I. Yakovlev Chuvash State Pedagogical University hosted an international scientific and methodological seminar on the theory of the French language and methods of teaching on September 21. The seminar was opened by Alexander Kirillov, the head of the department of scientific and innovative work, who mentioned the importance of this event in connection with the revival of the study of the French and German languages as a second foreign language in schools of the Chuvash Republic.
Teaching French at schools and universities of the republic has a long-lasting tradition. Teachers of secondary schools and university professors have gained great methodological experience in teaching the French language, which they exchanged in a friendly working atmosphere. There was also developed a plan of joint scientific, cultural and social events, aimed at introducing students to the study of the French language and francophone culture.
Valentine Grosjean-Zerbino, the lecturer of the Open University, University of Franche-Comté (France), the president of the Association of Comté Baltique Amour, a member of the International Federation of French Language Teachers ((La Fédération internationale des professeur de français) was invited to work at the seminar by the department of Romano-Germanic philology. During the workshops she revealed the theoretical and practical foundations of teaching the difficulties of French grammar and intercultural differences in a non-francophone country.
The teachers of the Department of Romano-Germanic Philology are members of the All-Russian Association of French Language Practitioners, so one of the key issues at the seminar was the issue of representing the Chuvash Republic at the events held by the Association.
Fourth and fifth year students of the faculty of foreign languages, future teachers of the French language, could also take part at the seminar. It is very important as they were able not only to get acquainted with new tendencies in the theory of the French language and methods of teaching, but also meet with future employers and colleagues, feel more love for teaching French and carry this love through life.

September 23, 2019
L. A. Metelkova
Photo from the archive of the faculty of foreign languages