KNUST inaugurates French Centre

The Department of Modern Languages at the Faculty of Social Sciences (FoSS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has inaugurated its French Learning Centre, “Maison Française”, to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject.

The facility which houses a French language laboratory and resource centre was funded by the French Embassy.

The language laboratory is equipped with 10 computers, all set up with headphones and microphones, to practice the speaking of the language.

It also has a Francophone library where French methods, books on language, pedagogy and Francophonie as well as novels and comics, are available for borrowing.

The facility also has a Study Abroad Information Desk, where flyers, information books and websites are accessible to help students who intend to study abroad.

At the inauguration held under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Prof. William Otoo-Ellis, he said the centre would enhance efforts by the university at offering students both at the undergraduate and graduate levels state-of-the-art facilities.

He indicated that plans were advanced for the university to establish a French Village at the KNUST, and pledged the full support of his administration for the Maison Française.

The VC, on behalf of the Chancellor and the University Council, expressed his gratitude to the French Embassy for facilitating the establishment of the centre.

He commended the Department of Modern Languages for promoting the learning and teaching of French.

The Head of Institut Français, in-charge of Cultural Affairs at the French Embassy, Monsieur Arnaud Dornon, noted that the establishment of the facility was a “wise choice to give the Institut Français du Ghana and the French Embassy in Accra” some place to share knowledge, culture and language.

“If the maison française d’Oxford is a research Centre in Social Sciences, the maison française de Kumasi will soon be a showcase of what France has to offer in terms of support for Higher Education in Ghana”.

The Head of the Department of Modern Languages, Dr (Mrs) Lebene Tettey, expressed gratitude to both the administration of KNUST and the French Embassy for their support towards the construction of the edifice.

She also thanked the Provost of the College of Arts and Social Sciences, Prof. S.K. Afrane, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr Kofi Akuoko, and other heads of departments for their support