Le Trait d’Union entre les Peuples

 

In this page you will find the details for “The English Hour”, an English speaking radio program broadcasting in Ivory Coast. Soon we will have some recording of the show online.

 

OVERVIEW OF RADIO ARC EN CIEL

Radio Arc-en-ciel (102.00 fm) is a community-oriented radio station located in the commune of ABOBO-N’DOTRE (district of Abidjan-Côte d’Ivoire.) it reaches the whole town of Abidjan and its suburbs. About 60 km around Abidjan.

Its first language is obviously French because French is the official language of Côte d’Ivoire. Next to French there are a number of programs done once per week in some vernacular languages (Baoule, Dioula…).

We do have also some programs in foreign languages (Spanish, German and English).

The English program is a weekly program whereas the others are done twice per month.

The English program was created in May 2008 by a University student of English language. Since then he runs the program very successfully.

THE ENGLISH PROGRAM AND ITS OBJECTIVES

In 2008 the then Director of the radio station asked to create a program for the promotion of the English language but also to make the foreigners from the English speaking countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia…) feel at home.

The program was named after the radio station itself “Rainbows English Time” was the title because “arc en ciel” is Rainbow in English.

Since January 2010, the program’s title is “The English Hour”.

The same objectives have not changed. But in relation with some friends broadcasting in English on other radio stations, we have decided to make out of the English language the second official language of Côte d’Ivoire so we sometimes advocate for the use of English.

We do as we can because not many people are interested in it or if ever they are, they have shame speaking it. But our advice to them is to speak English careless of mistakes.

 

The English Hour has three mains headings:

My English lesson

 The Forum

Once upon a time.

 

My English lesson

Is a heading which aim is to teach English to the listeners. These lessons are usually run in both French and English that way is for the people speaking only French to get the lesson and eventually practice.

 

The Forum

Is the time for debates and friendly discussions. Hundred percent of the talking is in English. No topic is taboo apart from politics (because the status of the radio prevents it to talk about politics).

It is a platform for the speakers of English (Anglophones or francophone speaking English are received.) to express themselves.

 

Once upon a time.

Is another heading that is normally deserved to talking about great figures of the World especially those who have fought for the independence of Anglophone countries (Kwame N’kruma, Jomo Kenyattan, Abraham Lincoln, Ghandi…Nelson Mandela etc.)

 

This heading is not done on a regular basis. It is rather replaced by music because the Ivorian like music very much. So we play a lot of music during the one hour of the program.

 

Time

The program is normally scheduled for one hour but due to commercial purposes, it is sometimes less.

The program is done one Mondays from 5 to 6 pm.

 

The presenter 

He is a university student of English linguistic at the University of Cocody-Abidjan. He is currently registered in BA linguistics. He started the program when he was only 21.

He name is AKO Essan Emile.

On the air he calls himself Senior AKO or the Wise of the New Generation. Not that he see himself as wise but he likes wisdom…

 

Contacts: +225 09 30 39 46

                 +225 60 97 55 73

 Email:  seniorako@gmai.com

              akoessan123@yahoo.fr

 

 

                                                                                                  AKO Essan Emile

 

 

Radio Arc-En-Ciel, Abidjan

The English Hour

Mondays from 5 to 6pm, local time

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The English Hour