The French Chief of Chinese Language Education (Inspecteur General de Chinois), Professor J. Bellassen commented in a recent interview that Chinese, as a foreign language, is spreading rapidly in the French education system. Twenty seven out of thirty education districts are offering classes in Chinese. Chinese is number five on the French foreign language education list. Also, Chinese language education methodology is highly standardized today in France. More and more people – not only the parents but the masters of educational districts and schools – are realizing the importance of learning Chinese.
Source: Xinhua, November 10, 2009.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2009-11/10/content_12427405.htm