French Major & Minor

The French program builds students written and spoken language skills while also exploring cultural issues and institutions of the Francophone world.

Program Type Undergraduate Major, Undergraduate Minor
Degrees Offered B.A.
Mode of Study On Campus
Department Languages, Literatures & Cultures
School May School of Arts & Sciences
Alina Shklyarenko in France
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Program Overview

Our program in French and Francophone studies aims to increase the fluency and accuracy of students’ communication in French and fostering a profound understanding and appreciation of key cultural aspects of the French-speaking world.

In our courses, students are empowered to speak, read and write in French; to achieve cultural literacy so they may successfully engage within diverse communities and cultures in professional, personal and service capacities; to analyze literature, film, music and other art forms as representations of human experience; and, through all these activities, to develop critical thinking skills that will last them a lifetime. 

Recent Accolades

Organizations involved in assessing U.S. colleges and universities continually cite Stonehill as being among the best in the nation when it comes to value, outcomes and a commitment to making the world a better place. See full list of accolades.

Sample Courses

Elementary French I

For students with no previous study or 1-2 years of high school French. During the first semester students develop the ability to: when speaking and writing, use short sentences, learned words and phrases, simple questions, and commands; when listening, understand some ideas and familiar details presented in a clear, uncomplicated speech; when reading, understand short texts enhanced by visuals. During the second semester students expand their ability from the first semester, and develop the ability to: when speaking and listening, use and understand learned expressions, sentences, and strings of sentences, questions, and commands; when writing, create simple paragraphs; when reading, understand important ideas and some details in highly contextualized authentic texts. During both semesters content includes: The Self (family, friends, home, rooms, health, school, schedules, leisure activities, campus life, likes and dislikes, shopping, clothes, prices, sizes and quantity, pets and animals) and Beyond Self (geography, topography, direction, buildings and monuments, weather and seasons, symbols, cultural and historical figures, places and events, colors, numbers, days, dates, months, time, food and customs, transportation, travel, and professions and work.)

Perspectives in French Language and Culture I

For students with three or more years of French. In this course students expand their previous ability in their foreign language, and develop the ability to: when speaking, use simple dialogue of paragraph length in a series of cohesive and coherent paragraphs; when listening, understand most authentic spoken language; when writing, create a series of coherent paragraphs; when reading, acquire knowledge and new information from comprehensive authentic text. Content embraces concepts of broader cultural significance, including institutions, such as the educational system, the government, and political and social issues in the target culture. Both concepts and abstract topics of human and personal interest including music, literature, the arts, and the sciences.

Gender Construction in Francophone Culture

The course examines how race, gender and sexuality are represented in literary works by French male and female authors and film directors and how they have used alterity as a mirror for self-reflection, as an example for social change, and as the locus of a threat to cultural homogeneity.

Study Abroad Requirement for French Majors

All French majors are required to spend a semester abroad in a French-speaking country approved as part of a program of study or in one of the international internships sponsored by Stonehill College, and minors are encouraged to do the same.

Students may transfer back three pre-approved courses taken abroad to the major. Additional language courses may be pre-approved as general electives.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Stonehill is ranked among the best in the nation for sending students on semester-long study abroad programs. Our programs focus on developing global citizens and helping students meet both academic and personal goals. A student’s international experience is attractive to potential employers who seek applicants with global perspective and an understanding other cultures.

Approved study abroad programs for Stonehill French majors include:

  • Champlain Abroad Montreal
  • API in Caen
  • API in Paris
  • Campus International De Cannes
  • CIEE in Paris
  • Grenoble École de Management
  • Institut Catholique de Toulouse
  • Université Rennes II
  • Université Grenoble Alpes (CUEF)
  • University of Paris, Sorbonne
  • CIEE Study Center (Rabat)
  • School for International Training
  • CIEE Study Center (Dakar)
  • School for International Training

Languages, Literatures & Cultures Department

The French minor is part of the Languages, Literatures & Cultures Department at Stonehill. 

The study of languages, literatures and cultures is a cornerstone of a liberal arts education. The Department offers coursework in seven languages.

Places where Stonehill graduates have recently been employed include:

  • Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Catholic Charities
  • French Embassy
  • Fulbright Recipient (Ecuador)
  • Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office
  • Office of Refugees and Immigrants, City of Boston
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Ropes & Gray LLP
  • Teach for America
  • World Teach
  • Various school systems

Language experience is invaluable for those students seeking careers in:

  • Education
  • International Studies
  • Psychology
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Political Science
  • Communications
  • Sociology
  • Business

Places where Stonehill graduates have recently attended a full- or part-time graduate program include:

  • Aberystwyth University (Wales)
  • Boston University
  • Middlebury College
  • Northeastern University
  • Universidad Complutense (Madrid)
  • University of Connecticut
  • Universidad de Granada (Spain)

Research Opportunities

Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) is an opportunity for students who have completed their first year at Stonehill to perform significant, publishable, full-time research under the guidance of and in collaboration with an experienced faculty researcher.

EXAMPLES OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURES & CULTURES RESEARCH

  • Bridget Ryan ’23 worked with Teresa Villa-Ignacio, Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies, on Sounding Translation, an Internet-accessible podcast that archives translators’ reflections on the experience of translating contemporary poetry.
  • Alina Shklyarenko ’17 worked with John Golden, associate professor of foreign languages, on “Translating Alexander Blok’s ‘Vozmezdie.’” They have submitted for publication their work on previously untranslated sections of this important poem by the Russian symbolist.
  • Michael Travers ’15 worked with Juan Carlos Martin, associate professor of Foreign Languages, on “Virtual Learning: Beyond the Classroom.” 
  • Spanish major Angela Moskawa ’14 workedwith Juan Carlos Martin, associate professor of Foreign Languages, on “Identity Crisis: Portrayals of the Posthuman in Spanish Narrative and Film.” This project strives to study the concept of post-humanity in Spanish narrative and film, focusing primarily on literary pieces and cinematic works written and produced during the past two decades.
  • Laura Dzgoeva ’14 worked with John Golden, associate professor of foreign languages, on “Translating Alexander Blok.” Blok was a major Russian Symbolist poet; they translated several of his poems into English and have submitted some of their work for publication.

National Honor Society Affiliations

Pi Delta Phi

CAMPUS CHAPTER: NU GAMMA

Pi Delta Phi is the National French Honor Society for undergraduate and graduate students at accredited public and private colleges and universities in the United States.

Lambda Epsilon Sigma

Stonehill’s campus-wide honor society, Lambda Epsilon Sigma, recognizes students from all areas of study. Students who have demonstrated a well-rounded thirst for knowledge are invited to apply.

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