The French Program at DePaul University provides students with a solid background in the linguistic and cultural understanding necessary to life in a global world. The program encompasses the interdisciplinary interests of its faculty. Courses range from language and culture, French and francophone literature, civilization, business, film, pedagogy, to women studies. Students learn in exciting ways as professors work with innovative pedagogies: computer-based learning; e-mail programs with students at French Institutions (Ecole des Ponts et Ecole des Télécommunications); teleconferences with the United Nations; video interviews; CD roms; the Internet; films, etc. The program focuses on the development of critical and creative thinking skills and fosters a multicultural perspective through the study of other cultural and conceptual systems.
Why Study French?
Jacques Maisonrouge, president of IBM World Trade Corporation, well encapsulates the need to learn foreign languages in today's society: "One major consequence of this internationalization of business has been the increased need of international managers; that is, for managers who, aside from having all the qualities that make good managers of national companies, are also mobile, adaptable and at ease in cultures other than their own. In addition, because they will undoubtedly work outside their home countries at some point in their careers, they should have one or two foreign languages; an understanding of the sociopolitical environment in which they will be working; and a world view that inhibits the growth of chauvinism... Tomorrow's managers will have to demonstrate more awareness of the world around them [and] more flexibility of mind... than ever before. In a world where new knowledge continues to accumulate rapidly, the most valuable managers of all will be those who have learned how to learn." The intellectual shaping of the mind that foreign language acquisition provides for the truly global person of today and tomorrow is well served by French studies.
French is a major world language, counting nearly 200 million speakers spread over 5 continents in countries where it is either the official or administrative language, or the language of artistic or literary expression. French remains the second most frequently taught language in the world after English. Besides enabling its users to have direct access to literary and philosophical masterpieces, a world of art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine and cinema, it is also one of the languages used in conducting the business of international organizations such as the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Monetary Fund, the International Labor Bureau, the International Olympic Committee, the Council of Europe, and the European Union. Knowledge of the French language and of French-speaking cultures gives students access to positions in international business, government, scientific research and communications as well as to careers in education, music and the arts.
Facts about the French Economy and about French Achievements in Science and Technology
[Adapted, with permission, from Richard Shyrock's web site, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and information made available by the French Government on the Internet].
What Former Students Say
Former students of French at DePaul have said: "The French major gives you a second set of eyes through which you can see the world and yourself;" "My French major really impressed my corporate interviewers!" "Studying in Paris with DePaul University was the most rewarding experience of my life;" "I enjoyed the speakers who came to the Department. They shared their lives and experiences with us and that always helped me understand more about the world and myself;" "The French for Business class was very helpful because it exposed me to the corporate world of Europe;" "My French major allowed me to expand my critical thinking skills;" "The more advanced courses I took the more emphasis there was on being a critical thinker;" "Studying French is opening yourself up to another culture, therefore making yourself a more worldly person;" "I found that the program of study at DePaul suited me perfectly, and can honestly say that all course experiences were valuable and important to my future studies."
Majors and Minors
Courses in French can fulfill a variety of university requirements. Students may major or minor in French. They may complete the Modern Language option (2 or 3 courses for Liberal Studies credit beyond the language requirement for Bachelor of Arts students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences). The experiential learning component of the Liberal Studies Program may be fulfilled through Study Abroad as may the foreign language requirements for students in International Studies, the International Perspective for College of Commerce students, the International Business minor.
Students are required to enroll in the following classes:
One of these courses can be MOL 392, an internship held in a French speaking country and designed in collaboration with a French faculty member. A current option entails spending part of the summer in France, working in a recreational center for the elderly, directed by Les Petits Frères des Pauvres.
An individualized program can be developed for a minor after consultation with the chair or an advisor in the French section of the department. Courses will be taken beginning at the 200/300 level. For the standard minor, a student may choose a mix of 200 and 300 level courses. However, no more than three 200 level courses will count towards the standard minor, which must be completed by at least two 300 level courses. On the other hand, a student may elect to take as many as five 300 level courses toward the minor.
