attend a two-week language course and, which, of course, also offers an unparalleled opportunity to visit cities in France and see their historical and modern sights. The magnificent, elegant city of Paris, the symbol of France, brimming with its exquisite spirit of romance and love, is undoubtedly on the list.
The main aim of the French Institute is to teach French to students of all ages, starting with young children. It offers language learning courses with different levels of proficiency specifically designed and tailored to suit each age group and each student’s language skills. Its four-year training program allows students to achieve a high degree of proficiency. Upon completion of each level, students are optionally offered to take an exam. Certificates are awarded following the successful examination.
The French Institute has started a conversation club for anyone wishing to join. It organizes regular meetings attended by native French speakers and language learners. They are always incredibly engaging, wonderfully informative, and very dynamic. What is particularly important and fascinating is that every new topic for discussion allows enthusiastic French learners to enhance their knowledge of the language and to learn more about France.
There are 300 million French speakers worldwide today and French is now the world’s fifth most spoken language. And the number of people learning the language continues to grow steadily. At present, language centers like the French Institute are operating in many countries. They all aim to promote the French language, history and culture of France among people around the world.