Loreto College, Kolkata partners with Alliance Française du Bengale to Offer French Language Courses

In a significant step towards enhancing foreign language learning and fostering cultural exchange, Loreto College, Kolkata signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alliance Française du Bengale (AFdB) on August 16, 2024. This partnership promises new avenues for students by allowing them to enrol in the French A1 level course, aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), within the college campus. Mr. Nicolas Facino (Director, Alliance Française du Bengale) and Sr. Dr. A. Nirmala (Acting Teacher-in-Charge, Loreto College) signed the MoU in the presence of Ms. Clémentine Bertschy Mandal (Course Director, AFdB), Ms. Amritapa Basu (Course Counsellor, AFdB), Dr. Amrita Dasgupta (IQAC Coordinator, LC), Mrs. Sharmila Mitra Deb (Network and Collaboration Officer, LC), and Dr. Sanghita Sanyal (Coordinator of Certificate Courses, LC).

According to the specifications of the MoU, the 120-hour course on French language instruction to be offered by Alliance Française du Bengale will be split into two 60-hour sublevels or four 30-hour sublevels, each to be completed within a single academic semester in the Loreto College campus. Alliance Française du Bengale will provide qualified instructors for this course, with a staff member overseeing pedagogical quality through at least one annual visit. Each class will host between 10 and 30 students to ensure an effective learning environment. Students of Loreto College will also benefit from a 10% discount on course fees and reduced rates for the DELF-DALF proficiency exams, which will allow them to secure a diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education.

In addition to language instruction, the MoU encompasses cultural exchanges that will make French culture an integral part of the college experience. Students and faculty of Loreto College will gain access to exclusive events, workshops, and activities celebrating French heritage at Alliance Française du Bengale. Alliance Française du Bengale will also play an active role in organising events pertaining to French culture within the college premises, facilitating connections with French universities for collaborative research projects and exchange programmes, and providing information about internship opportunities for students.

This partnership with Alliance Française du Bengale reflects Loreto College’s commitment to providing its students with holistic education and equipping them with the skills that they need to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world, balancing academic excellence with a recognition of the importance of global citizenship. The opportunity to participate in and benefit from this collaboration will also be extended to other institutions in the city with which Loreto College has signed MoUs, including Scottish Church College and Shri Shikshayatan College.