The Teaching of Arabic in French Algeria and Contemporary France

摘要

This article examines the history of the teaching of Arabic in colonial Algeria as a means of clarifying the contemporary debate on language policy in the French education system. Until now this history has only been explored in the limited context of post-Independence Algeria and in a rather simplistic fashion, which suggests that the colonial authorities conducted a hostile campaign against the Arab language. In fact, as will be seen, the situation was far more complex, with a much more sympathetic approach being adopted than one might expect. However, there were various forms of Arabic to take into account and attitudes were in a constant state of flux throughout the colonial period.