French

At Clark, students can major or minor in French. A minor consists of six classes and offers flexibility in class selection. The major is more specific, with required classes in literature, culture and a senior seminar. Majors must complete two units abroad, although most take a full semester or a year. In general, students who go abroad do so during their junior year, for the full year or one semester. Every year, one graduating French major is selected to be a teaching assistant in France. Many of the students enrolled in the International Studies Stream join our language classes, and we enjoy their diverse cultural backgrounds. Among our most popular courses are classes in cultural studies, literature and film.

The French program includes three teaching assistants from France who lead conversation groups for the language courses, participate in classes and help students individually. This year our assistants are Vicky Labat, Coraline Remise, and Romain Pacaud. They initiate a number of lively, informal activities such as French films, a French table, and a festive crèpe celebration at the end of the semester.

For study abroad in French, the Department enjoys a special exchange relationship with the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. Our study abroad program at the University of Burgundy has been specifically designed to meet the needs of Clark students. In brief, it offers our students the opportunity to take courses from the regular U.B. undergraduate curriculum ("La Faculté") with French students, as well as courses in French for foreign students ("français langue étrangère") at U. B.'s Centre Internationale d'études françaises. In that way students can do work in language study as well as having the experience of attending courses with French students. You can consult the catalog for a list of typical courses Clark students have taken in the past at the "Faculté."

We welcome your questions. The coordinator of French is Professor Beth Gale and Cathie Spingler is in charge of the Teaching Assistant program and may be reached at cspingler@clarku.edu.