Commercial Language Minor
Only 200 and 300 level courses may be applied to the completion of the commercial minor. Students starting their language studies at a less advanced level of language should consider the following sequence:
The minor will consist of French 320 Advanced Commercial French plus any configuration of French 200 and 300 level courses of the student's choosing. The faculty, however, recommends that those seeking a commercial language minor take the following courses: French 201, 202, 203 or 204 and 321, Translation or one civilization course. Students successfully completing the commercial language minor will be encouraged to take the business language certification exams given by the French government through the chamber of commerce.
Teacher of French: Secondary Level
In cooperation with the School of Education, the Department of Modern Languages offers a concentration of study that combines the requirements for a French Major with certification for teaching French at the junior high, middle, and senior high school levels. A student electing such a program should consult the School of Education Counselor as soon as possible after entering DePaul. The student must take French 201, 202, 203 or 204, MOL 349 (Teaching Modern Languages), MOL 357 (Teaching Culture in the Foreign Language Classroom), FCH 350 (Phonology and Phonetics) and seven more courses in French at the 300 level.
The faculty views a study abroad experience as an essential part of a liberal education and an invaluable asset as students are preparing themselves to become citizens of a society faced with the challenges of globalization. Participation in one of the following programs will be a life-long investment. Not only do students grow linguistically in a program designed specifically to cater to DePaul's students' needs, but the students' understanding of the sociological features of the culture expand dramatically. After the completion of such a program, students might want to consider pursuing an internship or finding a job or volunteer work to enhance their experience in a French speaking country of their choice.
Students of French are encouraged to participate in one of our three study abroad programs sometime during their college career. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in consultation with the French faculty has developed a program at the Alliance Française and one with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IIES), both located in Paris. These programs are designed to emphasize social, political, historical and cultural understanding through a total immersion in the life and culture of France. Students are also encouraged to participate in the DePaul University December excursion to Marrakech in Morocco where they may familiarize themselves with Islamic culture in a French speaking context.
All three programs carry DePaul credit. Financial aid, scholarships and grants may apply toward participation. The two Paris programs include residence with a host family.
Alliance Française (Paris)
DePaul's quarter long program at the Alliance Française is located in the heart of Paris, one of the world's most beautiful and exciting cities. While studying at the Alliance Française, an international language school, participants not only have the chance to become conversant in French but also to experience the rich cultural and political life of Paris. A DePaul faculty member accompanies the students as an instructor and academic advisor and organizes a number of excursions. Previous excursions have included week-ends at the Castles of the Loire River, Normandy and the Mt St Michel, the Perigord Region and the Lascaux Caves, and day trips to the palace of the Sun King, Louis XIV, in Versailles, and the Chartres and Reims cathedrals. In addition, students attend plays, concerts and other cultural events of interest. The program is offered in the Spring of each year. Students take a total of 4 courses (a minimum of 2 in French), carrying a total of 16 hours of credits. All students are required to take ART 397: French Art History, taught by an established art historian. This course surveys French art history and provides study trips to numerous museums and art galleries in Paris. In addition, students are required to take the director's class, which, according to his or her field of expertise, will use Paris and France as a resource.
International Education of Students (Paris)
Advanced students of French may also elect to study at the Institute for the International Education of Students for a semester or a whole year. Requirements include a minimum of two 300-level courses taken at DePaul (with minimum grades of B-). The student takes 5 or 10 semester-long courses, all in French, some of which are held in Parisian universities and institutions with French students (these institutions of higher learning include: Université de Paris-Sorbonne, Institut Catholique, Université de Paris VIII [well-known for its Women Studies' Program], Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Atelier Nicolas Poussin [Art School], Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris). In addition, this program offers the possibility to pursue an internship for credit. Past internship placements include businesses, non-governmental organizations, publishing houses and the media. The deadline for the full year program is in March; and for Spring semester, in September. For further information email the IES. Applications must go through the office of Study Abroad at DePaul.
Former participants have said
"All expectations were met and surpassed. The number and quality of activities we did in ten weeks were amazing;" "Living with a French family gave me an insider's look into the culture and a challenging way to improve my language skills;" "It was a challenging, mind opening and very exciting experience, I am so happy I decided to come!" "I have learned so much I wouldn't have learned in the U.S." "One will learn to adapt and assimilate in order to survive and will learn a lot about themselves in the process, a truly unforgettable experience;" "I've learned and retained so much from my courses there;" "This program was so much more than I had hoped for;" "I absolutely loved having international French classes. I now have friends in over ten countries."
