Aim
To promote the linguistic and civic integration of refugees through an experiential and intercultural approach, directly linked to the European values promoted in teaching of French as a foreign language.
Starting point
In addition to the free “French for all” programme for asylum seekers, the Institute of French Language and Civilisation at the University of Neuchâtel offers several intensive French courses for target levels B1 to C1. The programme includes language courses as well as literature, culture and intercultural competence courses to develop all the skills described in the CEFR, particularly in its 2018 version.
In this context, institutional visits in Switzerland and Europe, study days and trips are organised on a regular basis.
This year, the ILCF organised a trip to Strasbourg based on the concept of ‘borders’ in order to illustrate in concrete terms the notions of language borders, culture beyond borders, human rights, democracy and European integration.
Process
The various areas of study included in this study trip all include classes related to the areas of interest for the ILCF: argumentation and debate, founding texts, Swiss cultures, European cultural foundations, intercultural approaches, among others. All participants were invited to prepare a short presentation related to the theme of borders and the region visited. For example, the Oaths of Strasbourg, the first text written in French, the separation of the Carolingian territories and the many wars that took place in Lotharingia, which became Alsace-Lorraine, the languages spoken in Strasbourg, the cathedral and its architects, etc. During the trip to Strasbourg, the teachers also explained to the group how the Council of Europe works and its purpose, in relation to the reference documents on which the teaching of languages and cultures in Europe is based.
From 7 to 9 April 2025, a group of thirty refugees, mainly from Ukraine and with diverse backgrounds and levels of education, took part in an immersion programme supervised by three teachers from the ILCF. This initiative included:
- a visit to the Council of Europe, with attendance at Parliamentary Assembly debates on current issues;
- a meeting with Mr Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Swiss representatives, during which the concepts of democracy and social cohesion were discussed;
- a guided tour of Strasbourg Cathedral to illustrate the diverse influences (German and French) on its architecture
- a visit to the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp, as part of a reflection on the duty to remember.
The visit to the Council of Europe was particularly significant in the context of this course. The French as a foreign language course is firmly rooted in the values upheld by the Council of Europe, particularly those set out in the 1954 European Cultural Convention, one of whose fundamental objectives is to ‘promote mutual understanding between the peoples of Europe’.
Furthermore, this teaching is based on the principles of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR, 2018 version), which is not limited to the acquisition of language skills, but also promotes the development of intercultural skills, such as the recognition of otherness and the ability to adopt perspectives different from one's own frame of reference.
Impact
- Concrete awareness of the importance of democratic values and human rights.
- Increased motivation to learn French as a European language of communication.
- Strengthened sense of belonging to a democratic society.
- Development of intercultural skills: recognition of others, dialogue, critical perspective.
- A meaningful experience for refugees in the context of exile linked to the war in Ukraine.
- Positive vision of European history, capable of rebuilding itself in cohesion around values after the Second World War.
Main reference documents
- European Cultural Convention, 1954
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR 2018).
