부산대학교 도서관

The article presents information on the foreign languages most widely taught in Africa and their historic significance. The foreign languages most widely taught in Africa are English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and German. The term foreign in this context refers to languages that are not indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. The teaching of these languages stems from the colonial era when the British, the French, the Belgians, the Portuguese and the Spanish had possessions on the continent. The foreign language policies of the European powers placed emphasis on the acquisition of the appropriate European language, which became the official language and the medium of instruction in the colonies. Textbooks that were based on Latin grammar models were used as the primary tools of instruction. Language instruction began in elementary schools, continued in secondary schools and teacher-training colleges, and culminated at the university level. Proficiency in the European language during the colonial period was seen as a measure of one's academic, professional and social advancement and sophistication.