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11 Top Reasons To Take French
- Be understood in 43 countries across five continents and by over 200 million people.
- Knowing French makes you more competitive in the national and international job market in disciplines like business, medicine, aviation, law, automotive, distribution and luxury goods.
- As the third most common language on the Internet, you can connect with pen pals, visit foreign websites and find exchange student opportunities.
- You will develop your critical, creative thinking and problem solving skills. French also provides the base for more than 50% of the modern English vocabulary, which can help you perform better on standardized tests.
- Open the doors to art, music, fashion, food, architecture and literature.
- Learning French helps you learn other Romance languages like Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian.
- Enhance your travel experiences while discovering a new appreciation for other cultures in countries like: France, Canada, Switzerland Monaco and many African nations [as well as in the Caribbean, Pacific Islands and Indian Ocean territories].
- Use French to pursue studies [or service work] in francophone countries.
- French is a soft, melodious, romantic language with a relatively quick learning curve.
- Promote language diversity throughout the world.
- French is the official working language of the UN, NATO, UNESCO, the International Olympic Committee, the European Union, the International Red Cross and much more!
(From American Association of Teachers of French: www.theworldspeaksfrench.org/reasons.html)
French Program Overview
Learn more about our French Studies Program!
French Courses:
111-211, Introductory / intermediate courses on language and culture of the francophone world
212: Enriches vocabulary and reading comprehension
311-312: Reviews the structures and sounds of the
French language, again with an emphasis on culture
Advanced courses offer opportunities to study literature of particular historical periods or genres, or following essential themes, to deepen the study of cultural history and contemporary issues, or to refine the knowledge and use of the French language.
Follow this link to the course catalog for more information on individual courses and the French major/minor.
On-Campus Activities:
French Club (French-language conversation tables, song nights, Mardi Gras, Canticles de Noël, gatherings with international francophone students); French Film Series (from France, Québec, and other francophone countries), events connected to campus plays, concerts, and lectures.
Student Employment: Each year the French faculty work with student language and office assistants; these positions might include tutoring, assistance with class materials, researching films for the French Film Series, other research as needed by individual faculty members.
Follow this link to the CSB/SJU Student Employment website.
Teaching Opportunities After Graduation:
We have an impressive history of placing our graduates in the program of “Poste d’Assistant,” where students assist English teachers in France for one year.
French Scholarship:
French majors enrolled at the College of Saint Benedict are eligible to apply for the Dr. & Mrs. Joseph B. Gaida & Family Scholarship for French. Recipients are chosen on the basis of scholarship, strength of academic purpose, and financial need. Amounts ranging from $1500 to $2000 are divided among scholarship recipients every year.
Follow this link for more information on the Gaida Scholarship for French.
Interesting Fact: French is the second most commonly-taught second language in the world (after English). (About.com/French language)