French Facts
French is the official language of many African countries, including Cameroon, the Congo, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and the Seychelles
It is the official language of 41 countries, most of which form the community of French-speaking nations the French call La Francophonie
Along with English, French is the most-used language in the European Commission
Get audio
Remplacer les classiques papiers d’identité par des cartes à puce sécurisées n’est pas un projet nouveau. Mais aujourd’hui, les plans de sécurisation électronique de tels documents se font de plus en plus pressants, notamment suite aux attentats du 11 septembre 2001.
De tels projets consistent à remplacer cartes d’identité, passeports, permis de conduire ou autres documents aisément falsifiables, par des cartes à puce contenant les identifiants biométriques du détenteur, en d’autres termes les éléments propres à chaque individu, tels que la morphologie du visage, les empreintes digitales ou le dessin de l’iris de l’œil.
Le but d’une telle manœuvre est double : d’une part accroître la sécurité afin de contrer la fraude documentaire dans les filières terroristes et criminelles et dans l’immigration clandestine, et d’autre part, simplifier les procédures administratives.
En France, le projet d’administration électronique porte désormais le nom de INES : plan d’Identité Nationale Electronique de Sécurité. Esquissé au début des années 1990, il devrait prendre forme en 2006, voyant apparaître les premiers documents à puce.
Pour l’heure, tant sur le plan international que sur le plan européen, les pays doivent s’accorder sur des normes à adopter afin que les systèmes soient compatibles entre tous, ce qui, est actuellement sujet à débat.
En effet, chaque technique biométrique a ses partisans.
Les Etats-Unis militent pour une empreinte de la rétine, au détriment de l’empreinte digitale, qui, pour eux, a une connotation pénale.
La France, l’Italie, la Suède, l’Espagne et la Belgique, qui ne s’opposent pas au scanner de l’iris de l’œil, préfèrent néanmoins la reconnaissance par empreinte digitale, affirmant que ce système est déjà arrivé à maturité puisque les services de douane et de police du monde entier disposent d’un tel système.
L’Allemagne, la Norvège et l’Islande reconnaissent le nécéssité d’un second identifiant obligatoire.
Ce projet d’administration électronique s’avère être plus que complexe : non seulement sur le plan international les techniques biométriques devront interopérer entre les différents pays, mais sur le plan national, elles bouleverseront tout un ensemble de procédures administratives déjà ancrées. Une difficulté manifeste à surmonter pour des pays bureaucratiques tels que la France et l’Allemagne.
You and your group can be trained by our native speaker qualified French teachers, and can meet at your place of work or home at a time convenient to you. Tutorials can take place any day of the week, including weekends, and can be scheduled for the morning, afternoon or evening. If your home or office is not suitable for you, you can attend the course at the teacher's offices. You will be provided with all relevant course materials.
Book now / EnquiryThose who would benefit the most from these French tutorials are those who feel they need to learn French to help them out in their business lives. For starters, learning salutations and business etiquette is integral; once these have been practiced then reading and writing courses can start. Typical studiers have been those involved in international import/export, negotiations and acquisitions, those in multinational companies requiring another language, and those working in any way with international governments and relevant administration. Just our simplest course for beginners will have students finishing the lessons with basic telephone and e-mail French, as well as survival French should a visit to the country be necessary.
Book now / EnquiryThese courses in French are wider-ranging in their nature, and are driven towards students who have a variety of differing needs. All beginner students will expect to study enough survival French to get them through a short visit to the country, those staying on with the course can progress differently, depending on their individual requests and requirements. Whether you are buying property in a foreign country, married to a foreign national, planning a round-the-world trip, interested in French history and culture, or if you simply want to attain a particular level of French, this is the choice for you.
Book now / EnquiryCourses in French are also accessible for 2 or more studying in tandem (Two-to-One French Course or Small Group In-Company French Course). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs of areas of proficiency, and must be able to work at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn do not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, although In-Company Taster French sessions can be run with as many as 12 people.
Book now / Enquiry
Sunderland
A city in northeast England, Sunderland is home to around 180,000 people. Historically famous for its salt-panning in the 16th century (heating large vats of seawater to harvest the salt) as well as its distinguished history of glass industry, Sunderland nowadays is actively involved in the electronics, chemicals and paper manufacturing industries. Home to the largest theatre in the North East, the Sunderland Empire, the city plays host to a huge range of musicians, comedy performers and other shows. There are many other traditional attractions, such as the Souter Lighthouse (the first ever electric lighthouse), a 15th century castle, as well as the National Glass Centre.
French Testimonials
"Our native speaker qualified French language teachers can train you and your colleagues at your office or home at a time to suit you. Classes can be any day of the week (even weekends) in the morning."