JAMAICA’S proximity to so many Spanish-speaking countries, as well as the recent flurry of investments in the hospitality industry by Spanish developers has heightened interest among Jamaicans to learn the Spanish language.

There is, however, a small but dedicated group of locals who are enamoured by French, and have taken advantage of courses in the language offered by the Alliance Française de

la Jamaique.

Last month, the Alliance awarded diplomas to successful students of French, at a function at the French ambassador’s residence.

The diplomas – the DELF (Diploma of French Language Studies) and the DALF (Further Diploma of French Language Studies) – are the first diplomas in French as a second language to be internationally recognised.

There are four levels of DELF – A1, A2 for basic speakers, and B1 and B2 for independent users. For proficient French speakers, there is the more advanced DALF in levels C1 and C2.

The diplomas are particularly useful for people who want to study and work in Francophone countries, as they are readily accepted for entry into educational institutions.

“This is like your passport (to the French speaking world),” Pierre Lemaire of the Alliance said at the ceremony for the presentation of the diplomas.

Today, 900 exam centres in 154 countries offer both the DELF and the DALF for a total of 350,000 enrollments and 60,000 diplomas issued each year.

Some people, such as St Ann businesswoman Debbie Reynolds, just find the French language fascinating.

“From I was a girl, from watching movies and reading books, I was in love with the French style and culture,” said the 39-year-old mother of three.

A student of French for the last 10 years, Reynolds recently completed the DELF and intends to start on the DALF this year.

“I study on my own because I am not in Kingston where I can attend classes at the Alliance,” she said.

But whenever she visits the capital from Brown’s Town, she heads for the Alliance where she borrows books, magazines, DVDs and anything else that will help her to sharpen her French-speaking skills.

Figures from the Alliance show that of 14 candidates sitting the DELF A1 last June, 13 were successful, while all 12 were successful in A2. All 10 candidates in DELF B1 were successful, while of the eight who sat B2, four were successful. In the more challenging DALF, all eight passed the C1 while of the six sitting C2, four were successful.

Having also completed French in the CXC’s CAPE exams on her own, Reynolds thoroughly enjoys studying French, but admits it is not for everyone.

“It’s not a very easy language to learn, but when you grasp the main tools to work with, it flows,” she said.

While not a trained teacher, she is anxious to share her knowledge with as many people as possible. She hopes to offer private classes starting next year.

She has, meanwhile, had a stint working in St Kitts where her knowledge of the language proved an asset.

“It’s useful if you plan to live or work outside Jamaica. Plus, it helps you learn other languages like Spanish,”

she noted.

editorial@jamaicaobserver.com