The Wonderful World of French

In his poem, “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost describes encountering a fork in the road. This bifurcation becomes a metaphor for choices that we confront as we navigate the road of life. For college students, the opportunity to study French creates a fork in the road because it requires a commitment to encounter something “different.” Some Elizabethtown College students choose to embark on this exciting, transformative journey.

 Here’s why…

Courses: language, culture, reading, and literature

Communication Outcomes: Engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions; Understand and interpret written and spoken French on a variety of topics; Present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics

Cultures Outcomes: Understand the relationship between the practices and perspectives of French culture; Understand the relationship between the products and perspectives of French culture

Connections Outcomes: Acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through French language and culture

Comparisons Outcomes: Demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of French culture and one’s own; Demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of French and one’s own

Communities Outcomes: Use French both within and beyond the school setting; Become life-long learners by using French for personal enjoyment and enrichment

Study Abroad: a year or a semester in France; Possibilities also exist in some francophone countries

Where the journey leads…

Liberal Arts Education: a certain flexibility of thought, a speculative cast of the mind that permits the continued acquisition, analysis, synthesis, and communication of knowledge in one’s native tongue and French

Global Citizenship: claim as Diogenes did, “I am a citizen of the world.”

Thrice-born Intellectual: born once in your country, then in France, and then back in your own

Interesting Careers: Peace Corps Volunteer, High School French Teacher, Business Administrator in Paris, Ship Steward, College Professor of French, and Lawyer