Empowering Moroccan youth
The Journal of Turkish Weekly (can someone please tell me why Turkey’s English press is so advanced compared to Morocco’s?) put out an article today entitled “Empower Moroccan youth” promoting the idea of youth groups in the kinds of poor neighborhoods that seem to have become breeding grounds for Salafist ideas. The idea is that youth groups would provide mediation for young people in addition to giving them hope for a better society.
While I don’t disagree with the idea at all, I don’t think anyone from those communities is going to magically find hope without action. First, electricity, then hope.
June 4th, 2007 at 11:08 am
“can someone please tell me why Turkey’s English press is so advanced compared to Morocco’s?” — maybe because of censorship problem? I agree, a spark of hope can’t be seen in a vast darkness… electricity first. =)
June 4th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
“can someone please tell me why Turkey’s English press is so advanced compared to Morocco’s?” the same reason why Moroccan French press is so advanced compared to Turkey’s i guess!
June 4th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
@Xoussef - While I suppose you’re right in this case, I did some research for an article I just wrote and found several countries that DO NOT have English as their second language (or haven’t historically anyhow) yet still have upwards of ten English publications.
Not to mention the fact that a couple of Francophone African countries have a better representation of English in their press than Morocco…
June 4th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I don’t think there has been a strong enough English-speaking presence in Morocco outside of Tangier in the early 20th century followed by Rabat possibly in the 50’s. If there isn’t enough of an audience, it’s not worthwhile to produce. Economics.
June 4th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
True indeed, but with the goal of 10 million tourists by 2010 and the new cheap flights to places like the UK, it’s a necessity if they want to succeed. Unfortunately, I’ve met all too many older, mostly British tourists and even residents who don’t speak - and more importantly, don’t want to learn - French.
June 4th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I meant to add, but pressed submit too soon, that the majority of my students complain that they don’t have enough English language reading material as well. And that’s in Meknes of all places.
June 4th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Most of French speaking African countries have French as first language, so English takes the second place, while here Modern standard Arabic is supposed to be the first language. Besides having a neighbor English speaking country do help. That’s not an excuse but USA, UK and other English speaking countries don’t do much to promote English, while France, Spain and Germany are more active. English language reading material is rare, but more importantly, costly.
June 4th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
That’s true, although that still doesn’t explain Lebanon! Anyhow, you’re right - I agree that the US and the UK don’t do enough to promote English; I suppose the only reason that I have a grudge over this is because there are so many Moroccans who WANT to speak English - but I suppose that grudge is just as well directed at the US/other English speaking countries than at Morocco.
June 5th, 2007 at 3:18 am
Lebanon is a mystery of gods
if you can explain anything Lebanese, you can probably explain anything on Earth lol!
but i will try:
Lebanon’s main market: the Golf
The Golf business language: English
so probably that’s why English became more important than French.
Anyway now that there is practical need for learning English, things will change. ^^ as said Everything Morocco: simple economics.