French

This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Assistant Professor Sophia Mizouni (Program Director)

French is a useful strategic language, especially for those interested in careers in the military, business, the Department of Defense, research, and industry. It is ranked as the second most important communication language in the world after English by the Bloomberg Rankings (2014). Norwich has developed a program to prepare students to use French in the workplace or to strengthen an application for graduate school.

The French minor offers courses that are communicative and interactive at all levels. For beginning and intermediate-level students, a strong audio-video program facilitates learning language from native speakers through visuals and oral patterning. Every course includes a cultural focus. Literature, civilization courses and the examination of international French-language media sources provide opportunities for students to be alert to cultural differences outside their own culture to develop a more global perspective. The French minor offers service-learning courses and community service with leadership opportunities. Past examples of service include French-language interpreter/cultural role-play with 40 members of the National Guard, participation in Vermont's Lake Champlain Quadricentennial events representing the French heritage of the region, and the translation of a brochure for the Washington County Battered Women Services and Shelter.

All students are encouraged to participate in the program´s Cercle Francophone/French Club on-campus and to study abroad for a summer or semester in an approved overseas program to experience language immersion and explore products, practices, and perspectives of other cultures. Norwich maintains a student exchange program with the renowned French military academy, l'École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in Coëtquidan, France.

The foreign language placement test is required before any student registers for a first course in the program.

Goals:

The French minor provides students with competency using the forms of language and cultural expression appropriate for use in the professions.  

Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the minor in French, students will present test results and written work in their dossiers showing the abilities to:

  • develop linguistic skills in oral and written expression at the intermediate to low-advanced level
  • engage in everyday conversation with native speakers of French
  • communicate with respect and cultural understanding in the French language
  • read and analyze authentic documents from French-speaking societies
  • produce texts and media in French and demonstrate an understanding of approaches to translation


Careers for this Minor:

Because French is ranked the second most important communication language in the world after English according to the Bloomberg Rankings (2014) and has been identified as strategic for the military and counter-terrorist organizations, demonstrated proficiency in French language and culture can be a very useful asset for careers in

  • military service
  • diplomacy
  • business
  • law enforcement and peacekeeping
  • state and federal government agencies
  • industry and technology
  • research
  • teaching
  • NGO global partnerships.