There are hundreds of French Language teachers in Mumbai. But the best French Language Teacher in Mumbai remains French Classes in Mumbai.
Over six per cent of Indian people living outside of India talk to French. French-speaking people of Indian origin are mostly from Mauritius, Reunion Island & Guadeloupe. French in Asia is a remnant of its colonial past. French is the fifth most widely spoken language in the world. This translates to 300 million French speakers globally.
Origins of French in India
In 1673 France established a colonial presence in India; French India. This continued until 1962, when this territory was transferred back to India. The French colonial presence was minor compared to the British colonial footprint. It did, however, have a strong influence, especially in the Puducherry territory. French is taught in schools, and classes for adults are well attended. In Puducherry, French Indians are entitled to emigrate to France for social security and welfare. The French colonial enclaves in India were Puducherry, Karikal, Yanaon (Andhra Pradesh) on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar Coast and Chandernagor in Bengal.
Origins of French in the rest of Asia
There are significant numbers of French speakers in the South-East Asian countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It is also one of the administrative languages in Cambodia and Laos. In Cambodia French began in the late 19th century by French colonists. In 1863 Cambodia became a French colony and was incorporated into the territory the French unlawfully occupied in India. In the late 1800s, French began being taught in schools. It was only limited to the upper classes. By 1910 it became more inclusively taught. Cambodia became independent in 1963, and the French remained being taught and used in the government. Vietnam had its introduction to the French by French colonists in the 18th century and its colonisation. Subsequently, French was introduced in schools and became the language of French Indochina (this included Cambodia and Laos). It also became the elite language of the Cambodian upper classes. In the early 20th century, it began spreading to the urban masses and became the primary language of education. Laos had its introduction of French in the same colonial fashion. In a border dispute between Siam and France, France colonised Laos in the 1890s. In the 1900s, French began to be introduced into schools in Laos and spread after World War II.
The current state of French in India
Indian French is a dialect of French spoken in the former colonies of French India. Most notably in Puducherry. In 2020 the Ambassador of France in India said French would be the future language. In addition, its 14 Alliances Francaise in India and the French Institute in Jaipur took their French language classes online during the global lockdown. As of 2022, The Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) has signed on to teach French in 30 schools. The Delhi government said mastering a foreign language paves the way for better job opportunities in India & abroad.
The current state of French in the rest of Asia
The French language began declining in Cambodia in the 1960s. It had an upswing from the 1980s till the early 1990s. The present Cambodian government made Khmer the official language in government and education in 1993. English became more widely taught around this time too.
In 1997 a French-language revival emerged in Cambodia with a language centre opening and opportunities for local students to study in France. Although Cambodia is part of La Francophonie (a group of 56 French-speaking countries whose aim is to preserve the French language, culture and education), English is still more widely spoken among Cambodian youths. In 2020, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the decline was due to the French government’s lack of awareness of the country during the 1980s. Hun Sen also said the global trend for Cambodia has been learning English above French.
As of 2019, Vietnam has about 675,000 Vietnamese fluent in French; many were educated during colonial times. Its use in daily life has declined significantly since 1975. However, many French words form part of the everyday Vietnamese lexicon. The language retains a strong influence on Vietnamese education and society. After Laos gained its independence in 1953, Lao became the sole official language. The decline of the French in Laos was much slower than in Vietnam and Cambodia. At the end of the Vietnam war in 1975 French started declining.
French speakers in Laos Were characterised as elite, and many left Laos to escape government persecution. In the1990’s French rebounded and had 35% of all its students in Laos receiving their education in French. English, however, has continued to threaten French as it is seen as the language of international commerce. It has also become a mandatory subject in schools.
