Etude Comparee de l’Enseignement des Langues Vivantes Etrangeres en France et en Australie : Le cas de l’Anglais en France et du Francais en Australie Occidentale au Lycee

The purpose of this thesis is to analyse French and Australian approaches to foreign language learning and teaching within their education systems through a comparison of English programmes for French high schools and French programmes for Western Australian high schools. The value and originality ofthis project lies in the absence of any previous study between the two countries in this field of research. It will be ofinterest to anyone involved in foreign language learning and teaching. This research is mainly based on official texts and publications (also available online) as well as on work by specialists in education and linguistics. The first part concentrates on the place of foreign languages in French and Australian school courses. The second part compares the programmes for English in French high schools with the programmes for French in Western Australian high schools. The final part examines the French ”baccalaureat}} for English and its equivalent in Western Australia for French. This research takes into account the influence of a country’s historic, social and cultural context on its education system and the repercussions of its teaching methods on the structure of its programmes. iii I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: i. incorporate without acknowledgment any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; ii. contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text; or iii. contain any defamatory material. I also grant permission for the Library at Edith Cowan University to make duplicate copies of my thesis as required. Elodie Mortet, October 28, 2009