VOICES FROM THE GROUND
CONTESTED LEGACY
French influence means different things to different people—a privilege, an opportunity, or a remnant of colonization. Each perspective continues to shape its power and impact in different ways. This section brings together local voices, firsthand experiences, and expert insights, spanning the full spectrum of French language diplomacy as soft power to examine how it is experienced, challenged, and redefined.
For some, speaking French is a gateway to opportunity—a tool for mobility, education, and cultural connection. For others, it represents a history of inequality, reinforcing structures of power that persist today. Does the language open doors, or does it uphold old hierarchies? And as global power dynamics shift, who truly controls the narrative?
As this study comes to a close, these voices offer a final reflection on the evolving role of French cultural diplomacy. One truth remains—language is never neutral. Its meaning is shaped by those who speak it, those who teach it, and those who hold the power to define it.
Voices from the Ground:
Inside Alliance Française of Philadelphia Director
Meet Philippe Poirier.
From growing up in Québec and competing in professional ice skating to working in the arts, he now leads the Alliance Française of Philadelphia. His unique perspective highlights Québec’s distinct French identity and the role of cultural institutions in shaping French language diplomacy beyond France itself.
Voices from the Ground:
The Fight to Keep French Relevant in the United States Education System
Meet Brenda Dyer.
As a French professor and program director at Drexel University, she has witnessed declining enrollments and shifting academic priorities that threaten French education in the U.S. Despite these challenges, she believes French is a valuable asset in diplomacy, business, and global affairs, integrating experiential learning through The Global French Project.
Voices from the Ground:
French in Cameroon: A Language of Opportunity or Oppression?
Meet Nasser Otmani.
His journey from Cameroon to a Moroccan refugee camp and now the U.S. has shaped his understanding of language as both an opportunity and a label of identity. While French dominated his education and daily life, he now sees the rising influence of English, especially among younger Cameroonians seeking global opportunities.
Voices from the Ground:
A French Mind, A Global Classroom
Meet Alan Arbert.
A French native who has lived across the world, from Malaysia to the Caribbean, and now Colombia. He navigates a complex relationship with the French language— both a tool for connection and a symbol of exclusivity. Having been to 47 countries while being from France, he reflects on France’s shifting influence, particularly in Francophone Africa, where nations are reevaluating their linguistic ties.
Voices from the Ground:
A Multilingual morocco
Meet Mohamed Ezzarhouni.
Growing up in Morocco’s French education system, he ultimately chose to study in the U.S. instead of France, reflecting the country’s shifting linguistic landscape. As English gains prominence among younger generations, he explores whether French is losing influence or if Morocco is embracing a multilingual identity while redefining its ties with France.