Ville de Vernier - French courses
The municipality of Vernier, nestled in the suburban outskirts of the canton of Geneva, is home to approximately 37,000 residents by the end of 2022. It is characterized by the presence of several large residential complexes, including the neighborhoods of Lignon (7,000 inhabitants), Avanchets (6,500 inhabitants), and Libellules (1,500 inhabitants). By the close of 2023, a new neighborhood named l’Étang will welcome around 2,500 new residents, emerging as a notably densely populated area within the municipality.
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During the year 2022, a neutral meeting place named the “Café des Possibles” was inaugurated. Primarily designed to welcome new residents to the community initially, this space played a significant role for the social cohesion service. It served as a gathering point to foster sharing and provided a unique opportunity to assess the neighborhood’s pulse while allowing for the measurement of its residents’ needs.
1. Intervention Project: New French Language Courses in the Étang Neighborhood
Following in-depth discussions with the provider involved during the pilot phase, the collective Douze Zéro Deux, and social cohesion professionals working in the Étang neighborhood, the service aimed to enhance the existing French language course offerings in the municipality. Given that many places report waiting lists for these courses, the social cohesion service seeks to extend the pilot experience in Étang. This initiative led to the implementation of oral French language courses through two distinct proposals. Discussions on the possibility of sustaining this approach are currently underway and will be confirmed after evaluating the project in the fall of 2023.
2. Educational Objectives
The primary objective of this course is to focus on oral French language practice, covering various topics and everyday life situations. Consequently, individuals enrolled in other courses at the communal or cantonal level are welcome to continue their practice in this space.
While the targeted proficiency level for these courses is primarily from A1 to B1, the intention is not to exclude individuals at different proficiency levels. However, the professionals present will encourage them to explore course offerings and invest in other learning venues that correspond to their proficiency level, either concurrently or as a replacement for this course, based on their needs.
3. Assistance for French Test Preparation
In addition to the initial course offered on Tuesdays at two different times, and in harmony with all existing courses and workshops in the municipality, a support service for learners will be launched at the start of the school year in August 2023. This initiative, requested by various municipal course locations and the professionals teaching there, addresses the need for learners to prepare for French tests required during specific events such as residency permit renewals, naturalization, or tests related to professional integration.
The support service aims to provide tangible examples of exams (FIDE or DELF) and allows learners to practice by simulating test scenarios. The target audience includes individuals seeking the renewal or issuance of B, C permits, and Swiss naturalization. The exams to be taken include FIDE A1-A2-B1, or possibly DELF/DALF B2, which is also necessary for certain employment-related procedures.
This support service will be offered during a pilot period from April to December 2023. Its objective is to assess how effectively it aids learners in preparing and succeeding in their French language tests. A comprehensive evaluation will be conducted in collaboration with various learning institutions after this pilot period to determine whether the project will be expanded or sustained beyond its initial phase.
