WHY STUDY FRENCH?

HERE ARE A FEW REASONS

French is spoken by nearly 200 million people in more than 43 countries on five continents.
Approximately 2 million Americans speak French in the home.
More than 1 million students in the United States study French.
Nearly 50% of English vocabulary comes from French.
A knowledge of French can open doors to many careers in medicine, the environment, journalism, the fine arts, translation, fashion, international law or business, and haute cuisine.

By studying French, students acquire skills that graduate schools and employers look for most: critical thinking, excellent oral and written expression and a multicultural worldview.

French is used as an official language in many international organizations including the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, NATO, UNESCO the International Olympic Committee and the International Red Cross. It is also used in other organizations of global scope such as Amnesty International and Medecin Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
French is the language spoken by our largest trading partner (Canada).
From 2003 to 2006 trade between France and the United States increased by 75% with one billion dollars of transactions taking place everyday.
French companies employ approximately 500,000 Americans and US companies employ nearly 600,000 people in France.
American companies in France include: IBM, Microsoft, Mattel, Dow Chemical, Ford, Coca Cola, AT&T, Motorola and Johnson & Johnson.

WHY IS FRENCH IMPORTANT ON A WORLD SCALE?

Notre Dame Cathedral Culturally, France has earned prestige around the world for its contributions in art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine and cinema, playing a central role in the development of Western Civilization. French cinematography, for example, is highly acclaimed on an international scale. Film director François Truffaut and actors Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu are just a couple of outstanding figures. French literature is one of the richest and most influential of the modern European world, featuring authors such as Flaubert, Hugo, Rabelais, Montaigne, Proust, Marguerite Duras. The literatures of Quebec, Francophone Africa and the Caribbean are currently among the most vital in the world. The works of French language authors Patrick Chamoiseau, Maryse Condé and Tahar Ben Jelloun have gained international recognition. Several well-known philosophers were also French, including Descartes, Pascal, Rousseau, Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Their ideas have had long-lasting influences on the course of world history.

In today's international climate and changing immigration patterns, French serves as a lingua franca not only in Europe, but also between Europe, North America and Africa. As these regions move toward greater interaction on cultural, political and economical levels, a knowledge of French will become an increasingly important skill.

FRENCH AT NCCU

French Street The curriculum in French encompasses a wide selection of courses in literature, language and culture from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. Students will gain firsthand access to the works of influential writers, philosophers, filmmakers, artists and scientists of the French-speaking world. The department is also committed to working closely with students who wish to complete a second major and those who wish to earn licensure through the Teacher Education Program.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN FRENCH (33 credit hours)

Fren 1142 - French III
Fren 2100 - Intermediate French I
Fren 2200 - Intermediate French II
Fren 2300 - Francophone Literature
Fren 3000 - Phonetics
Fren 3080 - Syntax & Composition
Fren 3100 - Oral & Written Expression I
Fren 3110 - History/Civilization
Fren 4100 - Advance Grammar & Composition
Fren 4200 - Oral & Written Expression II
Fren 4210/4220 - Survey of French Literature
French Electives - 12 credits
Fren 4800 - Senior Seminar