For more information
For further information contact the Study Abroad Office (select "Study Abroad" from the bottom menu).
Tutors
The French Program offers the possibility for students to meet with advanced students (French, French speaking or French majors) for additional help in communicating both orally and in written form, grammar review, cultural discussions, etc. Appointments need to be made at least 24 hrs in advance by calling or stopping by the Language Lab, situated in McGaw 314A (773) 325-1888, 802 W Belden Ave, Chicago, IL 60614. This service is provided free of charge.
French Club
The French Club organizes film series, cultural outings to exhibits and other events, dinners in French or Francophone restaurants, French tables (where students meet in local cafés for discussions in French), and sponsors various French events on campus.
Literary magazine Mille-Feuille
Students of French at all levels are given an opportunity to publish in Mille-Feuille, DePaul's French literary magazine for students, faculty and staff, published yearly. Blind submissions are accepted in January of any given year and are read and evaluated by students registered in French 202 (who are part of the team of co-editors). Final selections are published in that year's edition. A contest is also organized for the cover and all are invited to participate. Once published, the magazine is distributed to interested faculty and administrators and sent to universities and French businesses in town and abroad.
Cultural Events
The French section regularly hosts public events such as lectures by prestigious scholars who provide unparalleled resources for students of French. Our guests have ranged from philosophers (Jacques Derrida), to literary critics (Jean-Pierre Salgas, Louis Marmandes, Doris Kadish), poets (Didier Cahen), novelists (René Depestre, Jean-Philippe Toussaint, Arlette Cousture), playwrights (Armand Gatti, Valère Novarina), historians (Marie-Claire Caravati, Charles Balesi), sociologists (Michel Maffesoli), political scientists (David Desforges), researchers in pedagogy (Claire Kramsch, Wilga Rivers) to representatives from the Société Générale Bank, France-Télécom, Air France, les Petits Frères des Pauvres, and the French and Belgian Consuls. The faculty has also participated in the organization of on-campus conferences such as "Drawing from Philosophy: a Symposium on Jacques Derrida," "The European Union," "Reading the Eighteenth Century." Students are also able to participate in city-wide events under faculty sponsorship (most recently, a forum on French cinema at the Alliance Française, a round table with writer Daniel Pennac at the Cultural Center, a reading by feminist Hélène Cixous at Northwestern University, a play by Eugene Ionesco, meetings with the French runners at the Chicago Marathon, the international film festival, etc.)
Other French events and French-speaking resources available to students in Chicago:
Grants and Research Opportunities for Students
Do you want to study, research, teach, or work in France? Simply get in touch with French culture in the Midwest? Try these programs for American students, available from frenchculture.org.
See also the opportunities available from the Franco American Commission for Educational Exchange.
Our students are successful in obtaining grants and fellowships. In recent years, students have received prestigious Fulbright Scholarships to teach in France and obtained teaching positions in France through the French Ministry of Education. Other students have been awarded "Bourses Connaissance de la France" from the French government to spend two weeks in France attending cultural events and meeting artists (Avignon International Theatre Festival, Art Festival of Pau, etc). Finally, some students have been able to secure local internships (French consulate, Alliance Française, The Little Brothers, secondary schools, etc.).
The faculty has directed the work of students recipients of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduate summer research grant. Projects have included among others the work of playwright Bernard-Marie Koltès, the plays of Hélène Cixous, a comparison of Poe's "Telltale Heart" to Baudelaire's translation of the short story and Odilon Redon's pictorial representation of it. Faculty has also advised students working on Honors Theses (Jean Genêt, Tragedy, French Philosophy and the Arts), independent study projects (the work of child psychologist Piaget, Contemporary French Women Poets, "Assessing culture: an integrative approach through the use of portfolios") and Masters' Degrees in International Studies (Nationalism in the North of France).
After DePaul
Our majors and minors have gone in a variety of directions. Students have been extremely successful in getting funding for graduate work in French (Harvard University, New York University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, Urbana Champaign, among others) and Comparative Literature (State University of New York at Buffalo, Brown University, Critical Studies Program at Berkeley). Others have gone to Law School, Medical School, graduate work in International Studies, studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, internships at the British Parliament and the European Community Commission in Brussels, positions in Education, International Accounting, Study Abroad administration and positions as translators and interpreters.
Online Resources