English, a discipline sacrificed in university

It is a morning sprint involving more than 5,000 undergraduate students in Letters and Human Sciences from Aix-Marseille University. Challenge: Getting a place in the English Training Course (TD). The start signal for registrations was given on the digital platform of the institution in the early hours of September 6. “Within minutes, 2,400 locations were hit by the storm”, notes Sarah Watson, faculty lecturer. Those who are slow or slow in the morning are invited to choose a different language. Licensing is conditional upon verification of any language teaching unit. Therefore, teachers push students where they need to be, considering the academic folly of this obligation.

Many French universities are unable to teach in English, either because of an insufficient number of teachers or sometimes because of a lack of rooms. A complex situation, which represents the material and logistical difficulties of universities.

This “shortage” stems, firstly, from the increase in student numbers since 2015. Measure Nicolas Boileau, lecturer at Aix-Marseille University. This rise accelerated in 2020, the first year of the health crisis linked to Covid-19, during which the bag pass rate reached 95%, an increase of almost 7 points. Compared to previous year. “Due to budget cuts, positions are frozen, faculty claiming retirement rights are not being replaced, the number of lecturers is decreasing, while the number of hours is increasing”Nicolas Boileau continues.

“No homework, no oral transmission”

One thing is clear: More English teachers are needed to meet the demand. But teacher shortage is felt everywhere. “We’re having a hard time recruiting.”Guillaume Gellé, president of the University of Reims-Champagne-Ardenne agrees and
Vice-President of the Universities of France, which brings together the executive directors of higher education institutions. At Aix-Marseille, the posts are to be filled, ” But [ils ont] The formation of new groups in English had to be abandoned due to shortage of teachers”Sarah Watson continues. “We have fewer and fewer full professors and are having difficulties finding temporary staff to replace them.”Also sorry for Emily Johnton, an associate professor at the University of Orleans.

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