Why Study French?
Worldwide, French is
the most widely taught second language after English because of its importance:
only French and English are spoken on all five continents! There are over
77 million first language speakers, as well as 51 million fluent speakers,
61 million occasional speakers and 110 million students of the French language!
French is an official language of 54 countries and dozens of international
organizations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization,
the International Red Cross, the International Olympic Committee and Amnesty
International.
What are French classes like at CSUSB?
What can you expect from French courses taught at CSUSB? First of all, you
will learn to speak the language! Courses at all levels of the
curriculum-- from French 101 to French 514 will encourage you to use French,
to the best of your ability, in class. Our instructors are all experienced
in creating classroom environments that will encourage and stimulate to
speak French with confidence. Because our courses are not overcrowded,
you can expect to receive individual attention from your instructor and
many, many opportunities to get to know your classmates well (using French!)
Depending on the course, readings, papers, movies and other assignments
may also be in French. Even if you have no experience in learning a foreign
language or if you've had bad experiences in the past studying other languages,
try studying French. Our faculty will show you how rewarding language learning
can be!
Thinking about a French Minor or Major?
Bravo! Upper division courses (numbered 300 or
above) allow you to move beyond learning the language to studying different
aspects of French and Francophone (French-speaking) cultures. Although
there are a number of skill-based courses offered-- such as Advanced Conversation,
Advanced Composition and Translation, you can also learn about film, history,
women's issues and other content areas. Majors choose between tracks in
Business, Civilization and Literature. Some courses are offered online
throught the French Consortium-- giving you the opportunity to work with
talented faculty from four other CSU campuses. Worried about graduating
on time? We promise to offer all of the upper-division classes you need
every two years, so you can plan ahead with confidence.
Graduates of our program have found successful careers in a variety
of fields including education, translation, government service, business
and the arts. A specialization in French is also a very useful addition
to a number of degrees such as Art, International Business, History,
Philosophy, Political Science and others. CSUSB alumni who have gone on
to graduate school have reported that their French coursework was a
valuable preparation for the rigors of graduate studies.
Thinking about studying in France?
There are many exciting opportunities to study in France or a French-speaking
country. The CSU
International Program offers year-long programs in 70
countries world-wide, as well as programs that only last a few weeks. In
France, you can study in Paris or in Aix-en-Provence. Previous study of
French will give you the opportunity to take a wider variety of courses
when in France. To date, the Switzer Scholarship had funded over $100,000
to help CSUSB students study in France and Quebec.
Visit the links on the left to learn more about French Studies at CSUSB.
