What a better way for a Lebanese university to show its love to the French language and its belonging to the French-speaking world than through a French-Lebanese language conference? That is how, on March 8, 2019, Antonine University held, for the fourth time in a row, a round-table conference that gathered French language-lovers and specialists to think and talk about the topic of this year: "Le libanais parlé au cœur de la Francophonie" (Lebanese at the heart of the francophonie).
On this occasion, the Zahle campus welcomed the representative of the Minister of Culture, Mr. Sleiman Khoury, a crowd of religious, media, academic, and social figures as well as a small group of students. The meeting started with the inaugural speeches of Zahle campus director Reverend Father Raymond Hachem, and Language Center director Dr. Micheline Ghattas. Then, Dr. Joseph Omran from the Lebanese University took over to present the guest speakers.
The first one was Jinane Chaker Sultani Milelli, a doctor in anthropology, ethnology, and religious studies, but also the editor and author of the French-Lebanese dictionary. The second guest, Caroline Torbey, is the author of the series "Dessine-moi un proverbe, les proverbes libanais racontés à nos enfants" (Draw me a proverb, the Lebanese proverbs said to our children).
The round-table conference ended with a small recital of the most beautiful songs of the French repertoire given by the tenor Gabriel Abdel Nour and the pianist Armand el-Henoud.
Long live the Lebanese “Francophonie” and the French-speaking world of Amin Maalouf, Charif Majdalani, and all French-speaking writers!