The introduction of English at the primary level in Algeria certainly has something to do with it! At the Algiers Book Fair, books in English are present in force.
Novels, short stories, extracurriculars, learning manuals, and books in English are popular among visitors to the 26th edition of the Algiers Book Fair (SILA) which is held at the Safex in Pins Maritimes to the east of the capital (October 26 – November 5).
Books in English are on their shopping lists. We met publishers and customers. The trend is confirmed. Everyone says ‘Yes’! Books in English are really on the rise.
The introduction of the English language to the primary cycle in Algeria since the 2022-2023 school year certainly has something to do with it! Parents are on the lookout for this kind of extracurricular textbook to make it easier for their children to learn the language of Shakespeare.
14-23 year olds are not left out. Fed up with American soap operas and foreign television channels like MBC Action, they hear this language spoken at their fingertips in order to stay connected to the rest of the world.
At the “All Tales Read” bookstore stand, two students set their sights on Harry Potter by JK Rowling, but in its original version, please! That is to say in English. “We are studying foreign languages at Bouzareah University and we regularly buy books in English. The offer is not always present everywhere so we take advantage of SILA to try to find what we are looking for,” explains one of them.
Specializing in children’s books, this bookstore recently opened in Draria in the west of Algiers has seen the tide turn. “Parents are looking for books in English to help their children understand it,” says Cherazed Bouhadi, the young boss.
She adds that the teenagers who “ask us have a good level of English. They read and speak it fluently, often better than French. Since the start of SILA, the Harry Potter collection, which has 7 volumes, has been selling like hotcakes. I also sell stories and scientific manuals in English. They find takers among young readers. Many schools offer the “British curriculum” in addition to the national education curriculum. A real niche for booksellers and publishers who often resort to imports to stock their shelves.”
“The English language has a certain future in Algeria”
At the El Amel publishing stand, books in English are available. A dictionary, a guide to linguistics, two writing manuals, short stories, and a novel. There are even educational posters designed by this publishing house to introduce little ones to learning the alphabet, colors, days of the week, etc.
“Our publishing house has published around ten books in English as well as extracurricular works,” M’hand Siyoucef, publisher, tells us. Algerian authors are starting to write in the language of Shakespeare. The demand from readers is there. This is the new generation. They watch American soap operas in the original version and are tuned to satellite channels that broadcast their programs in English. The decision of the Ministry of National Education to introduce the teaching of English in primary school has reinforced this trend. The English language has a certain future in Algeria.”
At Berti Editions, the demand for school textbooks is strong, says Smail Gaci, a sales representative. “Middle school, high school, and university students have snapped up our textbooks: English vocabulary and English writing. They are very addicted to English and want to master all the rules. We have to renew our stocks before the end of SILA, it’s such a hit!”, he admits.
Will English eclipse French in Algeria?
The foreign publishing houses present at Sila brought in their luggage works written in the language of Shakespeare and they did not have to regret it since they recorded record sales. This is the case of El Maktaba El Haditha (The Modern Bookstore), a Lebanese publishing house.
English literature is present on this stand in the form of children’s novels: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, Heidi by Johanna Spyri, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle, “King Solomon’s Mines” by Rider Haggard.
Sold at the price of 500 Algerian dinars, these works quickly found buyers among visitors to Sila. “These books are printed in Beirut,” explains Merdas Farés, sales representative. He also confirms the trend: “Parents are buying more books in English for their children. Mentalities have changed. English is slowly taking over the French language! Furthermore, visitors who arrive from the interior of the country only look for books in English! It’s really in tune with the times!”.
This Lebanese publishing house also offers readers in short pants, tales written simultaneously in English and Arabic (one page for each language) such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
The English language has a preponderant place among young Algerians. The new generation speaks and reads the language of Shakespeare fluently. Algerian publishers should perhaps consider publishing more works in English, written by Algerian writers to satisfy the growing demand of these young readers.
