In a country known abroad for its intellectualism and relentless pursuit for equality, I naturally assumed that the French education system would follow suit. Unfortunately, my naivety would prove to be somewhat flawed regarding higher education in France.
A Culture of Critique
As I began university last fall, I quickly came to the realization that criticism – the core of the French “mentality” – transcends primarily through education. As a friend’s French teacher based in the United States befittingly joked, France’s true national sport is la critique.
While constructive criticism certainty has its merits, its constant recourse without the use of any positive comments can ultimately corrode the confidence of students. Indeed, this appears to already be the case: French students consistently report lower self-esteem and higher anxiety than most of their European and North American counterparts.
In overcriticizing students for their failures and underemphasizing their successes, teachers ultimately focus on students’ shortcomings rather than their potential. Diligence is often met with a pas mal (not bad) in French academic lingo, the seemingly highest of all compliments.
Such is reinforced by a sense of “dictatorship” in the classroom, where the authority of the teacher conquers all.
While the intentions of professors are by no means directed toward the deterioration of students’ confidence – on the contrary, my professors affirmed their desire for students to improve academically – they ultimately succeed in doing so. Such is reinforced by a sense of “dictatorship” in the classroom, where the authority of the teacher conquers all.
A lack of confidence can ultimately translate to a fear of speaking out, creating a culture in which students are reluctant to debate in class. In no subject is this more evident than that of foreign language. My Spanish teacher for one would painstakingly correct every mistake made in class – so excessively so that participation slowly began to dwindle as students lost morale.
Not only does this style of teaching leave students with a sense of inadequacy and at times even humiliation, but it is mundane and challenges few.
Conformity over Creativity
Teachers have a tendency, for example, to emphasize la méthodologie when grading essays – most of which seem to be either fiches de lecture (a type of text report) or commentaires de texte (text analysis) – that follow a strict form.
Rather than having students develop their own line of reasoning through, say, argumentative essays, they are taught merely to follow instructions. For example, I had to take a class called la méthodologie in which the most positive feedback I received for one of my assignments was Vous avez bien suivi les consignes (You correctly followed the instructions).
Even my best attempts at assignments were only met with restrained enthusiasm or rather “gentle criticism”. Ultimately, this appears to put French students at a disadvantage before they have even entered the job market.
Without exposure to demanding assignments, coupled with a prolonged lack of confidence, students are less likely to thrive academically.
Without assignments that challenge students to think critically, they will not only have difficulty in overcoming the problems they face, but in formulating their own ideas and theories – two requisites for success in any profession, but especially those requiring entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, problem-solving skills require confidence, undoubtedly built up over the years through a feeling of accomplishment in education. Without exposure to demanding assignments, coupled with a prolonged lack of confidence, students are less likely to thrive academically.
More importantly, however, such a system can ultimately leave students with the unsettling feeling that their academic “failures” will follow them throughout their lives. Unless educators – and the administration as a whole – are willing to re-evaluate the French education system, students are unlikely to feel anything other than nuls in both the classroom and the workplace.